Air Liquide signs a strategic R&D agreement with Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- China
Air Liquide recently signed a strategic agreement with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), a top-ranked university in China. The goal of the agreement is to create a partnership to improve productivity and quality, and reduce manufacturing costs by using industrial gases and associated technologies in the manufacturing and semiconductor industries.
Air Liquide has agreed to finance 5-year research programs in the fields of Material Science, Biology and Microelectronics at SJTU. The agreement includes an "Air Liquide Scholarship" for excellent students, who are working on these programs. In addition, Air Liquide and SJTU will set up an executive committee to steer the program operation and facilitate the growth of this strategic partnership. The committee will determine the partnership objectives, select projects and supervise their efficient implementation.
Prior to this agreement, Air Liquide already had a project-based cooperation with SJTU. In August 2010, a collaboration was established for research activities in the fields of materials science related to welding and cutting processes, metal heat treatment and electronic components assembling.
Air Liquide was represented by Philippe Queille, VP R&D Asia, Dr. Sun Xulin, International Expert & Senior R&D Manager in China at the signing ceremony, where they joined Prof. Huang Zhen, VP of SJTU, Prof. Feng Yan, Vice Dean, Office of Research, SJTU, Dr. Xu Lin, Director of International Cooperation Office, Office of Research, SJTU, as well as the representatives from School of Materials, School of Mechanical Engineering and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
Philippe Queille commented in his speech at the ceremony: "We are particularly pleased to celebrate the strategic agreement with our partner Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Once again it demonstrates Air Liquide's commitment to innovation in China. SJTU is a famous university with long history and extensive knowledge and experience in many fields of natural science and engineering technology. Air Liquide intends to establish a long-term collaborative relationship with SJTU to accelerate scientific and technological progress and expand our R&D footprint in China.”