Senior representatives from the University of Birmingham are visiting Guangzhou this week to enhance the institution’s extensive links with partners in the region.

Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor Edward Peck and Professor Richard Williams will meet Mr Ma Zhengyong, Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government (GMG), affirming the long-term strategic partnership between the City and the University.

During the visit, discussions will take place with GMG on the development of future research projects, for the next three years, in the fields of advanced engineering, new materials, railways and energy. 

Since it commenced in 2011, the University of Birmingham-Guangzhou partnership has seen the launch of five significant joint research projects with work well underway.

The projects are:

  •  The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study in partnership with the Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Centre
  •  The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study in partnership with Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital
  •  The Birmingham-Guangzhou Brain Cognition Centre in partnership with Guangzhou No. 1 Hospital
  •  Stem Cell Research on Liver Diseases in partnership with Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH)
  •  Service Industry Study in partnership with Guangzhou University

Together with meetings with local partners relating to the five existing research projects, the University of Birmingham delegation will meet with representatives from South China University of Technologies (SCUT), Jinan University, Guangdong Department of Science and Technology, and the China Electrical Science Research Institute (CEI).

Professor Edward Peck, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham, said:  “This latest visit demonstrates the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing our partnerships with Guangzhou and across the Pearl River Delta region. While working on the existing research projects, we are delighted to share further exciting research ideas.  These would help Guangzhou to become a centre of research excellence in smart grids, clinical trials and regenerative medicine.  In addition, an exchange between student Formula One-style racing teams from the two cities will begin."   

For media enquiries, please contact: Catherine Byerley, International Media Relations Manager, University of Birmingham, Tel: +44 (0)121 414 8254 or Email: c.j.byerley@bham.ac.u