China as a knowledge economy is on the rise. In recent years the Chinese have heavily invested a large amount of money to bring the Chinese universities as a player among world’s elite.

These investments have significantly focused on a few institutions who in the recent years have demonstrated research results and strong links with the corporate world. This focus means that China already is already in the lead in a number of subject areas, and this is only expected to increase in the near future.

In recent years AU has succeeded in establishing unique links to some of the strongest universities in China. AU is co-founder of the Nordic Centre at Fudan University. At the same time AU has over the last few years established broad collaboration agreements with the Harbin Institute of Technology, Peking University and Tsinghua University.

New initiative to strengthen collaboration

To support these new alliances, the University Management has appointed 2 million DKK from its strategy budget to establish new and specific collaboration agreements at these four Chinese universities within education, research, talent development and knowledge exchange over a two-year period (2013-2014). This initiative is a supplement to current activities and partnerships – a way to make use of a unique and favourable opportunity – not to substitute.

This funding is designed to help establish research collaboration, research and development applications, fundraising, joint education and parallel courses, development, summer schools and contacts with businesses and authorities. Furthermore, it is important to consider the mobility possibilities both in attracting talent and giving young Danish students and researchers the opportunity to gain insight into a country that is anticipated to become one of the world’s leading economies.

Responsible to oversee the implementation of this funding is a group consisting of four vice-deans: Kurt Nielsen, Science and Technology; Frank Pedersen, School of Business and Social Sciences; Jan Ifversen, ARTS and Lise Wogensen Bach, Health.