The Academy has cooperated with scientists in the People's Republic of China for more than 30 years. In the Netherlands, it coordinates these efforts with the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). The Academy and NWO pursue a comprehensive strategic policy aimed at closer cooperation and more efficient coordination of new and existing funding programmes.

Objective

All programmes promoting scientific cooperation with China aim to expand and deepen Sino-Dutch scientific cooperation based on academic excellence and mutual interests and benefits. To this end, the partners make funding available for both mobility and joint research. The programmes target specific forms of cooperation, research themes and/or specific groups of researchers.

Bilateral cooperation

The Academy is responsible for three scientific cooperation and exchange programmes with China funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. These are:

• China Exchange Programme (CEP) 
• CAS-KNAW Joint PhD training programme 
• Programme Strategic Scientific Alliances  (PSA)

The Academy and NWO cooperate in running the following programmes:

• Joint Scientific Thematic Research Programme (JSTP)
• Talent & Training China – Netherlands (T&T)

Organisation and administration

The Academy appoints a joint Academy-NWO China Committee. The China Committee is responsible for shaping, implementing and monitoring scientific cooperation with China. It is assisted in its work by the China Desk Office.

Policy framework

A number of Memorandums of Understanding set the policy framework for the scientific cooperation with China.