Speaker: Dr Daniel Sprick (University of Cologne)
Organised by the KoWinChi programme (Interacting Competently with China in Science), this practical training is designed for academics and administrative staff who are engaging—or planning to engage—in cooperation with Chinese partners. KoWinChi aims to support universities in building responsible, well-informed, and sustainable collaborations with China. The programme is run by the University of Würzburg and Erlangen-Nürnberg, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).
About the workshop
Scientific cooperation with China offers considerable opportunities—but also specific legal challenges. This workshop provides a compact and practice-oriented introduction to key legal issues that arise in cross-border academic collaboration.
Participants will gain insights into questions such as:
- How does the Chinese legal system work in practice—and what common misconceptions persist?
- How can intellectual property be protected when data crosses borders?
- What are the “red lines” regarding surveys, state secrets, or dual-use technologies?
- How can universities navigate obligations related to data security and regulatory compliance?
Through analysis of selected court cases, regulatory examples, and real-world scenarios, the workshop aims to build a shared understanding of the legal particularities of cooperation with Chinese partners. It will equip participants with tools for safe, confident, and well-informed collaboration.
FORMAT AND METHODOLOGY
This workshop is delivered online, in two interactive sessions:
- Wednesday, 4 February 2026 – 09:00–12:00 (CET)
- Thursday, 5 February 2026 – 09:00–12:00 (CET)
Using Zoom and Miro, participants will work with texts, visual materials, group exercises, and short surveys. Active participation via microphone and camera is encouraged to maintain the highly interactive character of KoWinChi training.
The workshop will be held in English.
About the speaker
Dr Daniel Sprick is a Research Associate at the Chair of Chinese Legal Culture, University of Cologne. His areas of expertise include Chinese criminal law, judicial reforms, competition and antitrust law, AI regulation, and the transnational dimensions of Chinese law.
He has advised the European Parliament and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been awarded the Hanenburg-Yntema Prize for his work on Chinese competition law.
Registration
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
For any questions, please feel free to contact our project coordinator at anastasia.kostromina@uni-wuerzburg.de.
