European research funders have paused joint scientific collaborations with China due to concerns over China's Data Security Law, which restricts sharing "important data" with overseas partners without prior approval. The German Research Foundation, Swedish Research Council, and Swiss National Science Foundation have not co-funded new projects with China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) since 2021, the year the law took effect. These agencies cited unclear definitions of "important data," potential conflicts with local laws, and legal risks for themselves and research institutions as reasons for the suspension.

The Data Security Law broadly defines "important data" as information that could threaten national or economic interests or affect individual or organizational rights, but China has not provided detailed clarifications. This vagueness makes it difficult for European researchers to assess when collaborations might face sanctions or penalties. The German Research Foundation noted that exporting such data from China is nearly impossible under current rules. This situation has raised fears that vital research, particularly in health sectors like virology and pandemic response, could be delayed.

The pause in funding comes amid broader international concerns. The U.S. government has also expressed worries about the law’s broad and vague scope, incorporating data access and researcher protection issues into a science cooperation deal with China. The UK Research and Innovation agency is actively discussing these data laws with Chinese counterparts and providing guidance to its researchers. European officials have noted that China’s science ministry expects researchers to resolve data issues independently, showing reluctance to clarify the law at the government level.

This development highlights the growing impact of China’s data protection regime on global scientific collaboration. While many countries enforce data privacy safeguards, China’s stringent controls and unclear rules on cross-border data sharing have prompted major European funders to halt new joint projects. The move underscores the challenge of balancing national data security concerns with the need for international cooperation in critical research areas.