Ocean University of China (OUC) unveiled the Sino-Australian Joint Research Centre for Ocean Engineering and signed the Joint Agreement for Cooperation during the opening ceremony at OUC on October 13, 2014.

The ceremony was attended by Prof. Yu Zhigang, President of OUC, Prof. Deborah Terry, Vice Chancellor of Curtin University, and government officials including Dr. Chen Fei, Director of the Administrative Committee of Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone, who also signed the cooperation framework agreement for the Sino-Australian Joint Research (Incubation) Centre for Ocean Engineering with the two university heads.

“OUC is the flagship in China’s higher education in marine-related fields. Similarly, Curtin University is a prestigious, comprehensive university in Australia and a leading academic institution in the southern hemisphere for deep-sea technological research. The Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone can take advantage of preferential policies to bring together various innovation elements and thus promote the efficient transformation of sci-tech developments to tangible productivity. The three-party collaboration means the increase in strength of all parties and complementary advantages. We will regard this as a turning point and take the academic discipline of ocean engineering as our core to bring together all the superior resources, especially in the areas of physical oceanography, marine geological engineering, information technology, and other related fields. In this way, we aim to bring together top-notch professionals, establish collaborative innovation platforms, enhance international cooperation, and work closely with the industrial community so as to increase our own academic level, technology R&D capability, and the efficiency to make our due social contribution,” said Prof. Yu Zhigang in his speech.

Vice Chancellor Terry expressed her congratulations to the signing of the framework agreement in her speech during the ceremony. She said， “the marine industry is a very important component in Australia’s national economy. The Institution of Higher Learning and Research Institutes in Australia also enjoys a leading positon in the field of marine engineering in the world. Curtin University attaches great importance to international cooperation and exchanges and seeks to further develop the university’s teaching and research through academic seminars and student and faculty exchanges. The establishment of the center provides a great opportunity for experts from the two sides to enhance their understanding and deepen their cooperation, thus playing a vital role in the technological transfer to better serve the local socio-economic development.”

Presided over by Prof. Li Huajun, vice president of OUC, the ceremony was also attended by Dr. Chu Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone and Prof. Brett Kirk, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University.