The University of Nottingham has signed a deal with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group (CRPG) in Beijing, which will see ‘close collaboration’ between the two organisations.
Under the agreement, which was coordinated by the University’s Asia Business Centre, CRPG will partner with Nottingham through training, staff exchanges, student internships and research and development.
CRPG has built a pharmaceutical industrial park in Beijing which has been funded by the Chinese government. The company will work with the University to develop this park by learning from the BioCity model, the Nottingham-based bioscience incubation centre, of which the University is a co-founder.
The University of Nottingham already has an existing relationship with CPRG. It worked with the company in 2013 to design and deliver a two-week long executive training course for the senior managers of its subsidiary China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group. Earlier this year, six students from the University’s School for Contemporary Chinese Studies went to China to intern with different sub-companies within the China Resources Group.
Speaking at the signing, Professor Chris Rudd, pro-vice chancellor for external engagement at the University, said: “We are very excited to be expanding our links with CPRG. The company is one of the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturers in China, and this agreement will see many of our staff and students working with CPRG on a range of new projects and initiatives.”
Last year, Madam Jisheng Chen, the General Manager of CRPG, received an honorary professorship from Nottingham Business School in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.
Madam Chen said: “We very much look forward to further collaboration with The University of Nottingham in these key areas. The expertise of the University will undoubtedly help CRPG reach a higher stage on the international platform; we cherish our relationship with Nottingham and will strive for working together to our mutual benefits.”
With revenue of £5.2bn, CPRG is one of the top three pharmaceutical companies in China, and is one of the seven core business units of its parent company, China Resources (Holding) Co. Dating back to 1938, and with an annual turnover of over £38bn and more than 420,000 employees, China Resources is one of the longest established and largest central government owned enterprises in the country. CRPG is ranked 144th in the latest Fortune Global 500 list.
