Coventry & Warwickshire Strengthens Future Inward Investment Links with Chinese Delegation Visit to Warwick Manufacturing Group
Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, founder and Chairman of WMG was delighted to welcome Mr Hu Chunhua the Party Secretary of Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China to WMG, University of Warwick.
Mr Hu Chunhua was accompanied by a senior delegation including Minister Ma Hui of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Wen Guohui, the Mayor of Guangzhou City and the Director Generals of the Guangdong Commerce, Economic and Information, Education, Foreign Affairs, International, Policy, and Science and Technology departments.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya introduced the breadth and depth of WMG’s research, education and technology transfer activities and the long history and impact of its engagement with Chinese organisations. The delegation engaged Lord Bhattacharyya in a discussion about WMG and how its highly successful mode of operation can bring further benefits to Sino-UK collaboration and in particular between Guangdong and Coventry and Warwickshire.
As part of this Lord Bhattacharyya shared his vision of the Smart Motor City, which is, being built rapidly on the research strength of WMG, the can-do approach of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, major companies and innovative suppliers clustering around the new National Automotive Innovation Campus. This research strength was exemplified through visits to two unique facilities in WMG, the 3XD Simulator enabling the implementation of smart and connected vehicles and the Energy Innovation Centre forming the foundation for the proposed National Battery Prototyping Centre.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya said[LB1] “I was delighted to host the visit of Mr Hu Chunhua the Party Secretary, and delegation, to show them the impact that WMG’s research has on industry, and society, so they could see first-hand the types of research that have made WMG world-renowned. Having had strong relationship with China for 30 years we are keen to continue this and to develop relationships which will allow for the growth of the regional economy as well as research and education collaborations.”
The Coventry and Warwickshire LEP was a key element in this high-profile visit to the UK. Craig Humphrey, Managing Director of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “Coventry and Warwickshire has a strong record in inward investment and this visit is very important for the region and future links with China.
“The CWLEP is dedicated to driving forward our local economy across all sectors. We work closely with our universities, and WMG is world-renowned for fostering links with industry both in the UK and across the globe. This further evidence of that.”
