Rebecca Arcesati is Head of the Science, Technology and Innovation Program (Co-lead) at the Mercator Institute for China Studies. She is based in MERICS' Brussels office. Her research focuses on China’s technology, innovation and digital policy, its artificial intelligence and data strategies, as well as Europe-China innovation relations and US-China technology competition.
Prior to joining MERICS, Rebecca gained experience helping Italian tech startups scale in China and as a research assistant in the UN Women China office. She holds an LL.M. in China Studies (Politics and International Relations) from Peking University, where she was a Yenching Scholar. Rebecca also received an MA degree in International Studies from the University of Turin. She has studied and worked in Beijing, Shanghai and Dalian.
