University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor and Master of St Catharine’s Launch Strategic Collaboration between Cambridge and Nanjing

Today, Professor Sir Mark Welland joined University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Toope at an event to launch a collaboration with the Nanjing Municipal Government. 

Driven by Sir Mark as Head of Electrical Engineeing at the University, the creation of the Cambridge University-Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation will entail the establishment of a joint research centre and the sharing of revenue derived from the commercialisation of intellectual property. It is the University’s first overseas enterprise at this scale.

Funded by Nanjing Municipality for five years in the first instance, the project will support innovative research into “smart” cities and fully integrated urban environments. It will have its own dedicated building in Nanjing’s Jiangbei New Area – a pilot urban development based on high levels of technological innovation.

Speaking just before the official signing of the agreement, held at the British embassy in Beijing, Professor Toope said: “This is only the most recent example of our collaboration with Chinese partners – but it is by far the most ambitious to date. And it is very exciting indeed.”

Sir Mark, who has led the negotiations with Nanjing over the past 18 months said, “Ensuring that this unprecedented agreement was negotiated to maximise joint opportunities whilst protecting and respecting Cambridge and Nanjing has been challenging. However, the signing of the agreements by the Vice Chancellor Stephen Toope in Beijing demonstrates that we now have a clear path to take forward this remarkable collaboration”.