The University of Nottingham’s Sino-UK Geospatial Engineering Centre has been awarded International Joint Research Centre status by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, one of only 20 research collaborations in the world to have achieved this accolade.
The Centre is a joint Sino-UK operation between the university and the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, the sole research arm of China’s National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASG) and operates from bases in Beijing and Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP). It offers annual Executive Training courses for Chinese leaders working in the top surveying and mapping companies, in areas such as technology, management and business.
Dr Xiaolin Meng, Associate Professor of The University of Nottingham and UK Director of the Sino-UK Centre, said: “It is a great honour that the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has chosen the Sino-UK Geospatial Engineering Centre as one of its International Joint Research Centres. So far, 127 Chinese executives have already taken part in seminars here at The University of Nottingham and we are also working closely with our partners in China on a number of groundbreaking research projects in the geospatial sector. We are looking forward to a long term collaboration with our Chinese colleagues, which will be of mutual benefit both to China and the UK.”
Professor Chris Rudd, Pro-Vice Chancellor at The University of Nottingham, added that through the work of colleagues at the two centres research partnerships with major Chinese businesses involved in food and drink, automobile, aerospace and locomotive manufacturing had been established. “We are also helping British businesses take advantage of opportunities in China,” he added.
