From November 18 to 27, 2024, Vice President Lan Yujie of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) led a delegation to attend the 105^thMeeting of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Council in Vienna, Austria and conducted working visits to organizations in Austria, Finland, and Norway.

Vice President Lan participated in the IIASA Council Meeting alongside representatives from 20 member countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and South Africa. The meeting featured reports on annual research activities, financial updates, and strategic plans presented by IIASA and its functional committees. The council also reviewed and discussed IIASA’s proposed strategic initiatives.

In his remarks, Vice President Lan emphasized that, under the current international environment, IIASA should leverage its strengths in systems analysis and modeling to provide scientific support for policymaking in member countries, particularly on interdisciplinary and complex issues such as energy, water, climate change, and population growth. Prior to the meeting, the delegation met with Ambassador Li Song, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, and held talks with John Schellnhuber, the newly appointed Director of IIASA, to discuss strengthening cooperation between China and IIASA.

During the visits, Vice President Lan held meetings with key leaders from partner institutions, including Georg Kaser, Vice President of the Austrian Science Fund; Floora Ruokonen, Vice President of the Finnish Research Council; and Mari Sundli Tveit, Chief Executive of the Research Council of Norway. He also met with university or research institute leadership such as Jyri Hämäläinen, Vice President of Aalto University; Siri Fjellheim, Rector of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences; and Ragnar Pedersen, Administrative Director of the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research.

Vice President Lan introduced NSFC’s recent initiatives to deepen reforms in the science funding system and develop globally oriented research funding mechanisms. The discussions focused on expanding joint funding mechanisms between China and Austria, Finland, and Norway, promoting China-Europe collaboration in basic science, and advancing talent cultivation. Both sides reached a broad consensus on these topics. Vice President Lan highlighted that Austria, Finland, and Norway are technologically advanced countries with world-leading research in their respective fields. He stated that NSFC is committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with these countries, supporting young European scientists and outstanding innovation teams to study and work in China, and encouraging deeper collaboration and exchanges between Chinese and European universities and research institutions.

Also on the delegation were Zhang Yongtao, Deputy Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, and staff members from the Asia-Africa and International Organizations Division and the Europe Division of NSFC.