Ford has formed “strategic
academic alliances” with two Chinese universities – Nanjing
University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) and Shanghai Jiaotong
University (SJTU) – to increase research and development of automotive
technologies and sustainable mobility. The alliances are the Ford’s
first formal academic partnerships with universities in mainland China.
Both universities will have a Ford Motor Company Professor's Chair
to facilitate and promote the automotive technology research programmes
and academic curricula.
Gerhard Schmidt, vice president of Research & Advanced Engineering
at Ford, said: "NUAA and SJTU are widely renowned for their leading
scientific research programmes and academic reputations. The alliances
with Ford will allow for high-level collaboration that will enhance mutual
scientific and educational capacities, and leverage each other's strengths
and resources in the co-development of automotive technologies."
NUAA has strong capabilities in aluminium sheet forming and diesel engine
performance enhancement, which are instrumental in reducing vehicle weight
and improving fuel efficiency. Ford intends to work with NUAA on furthering
these, as well as helping develop technologies and identify solutions
that promote environmental conservation.
Ford has been working with SJTU since 1993, when the Ford China Research
and Development Fund was established. Ford and SJTU launched the C3P lab
in 1996, which has since made substantial technological contributions
in advanced materials and manufacturing processes.
In 2006, SJTU became the second university outside the US to receive two
University Research Program sponsorships from Ford Motor Company. Technical
knowledge exchange, education and training are closely tied to collaborative
projects between the two, and to date more than ten researchers from Ford
have been appointed as guest professors by SJTU.
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