Latest news with #DenisSimon
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Future of Science and Technology Agreement is a bellwether for US-China ties: Denis Simon
Denis Simon is one of the leading experts on US-China science and technology cooperation as well as China's innovation system. He has held senior roles including executive vice-chancellor at Duke Kunshan University and director of the US-China programme at Pennsylvania State University. He is teaching a graduate course on China science and technology policy at the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus . For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here Can you explain the core elements of the STA and its role in fostering scientific collaboration between the US and China? Why is it considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations, and what makes it so politically and strategically sensitive, especially in today's geopolitical climate? The US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA), first signed in 1979 during the [Jimmy] Carter administration, is the foundational legal and diplomatic framework governing official S&T cooperation between the two nations. Its core elements include government-to-government cooperation via ministries, agencies, and labs; institutional and academic exchanges, supporting researcher mobility and joint projects; joint working groups on specific fields like health, agriculture, energy and environmental science; and mechanisms for sharing data, coordinating funding and protecting intellectual property. It is considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations because of its highly symbolic value as the first formal and peaceful engagement between the US and China after normalisation. At a time when diplomatic ties were still fragile, scientific cooperation provided politically 'safe' ground to build trust. Its overall impact has been immense – it made science diplomacy real. In the current geopolitical climate, the STA sits at the intersection of national security concerns (e.g., espionage, IP theft, cybersecurity), economic competitiveness (particularly in AI, life sciences, semiconductors) and techno-nationalism (growing on both sides). The very openness that once made the STA a success is now seen by some as a vulnerability. Current discussions of the STA evoke debates not just about science but about how much the US should engage with a so-called strategic competitor. During a delegation visit to Beijing in the mid-2000s, I was part of a round table where a US scientist shared breakthrough research in clean coal technology. The Chinese side responded with enthusiastic interest, proposing a joint pilot project. The US delegation, however, hesitated – concerned that the technology might be commercialised without reciprocal IP protection. The moment highlighted both the promise and peril of STA-enabled openness. Fortunately, an agreement called CERC (Clean Energy Research Centre) was signed and it contained a detailed addendum regarding the disposition of any new intellectual capital developed under the programme.
Associated Press
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Jointly Protecting People's Rights in Digital Era
BEIJING, June 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging technologies like AI, big data and the Internet of Things are rapidly reshaping the world in this era of digital intelligence. However, they are also bringing challenges to human rights, which makes joint efforts essential. Science and Technology Daily spoke with international experts on these issues against the backdrop of the 2025 China-Europe Seminar on Human Rights hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and Cátedra China Foundation in Madrid, Spain, on June 25 on the theme 'Human Rights in the Era of Digital Intelligence.' One major challenge is the persisting digital divide between different countries and regions. To better protect digital rights in underprivileged countries — particularly in the Global South — governments, in partnership with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and World Bank, must prioritize building Internet infrastructure in rural and underserved areas, Denis Simon, a visiting professor at the Asian Pacific Studies Institute, Duke University, said. The digital divide is not merely a matter of infrastructure — it also involves education, economic capacity, policy frameworks and global inequalities in technological power, Simon said, adding that large-scale investments in digital literacy, especially for women, youth and marginalized communities, are critical. Dr. Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, a senior lecturer and researcher at the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages), Sanming University, China, stressed that digital education initiatives, such as teaching people how to use technology safely, recognizing misinformation and disinformation, and understanding their rights online, are equally important. China has made significant strides through infrastructure investment, Internet access, digital infrastructure, and inclusive policies when it comes to bridging the digital divide, Islam said. The country has rapidly expanded 5G networks and fiber-optic coverage to rural and remote areas, with initiatives like the 'Digital Rural Revitalization Strategy' bringing high-speed internet to millions of villages. Programs like Smart Villages and e-commerce poverty alleviation initiatives have connected millions of small producers to national markets. Targeted programs in digital literacy have been launched, especially for the elderly, rural residents and ethnic minorities, Simon said. Despite bringing benefits to people's daily life, AI is a double-edged sword. Osuagwu Obinna Ikechukwu, a Master's student at Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said AI challenges include data privacy violations, algorithmic bias, threats to intellectual property, and opaque decision-making. Addressing these requires robust data governance, transparent and accountable AI systems, and inclusive design processes. Simon pointed out that AI systems introduce profound new risks to fundamental rights due to their complexity, opacity and governance requires coordinated global action, as no single country can regulate cross-border algorithms, datasets, or platforms alone. A global framework developed through collaboration between governments, tech companies, civil society and experts could help set clear ethical guidelines and legal protections for issues like privacy, fairness and accountability, said Islam. It is also vital to include voices from the Global South and other underrepresented regions. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring responsible AI governance needs joint efforts — and the younger generation has a crucial role to play in it. The younger generation is both the most affected by and the most capable of shaping the digital future, Simon said. He suggested that young people leverage social media and online platforms to educate, mobilize and advocate for equitable digital policies, and help close the digital literacy gap by mentoring peers and older generations. Governments and international bodies should institutionalize youth consultation in digital governance discussions, he added. View original content: SOURCE Science and Technology Daily
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jointly Protecting People's Rights in Digital Era
BEIJING, June 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging technologies like AI, big data and the Internet of Things are rapidly reshaping the world in this era of digital intelligence. However, they are also bringing challenges to human rights, which makes joint efforts essential. Science and Technology Daily spoke with international experts on these issues against the backdrop of the 2025 China-Europe Seminar on Human Rights hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and Cátedra China Foundation in Madrid, Spain, on June 25 on the theme "Human Rights in the Era of Digital Intelligence." One major challenge is the persisting digital divide between different countries and regions. To better protect digital rights in underprivileged countries — particularly in the Global South — governments, in partnership with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and World Bank, must prioritize building Internet infrastructure in rural and underserved areas, Denis Simon, a visiting professor at the Asian Pacific Studies Institute, Duke University, said. The digital divide is not merely a matter of infrastructure — it also involves education, economic capacity, policy frameworks and global inequalities in technological power, Simon said, adding that large-scale investments in digital literacy, especially for women, youth and marginalized communities, are critical. Dr. Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, a senior lecturer and researcher at the School of Overseas Education (School of Foreign Languages), Sanming University, China, stressed that digital education initiatives, such as teaching people how to use technology safely, recognizing misinformation and disinformation, and understanding their rights online, are equally important. China has made significant strides through infrastructure investment, Internet access, digital infrastructure, and inclusive policies when it comes to bridging the digital divide, Islam said. The country has rapidly expanded 5G networks and fiber-optic coverage to rural and remote areas, with initiatives like the "Digital Rural Revitalization Strategy" bringing high-speed internet to millions of villages. Programs like Smart Villages and e-commerce poverty alleviation initiatives have connected millions of small producers to national markets. Targeted programs in digital literacy have been launched, especially for the elderly, rural residents and ethnic minorities, Simon said. Despite bringing benefits to people's daily life, AI is a double-edged sword. Osuagwu Obinna Ikechukwu, a Master's student at Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said AI challenges include data privacy violations, algorithmic bias, threats to intellectual property, and opaque decision-making. Addressing these requires robust data governance, transparent and accountable AI systems, and inclusive design processes. Simon pointed out that AI systems introduce profound new risks to fundamental rights due to their complexity, opacity and governance requires coordinated global action, as no single country can regulate cross-border algorithms, datasets, or platforms alone. A global framework developed through collaboration between governments, tech companies, civil society and experts could help set clear ethical guidelines and legal protections for issues like privacy, fairness and accountability, said Islam. It is also vital to include voices from the Global South and other underrepresented regions. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring responsible AI governance needs joint efforts — and the younger generation has a crucial role to play in it. The younger generation is both the most affected by and the most capable of shaping the digital future, Simon said. He suggested that young people leverage social media and online platforms to educate, mobilize and advocate for equitable digital policies, and help close the digital literacy gap by mentoring peers and older generations. Governments and international bodies should institutionalize youth consultation in digital governance discussions, he added. View original content: SOURCE Science and Technology Daily Sign in to access your portfolio
South China Morning Post
29-01-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's DeepSeek is redefining AI tech. Here's why the US must get on board
China's DeepSeek has reshaped the pathways to hi-tech breakthroughs and shown how talent and software integration can be more powerful than scale, money or a 'copycat' approach, according to observers. Advertisement The meteoric arrival of DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) model also highlighted the need for US-China cooperation on innovation, despite Washington's 'small yard, high fence' policy to contain Beijing's hi-tech progress, they said. DeepSeek, a start-up based in eastern China, rolled out its open-source R1 large language model on January 20. It has taken the tech world by storm – with a performance challenging the dominance of American tech giants like OpenAI but built at a fraction of the cost. 05:10 Chinese AI disrupter DeepSeek claims top spot in US App Store, dethroning ChatGPT Chinese AI disrupter DeepSeek claims top spot in US App Store, dethroning ChatGPT Denis Simon, non-resident fellow at the US think tank Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said the most important lesson for the West here was that 'there were many paths to the same innovation target', as DeepSeek had followed an innovative approach to push 'the frontier of the current thinking about AI technology'. 'By developing a lower cost, more efficient, and perhaps even more effective path to producing 'artificial general intelligence', DeepSeek has shown that it's not all about scale and money,' Simon said. 'In fact, it is about cultivating talent and thinking more about software integration than it is about accumulating thousands and thousands of advanced chips.' Advertisement In December, DeepSeek released an earlier large language model – the V3. According to the firm, V3 was built at a fraction of the cost and computing power that major US tech companies draw on to build their large language models or LLMs – the technology behind generative AI services like ChatGPT.
