An unveiling ceremony was held on Nov 3 in Qingdao to officially mark the establishment of the Joint Research Centre for Rail Transportation Manufacturing Technologies sponsored by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. and Imperial College London.
Both parties will intensify international communications and cooperation, as well as personnel training, in the field of railway technology research and development. An open innovation platform will be set up for pooling talent, as well as accelerating the development and application of advanced rail transit technologies.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co. Ltd. is China's leading high-speed train manufacturer. Its US subsidiary secured a $1.3 billion order in March to supply up to 846 railcars to the Chicago Transit Authority. The company is headquartered in Jihongtan, in the north of Qingdao's Chenyang district, has made Jihongtan a "home of high-speed trains" in China.
Last May, CRRC signed framework agreements with Imperial College London, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Southampton to build joint research centers for railway technologies.
According to the framework agreements, the joint research centers are set to open at Imperial College London, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Southampton.