University establishes link with China

Sheffield University has teamed up with Nanjing University, with academics from both working together to develop energy-saving lighting.

Professor Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of Sheffield University, has travelled to China to meet the president of Nanjing University, Prof Chen Jun, and is due to sign a memorandum of understanding at a ceremony today.

Academics from Sheffield and Nanjing – one of the top five Universities in China – will share facilities and expertise. The relationship will be strengthened by exchanges of academics, research staff, and students, joint publication of academic papers and regular workshops.

The partnership will lead to more joint research grants for collaborative work and increase Sheffield University’s reputation in China, as well as offering the most talented Chinese students the chance to study in Sheffield.

Prof Tao Wang, of the University of Sheffield’s department of electronic and electrical engineering, has already secured almost £500,000 funding from a local engagement grant, supported by the European Physical Science Research Council to partly support the establishment of the joint research centre.

Prof Wang said: “One of the targets for the joint research is to achieve a novel and ultra-high efficiency white solid-state lighting, which will replace the conventional lighting sources.

“It will massively save energy, electricity consumption, and help lead to a very clean, sustainable and energy-consumption-efficient world in the next 10 to 50 years. It is definitely unique work in terms of our approach and ideas.”

Prof Burnett added: “This exciting partnership is more than exchanging knowledge and working together, it represents a coming together of shared values – in particular, our common desire to use education to make a vital difference in our world.”