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NEWS AND CURRENT AF FAIRS | INTERNATIONAL | 75
L ANC A S TE R U N I L IN K S U P WITH C HIN A
Lancaster University and the most prosperous province in China have signed up to an agreement that will enhance business links, boost exports and create jobs
A delegation of top officials from Lancaster University, along with the leader of Lancashire County Council, has flown out to China this week to meet with the Guangdong Provincial Office of Science and Technology in the city of Guangzhou. The two parties have signed a five-year
memorandum of understanding which outlines aims by both parties to increase the level of partnerships between UK and Chinese technology small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through collaborative research projects leading to the development and commercialisation of new products and services for global markets. The partnership, which exploits
Lancaster University’s excellence in research, was first announced by the UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willets, while visiting China with Prime Minister David Cameron in December 2013. Professor Mark E. Smith, Vice-
Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: “Lancaster has long-established links with China and we are strongly positioned to help develop greater
relationships between businesses in both countries that will deliver mutual economic benefits. “This agreement will enable UK
SMEs to exploit our long-lasting links and research excellence, giving greater potential for export growth and job creation.” Lancaster University and Guangdong
Provincial Office of Science and Technology are currently working together on two specific collaborative research programmes, the International Research and Innovation Centre for the Environment (IRICE), and the Lancaster China Catalyst Programme. The £5.1m Lancaster China Catalyst
Programme aims to revitalise the UK’s position in the global exports markets, create 240 jobs, help 400
"UNIVERSITIES ARE AN IMPORTANT KEY TO PRODUCING THE NEXT WAVE OF ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS LEADERS"
domestic businesses and boost the economy by £40m. Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire
County Council, said: “We want to help Lancashire businesses to gain new opportunities. This new agreement, which has just been signed, is an important way for us to make connections between our two countries and encourage new investment into Lancashire. “Universities are an important
key to producing the next wave of entrepreneurs and business leaders. We’re pleased to be working closely with the team from Lancaster, one of this country’s leading universities, to share knowledge and open up new business opportunities that will directly benefit Lancashire.” Participating UK SMEs will benefit
from access to up to 100 Lancaster University graduates drawn from science, technology, engineering, design and management disciplines to support research, development and commercialisation of new products and services for export. Firms will also receive support
to improve their leadership and management skills for internationalisation through accessing Lancaster’s expertise in the development and delivery of creative leadership programmes and long- standing experience of working in China. The project involves very experienced staff from Lancaster’s faculties of Science and Technology, Arts and Social Sciences and the Management School. Guangdong province is located in
south east China. It has a population of more than 71 million residents and has a GDP comparable to the Netherlands. UB
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