WMG increases ties with Beijing

The past few weeks have seen a series of important new developments for Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).

WMG recently made an agreement with Beijing City University (BCU) regarding increased cooperation between the two universities and announced the appointment of a director of the International Institute for Product and Service Innovation (IIPSI).

WMG’s Chairman and founder, Lord Bhattacharyya, has been involved in a series of discussions in Beijing, building upon WMG’s close association with organisations in China for over thirty years.

During one such meeting, State Councillor Liu Yandong spoke of a future which held “broad prospects for cooperation between the two nations on education, technology, high-end manufacturing, energy conservation, environmental protection and new energy.”

Councillor Yandong added that she “hoped universities of the two countries will further increase interactions in related sectors”.

Lord Bhattacharyya also signed an agreement with Professor Liu Lin of BCU, hoping to create a long-term collaboration between WMG and BCU. The main aim of this collaboration will be to deliver a large range of custom-made education programmes which will in turn enable enterprise in the region.

Speaking at the time, Lord Bhattacharyya said: “I welcome this opportunity for WMG to work with Beijing City University, the leading municipal university, in China to design and deliver exciting, customer focused programmes which will make a major impact on the development of individuals and the competitiveness of companies.”

On Tuesday 18 September WMG also announced the appointment of Professor Irene Ng as Director of the IIPSI. Joining Professor Ng will be Jonnie Turpie, an Honorary Fellow of Warwick University and the recipient of an MBE for services to international trade, as the Deputy Director of IIPSI.

IIPSI is the most recent WMG building at the University and it aims to help small businesses locally by providing them with access to world leading technology in order to develop new products and services.

IIPSI is expected to both create and safeguard in excess of 200 jobs as well as aiding start-ups for small businesses in the local area through a funded support programme.

Before joining WMG in 2011, Professor Ng was an entrepreneur for 16 years as CEO of SA Tours and as the founder of Empress Cruise Lines, a company which she sold in 1996.

She remarked: “IIPSI will be a showcase of cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that works alongside businesses in a creative and innovative knowledge eco-system can create real impact, from start-ups to established global corporations. Jonnie and I have ambitious plans for IIPSI to be a global exemplar as an innovation institute while making a difference locally.”