Joint Program to Focus on Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, and Associated Interdisciplinary Research in Materials and Automation
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, signed a joint research cooperation agreement in China.
The agreement on joint research and innovation program aims to establish a research partnership and develop effective and long-term collaboration through interdisciplinary research and innovation.
The Khalifa University – Tsinghua University joint research and innovation program will have thrust areas in clean energy, including both low-carbon and renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, including both additive and smart manufacturing. It will also focus on associated interdisciplinary research, particularly on materials and automation. The program is expected to enhance the ongoing industrial capacity cooperation between the UAE and China, while fostering the high-caliber human capital development in the UAE and the Arab region.
The research agreement aims to bring together multidisciplinary scientists, experienced engineers, talented students, industrial partners, and stakeholders to boost the knowledge-based economy and economic diversification of the two countries.
Earlier in December 2017, Khalifa University signed an MoU that covered research in broad engineering fields, with the initial focus on solar and nuclear energy, energy materials and storage, carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS), and water and environment. It also covered exchange of materials in education, and research, publications, academic information, visitation and exchange of faculty members, researchers and students.
Other interactions continue, reflecting the close ties between the two academic institutions. In September 2018, KU’s Dr. Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice President of Research and Development, held discussions with Dr Bin Yang, Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University, at the Tsinghua Campus in Beijing. A joint workshop on clean energy witnessed faculty from both universities presenting their research works during the same month.
During October-December 2018, a PhD student from Tsinghua University spent a semester at KU’s Masdar City Campus. While more recently in May 2019, Dr. Bin Yang held talks with Dr. Arif during his visit to Khalifa University.
Clarence Michael
News Writer
1 August 2019
