Chinese universities form alliance to boost innovation

Eleven Chinese universities Wednesday jointly announced the establishment of Beijing Tech, an innovation-oriented alliance aimed at giving a further boost to the country's scientific research and industrial development. "With the different specialties of member universities, the alliance will focus its efforts on technological innovations and industrial breakthroughs that are in line with the strategic demands of the country and major scientific research," said Wang Yajie, chief of the Communist Party committee of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, at the launch ceremony. Wang also acts as chairman of Beijing Tech. Member universities of the alliance include Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing Jiaotong University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, North China Electric Power University, China University of Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, China University of Petroleum, Beijing Forestry University, Xidian University, and Harbin Engineering University. "The eleven universities all play a leading role in their respective science and technology research fields," said Vice Minister of Education Du Yubo. These universities cover key engineering fields, including electronic information, network and telecommunications, transportation, new materials, chemical industry, electricity, geology, mining, oil and forestry, among others. Du expects the alliance to push forward cooperation among universities, research institutes and companies while deepening innovative reform in the management of talents, evaluation of research work, international communication and cultural construction.