Event

Apr 16, 2026
Governing the Paradox of Knowledge: How Research Security Shapes Open Science in EU–China Academic Cooperation

This article examines how the European Union (EU) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) conceptualise and govern the relationship between Open Science (OS) and research security (RS), and how this shapes conditions for international academic cooperation. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of evolving EU-level policy instruments and five core PRC planning and legal documents, the study shows that the EU frames OS–RS as an internal governance paradox: openness is promoted as a scientific and normative ideal, yet constrained through risk management, multi-level coordination, and the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary.” In China, OS and RS are not paradoxical but co-aligned within a unified Party-state framework that advances strategically bounded openness. The paradox emerges externally when this model encounters global OS norms. The study concludes that these differing approaches structurally shape the OS–RS nexus and will condition future possibilities for EU–China academic cooperation.

Room 229 (not 219)

Location
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Address
Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Contact and Registration

We welcome both internal and external guests. For further information about the LMRG Colloquium series, specific sessions, or registration (a limited number of places are available), please contact Dr. Franziska Fröhlich.

About This Series

The LMRG Colloquium is a venue for members and guests of the Lise Meitner Research Group, "China in the Global System of Science," to share their work in progress. It is an opportunity to raise questions, discuss methodological challenges, or get feedback on preliminary conclusions. We aim to create a supportive atmosphere that combines rigorous criticism with genuine curiosity.

2026-04-16T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2026-04-16 14:00:00 2026-04-16 15:30:00 Governing the Paradox of Knowledge: How Research Security Shapes Open Science in EU–China Academic Cooperation This article examines how the European Union (EU) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) conceptualise and govern the relationship between Open Science (OS) and research security (RS), and how this shapes conditions for international academic cooperation. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of evolving EU-level policy instruments and five core PRC planning and legal documents, the study shows that the EU frames OS–RS as an internal governance paradox: openness is promoted as a scientific and normative ideal, yet constrained through risk management, multi-level coordination, and the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary.” In China, OS and RS are not paradoxical but co-aligned within a unified Party-state framework that advances strategically bounded openness. The paradox emerges externally when this model encounters global OS norms. The study concludes that these differing approaches structurally shape the OS–RS nexus and will condition future possibilities for EU–China academic cooperation. Room 229 (not 219) Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany Franziska Marliese FröhlichDieu Linh Bui Dao Franziska Marliese FröhlichDieu Linh Bui Dao Europe/Berlin public