H-BRS delegation on exploratory visit to China

In recent years, China has developed into an important location for many branches of technology, which H-BRS also deals with. In particular, the regions around Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have established themselves as centres for technological development.

H-BRS has been trying out successful cooperations with Chinese research and educational institutions for quite some time, which are now to be extended to other partners. Based on initial contacts made by the Vice President for International Affairs and Diversity, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bode, a delegation from H-BRS visited universities and institutes at the end of November - this might lead to long-term cooperations with Chinese and German partners in China. The aim is not only to cooperate in research and transfer; exchange opportunities are also to be created for students and other university members in order to better understand and get to know the country and its people.

Together with delegation leader Jürgen Bode, who himself spent four years in China, Iris Groß (Vice President of Teaching, Studies and Further Education), Dirk Reith (Director of the Institute for Technology, Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency) and Udo Scheuer (Vice President of Transfer, Innovation and Regional Development) travelled to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to explore concrete cooperation possibilities for their core areas of teaching, research and transfer. A total of five universities and six industrial organisations were visited in the tight schedule. The programme also included meetings with representatives of the German Embassy, the Chamber of Foreign Trade (AHK) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The delegation was impressed by the strong dynamics with which technological developments and the expansion of scientific and technical infrastructure are being driven forward in southern China.

Many connecting factors

Several universities are interested in a student exchange. Teachers also have the opportunity to initiate a dialogue about the respective educational culture and ways of thinking through exchanges or workshops, thereby promoting mutual understanding and further developing intercultural skills. In research and transfer, partnerships in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), energy efficiency and resource conservation seem to be within reach.

The Head of the delegation, Jürgen Bode says: "German science and industry have an excellent reputation in China. The Chinese partners showed great interest in the model of applied sciences practiced at H-BRS. We will make use of the current dynamic and increasingly seek cooperation with leading Chinese actors from science and industry. We will proceed with a sense of proportion and examine every cooperation option for its compatibility with our European values".

Vice President Udo Scheuer is optimistic: "I see opportunities for the implementation of ideas and results in several fields of technology". There are also good starting points for start-ups that want to enter the Chinese market or are interested in local capacities for prototype construction and production.