On March 13, 2009 afternoon, the memorandum signing ceremony of the Establishment Project Phase II of Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences was grandly held at the conference Room 712 of the headquarter of CAS in Beijing. Leaders from CAS, Zhejiang province and Ningbo city witnessed the historic moment together.
A number of leaders participated in the ceremony. Vice President, Chinese Academy of Sciences Erwei Shi, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Deshui Jin, Deputy Secretary, Ningbo Municipal Committee, Mayor, Guangli Mao on behalf of each party signed on the "Memorandum".
On the signing ceremony, NIMTE’s Director Ping Cui presented the construction plan, including the significant meaning of the construction, the whole idea and goals, the layout of the key technology research areas, the innovative culture, the operational mechanisms, the investment scale and the construction progress.
Based on the great success of the construction phaseⅠ, to meet the urgent need of the economic transformation and the upgrading of national and regional innovative enterprises, and further strengthen the cooperation between institutes and industries, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Province, and Ningbo City has decided to start the phase II of the construction to establish Ningbo Industrial Technology Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as “NITRI”).
The NITRI is composed of the Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, the New Energy Technology Research Institute, and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute. There are four function modules. The first module is the key technology research module which is to carry out prospective studies and master pre-competitive technologies. It will be mainly processed within the three institutes. When conditions are permitted, it can be expanded by adding new branch offices in Zhejiang province. The second module is an engineering module which is motivated by the demand of national and regional economic development. It is for research on essential products and complete sets of technologies. The third module is to provide support services for enterprises such as testing, counseling and other technical services; to collect domestic and foreign scientific and technological achievements to implement effective transformations; to provide investment and finance services, technique training, technical standard and related services for high-tech enterprises. The fourth module is a management module to provide efficient services. NITRI will cooperate with the Ningbo University and other regional institutions by exchanging personnels, jointly cultivating graduate students, sharing research equipments, and building laboratories.
NITRI is always adhere to the orientation of "one focus, four unswerving". It focuses on the research fields of new materials, new energy and advanced manufacture. It engages in the research and development of key technology and innovation integration. NITRI’s objective is to become a comprehensive industrial technology research institute with unique regional characteristics by integrating technological innovation, achievements transformation, scientific technological services, and personnel training.
In the next 3 to 5 years, we will first strive to be a comprehensive industrial technology research institute with a unique set of characteristics in "Yangtze River Delta" region. Around 2020, we will target to become a leading institution which will help Chinese enterprises to extend abroad.
The investment scale of construction phaseⅡis 7.6 billion which will be used to build 55,000 ㎡ research and ancillary buildings, a 5000 ㎡ incubation center, 20,000 ㎡ accommodation buildings for graduate students, and an education training center. The total construction area will be 80000 ㎡. NITRI will combine government investment, corporate finance and private capital as its investment mechanism. Regarding the cooperation style, government is the leader; research institutes are the main body; enterprises, colleges and universities are the participants. A national key discipline and a national laboratory will be built with universities and colleges in Ningbo. An Engineering Center for research and development will be established with enterprises. Construction Phase II is expected to be completed in 2013.
At the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman NPC, President CAS Yongxiang Lu, Secretary, Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, Director, Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee Hongzhu Zhao, made important speeches. Many other important officers attended the ceremony also.
Finally, "the New Round of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhejiang Provincial Government" and "the Comprehensive Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ningbo Municipal People's Government" were signed.