China Horizons – Research Consortium

What China Horizons – Research Consortium does

China Horizons – Dealing With a Resurgent China (DWARC) is an EU-funded academic research consortium established in 2022 under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement number 101061700). The consortium's stated purpose is to build a multidisciplinary analytical framework for understanding a multifaceted China under the Xi presidency, explain and predict social, political, economic, and foreign policy changes in China, and deliver research-driven recommendations to the European Union and other EU stakeholders. It coordinates 43 researchers drawn from eight European partner institutions: Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), MERICS (Germany), Bruegel (Belgium), SWPS University (Poland), Asia Centre (France), SciencesPo CERI (France), Centro de Estudios de Asia Oriental at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), and the University of Palermo (Italy).

The consortium's deliverables span policy briefs, peer-reviewed journal articles, analytical databases, podcasts, webinars, a quarterly newsletter, an Expert Network, a Next Gen program for emerging researchers, and the MERICS Europe-China Resilience Audit covering 11 European countries. To date, 178 research outputs have been produced. Distribution relies on an open-access model – outputs are freely available for republishing and referencing with attribution – and on direct engagement with EU institutions (European Council, European Parliament, EEAS) and member-state governments through closed-door workshops, conferences, and policy briefings.

There is no commercial revenue model. Funding is structured as a 36- to 43-month Horizon Europe grant administered across the partner institutions. The "customer" base is effectively the EU policy community: EU institutions, member-state governments, European China research networks, and European businesses operating in or with China. Media partnerships (e.g., Handelsblatt) and collaborations with related consortia such as ReConnect China and the European Chamber in China extend reach into the broader European policy and business ecosystem.

Name

China Horizons – Research Consortium

Legal name

China Horizons – Dealing With a Resurgent China (DWARC)

Website

https://chinahorizons.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

China Horizons (DWARC) is an EU Horizon Europe-funded research consortium of 8 European institutions and 43 researchers producing open-access analysis, policy briefs, and recommendations on China and EU-China relations for EU institutions, member-state governments, and the European research community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• EU-China analysis
• Academic research consortium
• Policy brief publications
• Think tank research

Headquarters

HQ city

Multiple European locations

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. EU Research Funding: Funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101061700. Duration of 36 months.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

China Horizons (formally "Dealing With a Resurgent China" – DWARC) is an EU Horizon Europe-funded multidisciplinary research consortium that produces independent research-driven analysis on China's politics, economy, society, foreign policy, and EU-China relations. It delivers policy briefs, journal articles, podcasts, databases, the MERICS Europe-China Resilience Audit, and capacity-building programs (Expert Network, Next Gen) targeting EU policymakers and the European China research community.

Product overview

China Horizons – Dealing With a Resurgent China (DWARC) is a multidisciplinary research consortium funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program. The consortium provides research-driven analysis through multiple channels: Policy Briefs offering recommendations to the EU, Journal Articles for academic discourse, Podcasts featuring expert analysis, Databases for analytical frameworks, a Quarterly Newsletter for updates, Expert Network for interdisciplinary cooperation, Next Gen program for emerging researchers, Webinars for live discussions, and the MERICS Europe-China Resilience Audit for country-level vulnerability assessments. The consortium comprises 8 partner institutions including Copenhagen Business School, MERICS, Bruegel, SWPS University, Asia Centre, Sciences Po, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Briefs

Quantifiable outcome

• 178 research outputs produced by the consortium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Copenhagen Business School (CBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish university partner in the China Horizons consortium contributing research on China's political economy and governance.
• Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman think tank leading multiple work packages including EU-China relations, politics, and economy research. Hosts Brussels office and produces major China analysis including the China Forecast and Resilience Audit.
• BruegelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian economic think tank contributing expertise on China's economy, EU-China trade, and economic relations. Hosts Brussels events and produces economic analysis.
• SWPS UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish university contributing research on Chinese society, culture, creative sector, and political developments. Hosts China Horizons research team.
• Asia CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research institute contributing expertise on China's global strategy, Asia affairs, and international relations.
• SciencesPocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench university contributing research on Chinese society, politics, and EU-China relations through Centre for International Studies (CERI).
• Centro de Estudios de Asia Oriental (CEAO-UAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish university center specializing in East Asian studies contributing to China research.
• University of Palermo (UPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian university contributing to China research in the consortium.
• HandelsblattminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for the MERICS China Forecast conference 2024.
• European External Action Service (EEAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU diplomatic service co-organizing workshops on EU-China relations with MERICS, including sessions on future trajectory of Europe-China relations.
• ReConnect ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch consortium collaborating with China Horizons (DWARC) on political and economic aspects of EU-China relations.
• European Chamber in ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness organization contributing to joint research on economic security and European business challenges in China.
• European CouncilcoreOthersEU institution receiving China policy recommendations and analysis from the consortium.
• European ParliamentcoreOthersEU institution engaged with China Horizons research on EU-China relations and de-risking approaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Direct peers

• Brookings China Center: A leading US-based policy research center producing rigorous, independent analysis of China's domestic politics, economy, and foreign policy. Directly comparable to China Horizons in producing multidisciplinary China-focused research and policy recommendations, though geographically US-anchored.
• Asia Society Policy Institute: A US-based policy institute addressing key issues in US-Asia relations, including dedicated China analysis and recommendations. Comparable as an independent policy research body informing government and stakeholder responses to China.
• Konrad Adenauer Foundation (China program): A German political foundation operating a dedicated China programme producing policy analysis, conferences, and capacity-building around EU-China relations. Comparable as a European institution delivering China expertise to policymakers and researchers.
• Chatham House Asia Programme: The Royal Institute of International Affairs' Asia Programme conducts independent policy research on East Asia including China, engaging both governments and experts. Comparable as a multidisciplinary international affairs research programme producing policy recommendations.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): Germany's leading foreign and security policy institute advising the Bundestag and federal government, with substantial China and Asia-Pacific research. Comparable as a European policy research institution producing analysis for government on China-related security and policy issues.
• Atlantic Council Global China Hub: A Washington-based initiative producing policy analysis on China's global role, technology competition, and geopolitical implications. Closely aligned with China Horizons' mandate to inform Western policy responses to a 'resurgent China'.
• CSIS China Power Project: A research initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies focused on measuring and analyzing China's comprehensive national power. Highly comparable as a multidisciplinary analytical framework targeting policymakers, though primarily US-focused.
• Rhodium Group: An independent research provider focused on China-related economic, geopolitical, and sustainability analysis, including the China Monitor and China-Climate-Energy dashboards. Comparable in producing policy-grade, data-driven China research for Western decision-makers.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): A pan-European think tank producing foreign policy analysis including a dedicated China and Indo-Pacific programme. Directly comparable as a European policy research network providing recommendations to EU institutions on China relations.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A major international affairs think tank with significant China-focused programming across global networks. Comparable in producing independent policy analysis and convening experts, though with a broader global mandate beyond China.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/china-horizons-research-consortium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about China Horizons – Research Consortium