University joins UK-China Research Group

The University of Ulster has become a founding member of the world’s first UK-China Research Network in Intelligent Automation, Computing and Manufacturing.

Together with 16 other UK universities, the University won a large Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) Network grant in collaboration with 32 of the top universities and research institutes in China, the largest developing economy in the world.

Principal Investigator Professor Gerard Parr of the Internet Technologies Research Group at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus, said: “I am delighted to be part of this unique and strategic research network. It builds on my existing Royal Society project with Xiamen University, where our expertise in advanced communications protocols will underpin many of the activities of the Network."

Professor Jian-Bo Yang of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) added: ”The UK’s reputation as a centre of excellence in the proposed areas was very high in China in the 1980s and early 1990s thanks to a large number of cultural exchange programmes funded by the UK and Chinese Governments and other bodies.

“Hundreds of scholars studied in these areas in the UK, most returning home to make a major impact on the development of science and technology in China. Others remained here to enjoy significant achievements in their chosen subjects and are now about to join this research network, having gained at least ten years’ experience, and are genuinely familiar with both cultures, education systems, research organisations and languages."

The aims of the new network are to share and disseminate new theories, methodologies, technologies and tools within the member organisations and wider academic and industrial sectors including aerospace, auto-engineering and factory automation; identify areas of research and development of interest to academia and industry and support further collaboration; increase the capability of participating organisations and the wider research communities and improve research quality; and help the UK universities establish internationally-leading joint research programmes with partner universities in China.

The Research Network in Intelligent Automation, Computing and Manufacturing will launch this coming September,

(MB)