EU Ambassador to China Markus Ederer delivers a speech at the Closing Ceremony of the EU Science and Technology Fellowship Programme China in Beijing on May 16, 2012. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

STF Lead Expert Mr Clemens Smolders (L), Mr Lei Fengyun (C), Deputy Director, Dept of Cultural & Educational Experts of SAFEA, and STF HRD Expert Professor David G. Evans (R) are present at the 2nd STF Conference on EU–China Research Collaboration through People-to-People Exchanges in Beijing on May 16, 2012. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The EU-funded Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STF) held its 2nd conference, EU–China Research Collaborations through People-to-People Exchanges, in Beijing on Wednesday. During the afternoon formal closing ceremony, senior representatives of the EU delegation presented their keynote remarks and visions on deepening EU-China relations through people-to-people exchanges.

The science program brought 58 young European researchers to China on a two-year stay at Chinese research facilities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Fudan University. The conference showcased the achievements of the STF fellows and examined the challenges faced by overseas researchers working in China. The conference brought over 150 European and Chinese academics, politicians, researchers and officials together to discuss ways to promote researcher mobility and people-to-people exchanges.

The conference featured keynote speeches by European and Chinese researchers who have experience working in both cultures. This was followed by a session, during which the fellows had an opportunity to discuss the results of their 18-month research period at top institutes all over China, covering topics as diverse as atomic physics, the chemistry of traditional Chinese medicine, turtle bug taxonomy, air pollution and health, Internet addiction and the internationalization of Chinese universities. Round table discussions with a panel of experts completed this part of the event.

Although many tens of thousands of Chinese scientists have studied and worked in Europe over the last 30 years, very few Europeans have made the reverse trip to live and carry out research in China. STF is a European Union initiative that has begun to redress this imbalance, bringing benefits to both Europe and China and promoting stronger cooperation in the future.

The Science and Technology Fellowship Program is an EU-funded program with an investment of 6.5 million euros to promote researchers' mobility from Europe to China.