To further promote China-EU scientific and technological innovation cooperation, the third China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue was held on 2 June 2017 in Brussels as a side event of the 19th China-EU Summit. The dialogue was co-chaired by Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas. Some 60 delegates, including senior representatives of government departments and scientific research institutions of the two sides and experts in the field of innovation, attended the meeting. Premier Li Keqiang and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker met with the key representatives attending the dialogue and joined them in a group photo.

During the dialogue, the two sides exchanged their latest technological innovation policies, shared good practices of China-EU innovation cooperation, and had an in-depth exchange of views on issues such as scientific and technological innovation, reform of the science and technology system, framework conditions of innovation cooperation, IPR protection and flagship initiatives on research and innovation cooperation. The two sides reached the following five-point agreement on future innovation cooperation between China and the EU:

First, to jointly promote the mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The two sides will work together to build entrepreneurship training network and entrepreneurship exchange platform, give support to cooperation projects on SME innovation and entrepreneurship, improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem and support the entrepreneurship of young people and the development of start-ups and SMEs.

Second, to strengthen project, personnel and base cooperation. The two sides will explore the building of a three-pronged research and innovation cooperation system, comprising of joint research projects, joint laboratories/joint research centers and exchange of research personnel.

Third, to jointly promote open science. The two sides will strengthen exchange and discussion on open science and open access to relevant policies and promote the exchange, display, sharing and publication of scientific research outcomes in a speedy and efficient manner.

Fourth, to carry out IPR exchanges and cooperation under the new circumstances. Underpinned by a solid and comprehensive IPR protection system, the two sides will champion the principles of fairness and transparency, and carry out IPR exchanges and cooperation on a regular basis.

Fifth, to launch the flagship initiatives on research and innovation cooperation. The two sides confirmed the launch of the China-EU flagship initiatives on research and innovation cooperation (2018-2020), and agreed to promote research and innovation cooperation in agriculture (including food) and biotechnology, environment, sustainable urbanization, surface transport, safe and green aviation, health-related biotechnology and other fields.

As an outcome of the innovation dialogue, the above-mentioned five-point consensus was included into the minutes of the China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue. The two sides also signed Administrative Arrangement between the Directorate General for Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China on a Co-funding Mechanism for the period 2018-2020 to support Collaborative Research and Innovation projects under Joint Flagship Initiatives and other areas under the witness of Premier Li and President Juncker to provide guidance and basis for China-EU inter-governmental cooperation on research and innovation in the future.