U.S. and China renew S&T Agreement

Sub : IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

China and the S. agreed to extend their Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology (S&T) for an additional five years, effective from August 27, 2024. A protocol to amend the agreement was also signed.
This agreement, first signed in 1979 under Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and U.S. President Jimmy Carter, has been renewed every five years, expanding its scope over time.

Importance of Bilateral S&T Agreements:

They facilitate joint research, mobility between the countries for students and scientists, encourage institutional cooperation, and set up bilateral research centres.
India has such agreements with 83 countries.

Renewed U.S.-China S&T Agreement: Key Features

In response to growing tensions, particularly over technology exports, the renewed agreement includes provisions for researcher safety, data reciprocity.
The agreement will be confined to basic research and previously identified themes of mutual benefit, limiting scope to avoid potential misuse.
Critical and emerging technologies (e.g., AI, quantum computing, advanced semiconductors) are excluded to address concerns that China might gain disproportionate benefits at the U.S.’s expense, especially regarding intellectual property rights.

Gains for the US:

Access to China’s Research Ecosystem that has grown significantly.
The number of joint publications between Chinese and U.S. researchers has grown substantially, covering a wide range of scientific fields.
The agreement has allowed the U.S. to maintain influence over China’s technological rise, ensuring that cooperation is not solely one-sided.
The agreement facilitated the growth in the number of Chinese students in the U.S, from 2,770 in 1985 to 109,525 in 2000, which has contributed to scientific and educational exchange.

China’s progress:

The Agreement catalysed China’s transformation from a ‘junior partner’ in 1979 to a formidable competitor in 2024.
Over the years, China’s spending on R&D has surged, from $375 million in 1979 to $442 billion in 2021, making it the second-largest R&D spender globally after the U.S.