Impact
Wide co-ordination of research activities from the EU and China has increased EU-China collaboration in line with the EU-China Science and Technology (S&T) co-operation agreement.
The project team was composed of key scientific players in the fields of animal health and food security from the EU, China, and FAO.
The project was dedicated towards the development and exchange of scientific knowledge in epidemiology to enable more effective prevention and control of diseases. At the same time, it focussed on the development and implementation of advanced diagnostic technologies for the early detection of animal pathogens, including those that may infect humans. Efforts on both components were coordinated to focus on the same objectives.
The project also allowed for the ongoing coordination of an eco-epidemiological research group (EU-China-International partners) on emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in China that has been meeting and conducting research together for the past several years.
The project ensured a wide-range of networking for the relevant scientific communities and stakeholders
In addition to strong scientific partners, the project team also involved partners who are experienced in networking and dissemination, ensuring the maximum engagement of relevant stakeholders in the scientific, business and policy-making communities.
The project allowed for systematic establishment of linkages between on-going animal health research, training programmes and innovation projects in the veterinary field from the EU and China.
The project constantly monitored opportunities in research, training and innovative projects in the field of animal health and food security. An entire work package (WP2), “Analysis of animal health and food security research in the EU and in China”, was designed and dedicated to a detailed, in-depth analysis on fostering linkage between projects from both the EU and China.
The joint work in epidemiology (WP3), laboratory (WP4), as well as exchanges and capacity building (WP7) resulted in expanding mutual understanding, sharing information and materials, disseminating diagnostic technologies, building partnerships, and establishing collaborative research between institutes. Concurrently, they also guided policy-making, benefited industry, generated a closer EU-China partnership, and allowed for the training of young scientists with enhanced capabilities and international views.
The project improved training opportunities for EU researchers.
Realizing and thus emphasizing the importance of involving EU researchers, the projects incorporated tailored capacity building, training events, and exchange programmes. The training resulted in improved epidemiological and laboratory skills of animal health researchers in China and the EU, which will in turn improve the fight against EIDs and TADs.
LinkTADs networking map
