HNC³ - Hamburg Network on Compliance in Cooperation with China

Cooperation with Chinese partners is of great importance for Hamburg—with regard to research, the economy, and the city’s port. At the same time, cooperation with Chinese institutions proceeds in an increasingly complex environment characterized by long-term and mutually trusting collaboration, innovation ambitions and competition, mutual dependencies, increasing regulations, and finally, systemic rivalry.

The HNC³ partners all have long-standing, vital experience cooperating with Chinese partners and have already had experiences with regard to critical topics, such as limits to academic freedom, influence, information flow, and dealing with dual-use matters.

The main goal of the HNC³ is to consolidate and expand the skills and experiences of the participating institutions as they cooperate with China. Evidence-based and critical reflection on current opportunities and challenges in our cooperation should enable consortium partners to pursue promising and legally sound future cooperation with the Chinese.

One focus of the HNC³ is to sensitize and train doctoral and early career researchers as well as other actors in the participating institutions, e.g., in administration. This will involve a series of workshops and training opportunities as well as the development of training material. We aim to increase China-related skills among the target groups, efficiently and sustainably, and sensitize them to the opportunities and risks of cooperating with Chinese partners. Ultimately, the target groups should be in a position to better evaluate and implement cooperation from the outset.

Activities are grouped into key categories: dealing with limits to academic freedom; managing knowledge exchange; preventing unwanted flow of information; protecting copyrights and patents; problems in military use of research (data)—dual use; generally pursuing sound (legally and otherwise) cooperation; recognizing and preventing political influence.

Due to geopolitical and domestic developments in China, questions about cooperating with China now play an even more important role. Thus, the HNC³ Network is focusing more strongly on aspects of legal certainty (compliance) in cooperation with China and examining and building upon existing processes and review procedures. Moreover, we will look at legal developments in the People’s Republic of China, such as laws on protecting personal data and national security, and develop practical courses of action for the HNC³ Network target groups.

Due to Hamburg’s many higher education institutions with expertise on China, foremost efforts will involve links to Chinese-related issues and different profiles for dealing with Chinese cooperation partners. The HNC³ partners are working closely with one another and with regional stakeholders in the economic, political, and civic arenas to lay the groundwork for navigating German-Chinese relations in rough waters.

The online course “Basic Knowledge for Academic Collaboration with China” is aimed at academics and administrative staff at universities and research institutions, as well as students. Over the course of 90–120 minutes, it provides a basic understanding of key topics relevant to academic collaboration with China.

These include, for example, the structure of China’s research system and how it is embedded within its political landscape, as well as the topics of compliance and legal frameworks for collaborations. It also gives practical tips on how to engage with Chinese stakeholders and how to navigate China’s IT landscape.

China is a vast subject. Therefore, no claim to comprehensiveness is made. Instead, the aim is to provide participants with a solid basic understanding of (some) key topics and to direct them towards relevant sources and potential contacts. Upon completion, participants will receive a personalised certificate of attendance.

More information about the course can be found here.

HNC³ is a joint project of 9 Hamburg institutions from science and research:

• Universität Hamburg (project coordination)
• Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
• German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
• Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (HAW)
• Helmut Schmidt Universität
• Leibnitz Institute of Virology (LIV)
• Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology
• Max-Planck-Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter
• University of Technology (TUHH)

• 8 February 2024, online panel discussion, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce: “Sicherheit in der Forschung” (Research security), program (PDF)
• 16 May 2024, in-person panel discussion, HAW: “Internationale Wissenschaftskooperationen im Kontext geopolitischer Entwicklungen” (International research cooperation against the backdrop of geopolitical developments), see program at haw-hamburg.de
• 26 June 2024, online panel discussion, GIGA Forum: “Wissenschaftskooperation mit China und Indien: Chancen und Herausforderungen für deutsche Forschungsinstitutionen” (Research collaborations with China and India: chances and challenges for German research institutions), see program and video recording at giga-hamburg.de
• 16 January 2025, Workshop and panel discussion: „Aktuelle Fragen der wissenschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit mit China“, program (PDF)
• 15 January 2026, Training:  „Compliance in der Wissenschaftskooperation mit China – (k)ein rein rechtliches Thema?“, program (PDF)
• Summer 2026: start of the e-learning module “Basic Knowledge for Academic Cooperation with China” (in German and English)

• Info-Poster HNC³ (PDF)
• Spotlights on the Regio-China Initiative –  Lessons learned and milestones (PDF, German language)