Joining hands for new technology

In the picture above, Flextronics CEO Mike McNamara shakes hands with Li Peigen, president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) at the opening ceremony for Flectronics-HUST Technology Center in Wuhan, Hubei province.

A Fortune 500 company, Flextronics, and HUST set up the center at the HUST campus recently, in order to develop mechanical and electronics technologies and further promote engineering-related research and development (R&D) initiatives.

Flextronics, a Singapore-based electronics manufacturing service provider, sponsors the technology center's projects and daily operations. It also funds the salaries of the center's faculty members and postgraduate students who will be working with Flextronics on R&D there.

In addition, the company will allow selected HUST students to undergo a three-week internship at its Zhuhai Industrial Park. Experts from Flextronics will share their knowledge with the university students.

"This partnership is in line with the Chinese government's call for greater partnership between educational institutions and the industry at large and solidifies Flextronics' commitment to support China's fast-growing manufacturing industry," says McNamara.

The company did not disclose the amount it has invested in the technology center, saying only that the money will be adjusted according to the demands of the R&D projects.

Flextronics has similar R&D collaborations with Tsinghua University and Guangdong Industry University.

As a key public national university, HUST is directly affiliated with the Ministry of Education and considered one of the top 10 universities in China.

"I believe that this partnership will further entrench our strength in the research arena while allowing Flextronics to further enhance its cutting-edge manufacturing technologies," says HUST President Li Peigen, adding that HUST will work with other multinational companies on joint R&D activities and to cultivate professional talents for the industry.

(China Daily 06/30/2008 page8)