Partner Article

Nottingham Uni partner with Chinese soft-drinks giant

The University of Nottingham has agreed a deal with Chinese soft drinks company, Wahaha, to form a 5-year venture of research and development.

The two will join forces to create centres which will focus on a vast range of research areas, including bioenergy technology, electrical motors, robotics, food technology and even animal feed.

Nottingham University have ambitions to work with the food and drinks company to develop technology to eventually create products for the Chinese market as well as providing training for Wahaha’s staff.

The first centre will be opened at the Electrical Motor Research in Hangzhou, China where Wahaha is based. This will be jointly run by the company with the University. A further site will be opened in Nottingham in the autumn of 2013.

Wahaha established itself in 1984 and currently employs over 30,000 people over its 60 sites in China. Their turnover last year amounted to a massive $6.3 billion and they have sat at the top of China’s drinks industry for the last 14 years.

The partnership follows a visit to the University from Mr Zong Qinghou, the Chairman of Wahaha and one of China’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Chris Rudd, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Business Engagement and Knowledge Transfer at the University commented: “We are very excited about the collaboration with Wahaha.

“The opening of the joint R&D centre in China will mark the start of our partnership and is just the first of a variety of projects we will work on together.”

Mr Zong met Professor Rudd’s enthusiasm. He said: ““I am sure that this will be a very successful partnership, because both Wahaha and The University of Nottingham work to the highest standards.

“It will benefit both parties because the University wants to build its reputation in China and our business, along with others in Zheijang province, needs the expertise and knowledge that the University can offer us.”

Nottingham are extending their international contracts as they are already in partnership with the Asia Business Centre and also have a campus in Ningbo, China.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .