Mercator Institute for China Studies

The Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) is a leading German think tank and the largest European think tank with an exclusive focus on China. The non-profit organization was founded in 2013 by Stiftung Mercator, one of Germany’s largest private foundations. MERICS conducts research and fosters dialogue on the ascent of China as a key global player. The institute’s focus is on political, economic, social, technological and ecological developments in China and their global impacts.[1]

Mercator Institute for China Studies
MERICS located in Berlin-Mitte
Other name
MERICS
TypeThink tank, research institute
Established2013 (2013)
FoundersStiftung Mercator
DirectorMikko Huotari
Academic staff
15
Location
Berlin
,
Germany
Websitewww.merics.org

Organization

Based in Berlin, MERICS was founded in 2013 by the Stiftung Mercator, one of Germany’s largest private foundations. MERICS is an independent non-profit organization. Stiftung Mercator is its only shareholder and has committed to provide the institute with 33 million euros in funding for the period from 2013 to the end of 2023.[2][3][4]

MERICS employs an international team of researchers. Its founding director is the China expert Sebastian Heilmann, who after five years at the helm of the institute returned to his position as a professor for the political economy of China at the University of Trier. In August 2018, Frank N. Pieke (Director and CEO) took over the position of director. Since February 2020, the institute is led by Mikko Huotari as director and Bettina Bubnys as Chief Financial Officer.[5] MERICS employs a staff of about 30.

Function and Research

MERICS conducts interdisciplinary research on major political, economic and social trends in China and their impact on Europe and the global community. The institute advises decision makers in politics, industry and civil society. It also provides information and analysis to the public.

Major research areas include:

- The future of digitization in China – from industrial upgrading (Made in China 2025,[6][7] e-mobility) and the internet economy[8] (e-commerce) to big-data enabled social monitoring[9] (Social Credit System, IT-backed authoritarianism, Digital Leninism[10])

- China’s emergence as a global player[11][12] in international institutions (G20, United Nations, WTO) and regimes (Paris Agreement on climate change), and as a shaper of new multilateral initiatives[13] (Belt and Road Initiative, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank)

- China’s growing presence as an investor in Europe[14]

- China’s political and social development under President Xi Jinping[15][16]

Publications

Research

MERICS Papers on China: research and in-depth Analysis.

MERICS China Monitor: analysis of current trends / policy recommendations.

MERICS Mapping: infographics and statistics.

News

MERICS China Update: bi-weekly Newsletter.

MERICS Blog “European Voices on China”: analysis and commentary by MERICS experts.

MERICS Podcast: interviews with MERICS experts and guests.

Cooperations and Events

MERICS is an official partner of the Munich Security Conference[17] and an academic partner of the bi-annual Hamburg Summit – China meets Europe.[18] The institute also has cooperations with the Faculty of East Asian Studies at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum[19] and with the University of Duisburg-Essen.[20] MERICS organizes the annual “Trierer China-Gespräche“ (Trier China Talks[21]) in cooperation with the alumni association of Trier University, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BAKS). The institute hosts regular events from internal expert roundtables to public panels at its offices in Berlin.

References
  1. "About us - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  2. "Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)". www.stiftung-mercator.de. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  3. "MERICS: Personalmeldung". www.stiftung-mercator.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  4. "Frank N. Pieke und Mikko Huotari neue Geschäftsführer des Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)". www.stiftung-mercator.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  5. "Press release: Leadership change at MERICS". www.merics.org. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  6. "Made in China 2025 - Papers on China - Publications - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  7. "Can China Become a Leader of Innovation?". ChinaFile. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  8. Alsabah, Nabil (2017-03-31). "China: Peking will gläserne Unternehmen". Die Zeit (in German). ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  9. "MERICS China Monitor No. 39 - China Monitor - Publications - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  10. "Event Recap – Leninism Upgraded: Restoration and Innovation Under Xi Jinping". asiacenter.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  11. Huotari, Mikko (2016-08-31). "Transatlantisch? Transsibirisch!". sueddeutsche.de (in German). ISSN 0174-4917. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  12. "Regionales_CH_Besuch_30052017 [de] | deutschland.de". www.deutschland.de (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  13. taz. "Artikel - LMd". monde-diplomatique.de. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  14. "Papers on China - Publications - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  15. Johnson, Ian (2017-02-22). "How the Communist Party Guided China to Success". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  16. Heilmann, Sebastian (2016-10-10). "Beijing's Brittle Strength". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  17. "Munich Security Conference 2016 - Event Reports - Events - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  18. "Partners". www.hamburg-summit.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  19. Online-Redaktion, Pressestelle Ruhr-Universität Bochum -. "Faculty of East Asian Studies - Ruhr-Universität Bochum". www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  20. "Welcome to the University of Duisburg-Essen". www.uni-due.de. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  21. "Trier China Talks 2016 - Event Reports - Events - Mercator Institute for China Studies". www.merics.org (in German). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
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