On 15 December 2022, the 3^rd high-level policy dialogue between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as NSFC) and Science Europe was successfully held via videoconference. Li Jinghai, President of NSFC, and Marc Schiltz, President of the Science Europe and Secretary General of the National Research Foundation of Luxembourg, attended and addressed the event. Prof. Zou Liyao, Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, and Mrs. Lidia Damian, Secretary General of Science Europe, co-chaired the meeting.

In his speech, President Li Jinghai pointed out that a new round of scientific and technological revolution is emerging, scientific research paradigms are undergoing profound changes, convergence of disciplines is a major trend, innovation-driven has become a global consensus, and solving global major challenges requires extensive cooperation. NSFC is willing to work with European partner institutions and give full play to the important role of international cooperation, build scientific consensus and strengthen cooperation in addressing major global challenges and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. President Schulz responded positively and expressed his willingness to continue strengthening cooperation in the future.

The meeting reviewed achievements of cooperation between the two sides over the past three years and focused on the Joint Policy Workshops on  “the Paradigm Shift in Scientific Research——Focusing on Interdisciplinary Research” and “the Effects of the Paradigm Shift in Scientific Research in Addressing Global Challenges and Achieving Sustainable Development——Focusing on Climate Change” held in mid-November, and held discussions on future cooperation themes. The meeting concluded that over the past three years, the two sides have conducted a series of seminars and high-level dialogues on important issues of common concern, such as Covid-19 pandemic, research assessment and cross-cutting science and scientific paradigm change, learning from each other and inspiring each other. Both sides expressed great expectations for the future.

Prof. Wenxuan Yin, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau, NSFC, Angelika Kalt, Vice-President of the Swiss National Science Foundation, Matthias Koenig, Vice-President of the German Research Foundation, and Mari Tveig, Chief Executive of the Norwegian Research Council also attended the event, as well as staff from the International Cooperation Bureau and the Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences, NSFC.