The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has recently released a recommendation paper outlining guidelines for fostering academic cooperation with China. Aligned with the German government's China strategy, the DAAD adopts a Realpolitik approach, emphasizing practical considerations in international relations. 

From the government's comprehensive reassessment, the DAAD distils three overarching guiding principles for German higher education institutions engaging with their Chinese counterparts. These principles advocate an approach that is interest-oriented, risk-reflective, and competence-based. 

The recommendation paper not only formulates these guiding principles but also provides specific, actionable recommendations for the implementation of this foreign science policy approach within higher education institutions. In crafting these recommendations, the DAAD draws from the Federal Government's China strategy and engages in extensive dialogue with partners in both China and Germany, consulting experts within the DAAD and its member universities. 

Over the years, the DAAD has played a pivotal role in supporting German universities in enhancing their expertise in China through various funding programs. Since 2019, the establishment of the Competence Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi) has further enabled the DAAD to offer comprehensive advice on all facets of international university collaboration. 

Stricter measures have been introduced in Canada to address risks of international cooperation with several countries. In an upcoming policy shift, Canadian universities and researchers delving into advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, will be disqualified from receiving federal grants if they have affiliations with foreign institutions deemed as threats to national security, according to the Canadian government.  

Starting this spring, the new policy will require researchers aspiring for federal grants in these fields to declare their non-involvement with or non-receipt of funds from the foreign organisations and institutions highlighted as threats to national security. 

The Canadian federal government identified over 100 institutions in China, Russia, and Iran, asserting that they pose the "highest risk to Canada's national security." These listed institutions, as per the government, are linked to the military and state security agencies of their respective countries, based on the information compiled from public and classified sources.  

Furthermore,  the government released a list of "sensitive" research areas encompassing advanced weapons, sensing and surveillance technology, robotics, AI and big data, quantum technologies, as well as medical and health-care technology. Both lists will undergo regular reviews to ensure they remain up-do-date.