Key takeaways: In May 2026, ASEAN concluded negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), with expected signing in November 2026 during the ASEAN Summit. As ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to grow from less than US$400 billion in 2022 to US$2 trillion by 2030, the DEFA will reshape the conditions under which European firms… Continue reading Preparing for DEFA: A European strategy for ASEAN’s digital market
Key takeaways: ASEAN should be a priority partner for the EU in establishing a “strategic partnership on semiconductors” as envisioned by the proposed Chips Act 2.0. The EU and ASEAN should focus on high-value-added investment, mutually beneficial R&D partnerships, cooperation on certification, development of raw materials projects, and workforce development to build synergies in semiconductor… Continue reading Chips that connect: EU–ASEAN cooperation in a fragmented world
Finland’s academic engagement with China has a long and active history. In recent years, concerns among academia and the public have emerged on the nature of cooperation, especially with respect to Chinese institutions with known military affiliation. Due to these concerns from both the government and academics, universities were expected to increase scrutiny when forming… Continue reading Finland: Increasingly attentive, but risks still emerge in academic engagement with China
China is, by all means, a priority country for Norway in both international trade and research. This is reflected in the fact that China is Norway’s second-largest trading partner outside Europe after the United States and, as of 2022, has become Norway’s fourth-largest scientific collaboration partner worldwide, measured by co-authored publications. Nevertheless, research security has gained noticeable traction… Continue reading Norway-China academic collaborations: Strategic partnership under growing skepticism
Portugal-China relations are arguably the oldest in Europe, largely due to Portugal’s control of the colony of Macao from 1557 until its handover in 1999. Their modern ties, however, are better reflected as dating to the 2005 establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was the first between China and a Portuguese-speaking country. The mutual… Continue reading Portugal: Close relations with China beget a lack of scrutiny
