From the tainted milk powder to the latest toxic medical capsules, China’s food and drug safety record in recent years hardly inspires confidence. That explains why a technology called “Dried blood spot or DBS analysis” from De Montfort University sold like hot cakes at the UK-China technology transfer meeting held at Chongqing on April 10.
According to Dr Sangeeta Tanna, the technology is being used in the UK to monitor the drug intake of sick newborn babies and thus to prevent overdosing or under-dosing children. With a tiny amount of human or animal blood, it can also apply to identifying contaminants in food or fake medicines etc.
This is one of the 13 technologies from 7 UK universities who came to Chongqing to attend the UK-Chongqing Collaboration on Technology Transfer programme from April 10 to 12, a partnership programme between British Council and Chongqing Academy of Science and Technology (CAST).
Ranging from bio-medicine, manufacturing, to low-carbon built environment and nana technology, the 13 technologies were “courted” by 21 enterprises, research institutes and universities based in Chongqing at the “match-making” meeting. Simultaneously, two online “dating” were held via skype for two technologies from Nottingham University and one from Glamorgan with Cisdi Group Co., Ltd and Lifan Industry (Group) Co., Ltd
Besides, the 3-day programme also included a technology transfer seminar, tour of Chongqing Two River New Zone, visits to “matched” enterprises and the attendance of 10th Chongqing High-Tech Fair.
“Very well-organised three day event,” said Prof. Roger Wadsworth from Strathclyde University, “It has helped the participants to gain a better understanding of the collaborative opportunities available and to develop international network between UK & China institutes.”
On behalf of British Council, Ms. Paula Middleton signed an MoU with Mr. Li Leiting, Deputy Director of CAST, to officially launch a 3-year collaboration on technology transfer at the opening of 10th Chongqing High Tech Fair on April 12, which was witnessed by Mr. Huang Qifan, Mayor of Chongqing. A unique UK stand, featuring the 7 universities’ research excellence, was the first such during the Fair’s history. The 4-day High Tech Fair has attracted 180,000 visitors to the scene.
Later that day, Chongqing Vice Mayor Wu Gang met Paula and Paul Lister, Associate Dean of Wolverhampton’s Technology School, followed by a grand reception dinner hosted by Chongqing Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang and Mayor Huang Qifan. During the meeting, Wu Gang spoke highly of the UK-Chongqing programme, hoping more technologies and expertise in tech transfer from the UK will be introduced to Chongqing to drive the city’s economic development.
The 13-member UK delegation is widely covered by 20 national and local media during its 3-day activities, including CCTV, Chongqing TV, Xinhua News Agency, Guang Ming Daily People’s Daily, HongKong Wenhui Po, people.com.cn, CQ.QQ.com etc. The link below is Chongqing TV’s coverage of the event at its satellite news programme.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzg3Nzg2OTk2.html
After their first “date”, the UK scientists will keep in touch with their counterparts in Chongqing. A delegation consisting representatives of Chongqing government, business and universities will pay a return visit to the UK universities in October to consolidate their cooperation.
The British Council has a major role in facilitating and supporting international co-operation across the Higher Education sector, and as such has a close synergy with governments’ policy and direction. As part of our Internationalising Higher Education knowledge economy partnership programme, our tech transfer project aims to facilitate and support international research collaboration and global partnerships between governments, universities and business.
