1.UK expertise across science and innovation is strong, particularly in the areas of advanced manufacturing and information and communications technology, building on its historic strengths in material and automotive technologies. The UK is also a world leader in other niche high-tech engineering sectors.
2.There is a strong interest from China in UK’s advanced researches and technologies. Industries in China have a great demand and would cherish opportunities and channels to link up with the UK excellence. Wuxi Association For Science and Technology, which has a local scheme of promoting international technology transfer, is willing and able to provide a platform for UK universities and enterprises in Wuxi.
3.British Council, which operates as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, is committed to creating international opportunities for the UK and other countries in a mutually beneficial and sustainable manner. British Council China and Wuxi Association For Science and Technology are planning to set up a joint programme under British Council’s Internationalising Higher Education Knowledge Economy Partnership programme.
The programme aims to achieve the following objectives:
- To link up UK excellence in researches and technologies with needs of Wuxi-based enterprises with an ultimate aim to transfer the technology from UK universities to Wuxi on a commercial basis;
- To expand such kinds of collaborations to surrounding cities which have similar interests and environment, i.e. Changzhou.
Wuxi Association For Science and Technology has extensive links with local enterprises. Priority areas for this programme have been identified according to the local economic and technological development:
- Internet of Things Industry
- New Energy and New Energy Vehicle Industry
- Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Industry
- Biological Industry
- Micro-electronics
- New Materials and New Displayer Industry
- Software and Service Outsourcing Industry
- Industry Design ,Cultural and Creative Industry
It is agreed that the following activities will be jointly organised to meet the objectives of the project:
- Inspection and briefing trip to the UK by Wuxi Association For Science and Technology, to give UK universities in-depth information of the needs and requirements from local enterprises for technology transfer projects and support granted by the local government.
- Partnering Wuxi enterprises and UK universities. BC will publish in the UK a call for expressions of interest before the inspection trip by Chinese partner. After the inspection trip, interested and shortlisted UK universities will be invited to come to Wuxi to meet the enterprises at “2012 China (Wuxi) Overseas High-Tech Talents & Projects Promotion Fair” or “UK/Wuxi High-Tech Talents & Projects Promotion Fair” （exact dates to be confirmed later）
- Reciprocal visits of Wuxi enterprises to the UK would be arranged by British Council and Wuxi Association For Science and Technology upon demands to be shown after the Wuxi event. Partnerships are expected to be generated from those “matching-making” events.
The following timetable has been suggested for the 1st round of activities:
- Call for interest in the UK – Jan 2012
- Inspection and briefing trip to UK – May 2012
- Application deadline for UK universities – end of July 2012
- Notification of selection is sent to UK universities – by August 2012
- Selected UK university researchers visit Wuxi – early Nov 2012.
- Potential partners keep in touch through emails, teleconferences and videoconferences etc. – since Nov 2012
- Wuxi enterprises visit the UK – March 2013. (to be confirmed)
- Wuxi Science and Technology collect enterprise needs and disseminate among UK participating universities – ongoing.
Principle of reciprocity is suggested to apply in this programme.
- Participants (both UK and China) will be responsible for their own international travel;
- Wuxi Science and Technology will cover UK delegation’s costs in Wuxi including accommodation and meals as well as workshop costs（itinerary of the UK delegation will be agreed by two parties）;
- British Council China will be responsible for Wuxi enterprise delegation’s costs in the UK, including travel in the UK, accommodation and meals.
Please note that applied projects should fall into at least one of the categories listed below:
- Internet of Things Industry
- New Energy and New Energy Vehicle Industry
- Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Industry
- Biological Industry
- Micro-electronics
- New Materials and New Displayer Industry
- Software and Service Outsourcing Industry
- Industry Design ,Cultural and Creative Industry
- Starting date:10th January 2012
- Deadline:31st July 2012
Please fill in the application form and send it back together with other necessary materials to the email address below, indicating on the Subject area of “UK-Wuxi Collaboration on Technology Transfer”. If you have any queries, please contact ihe@britishcouncil.org.cn.
