The overall aim of the Sino-Danish Centre is to create the best possible conditions for Danish universities and companies in order for them to benefit from China’s large investment in knowledge and talent. Therefore, the initiative aims at creating a visible platform for Danish research and education in China as well as the strengthening of collaboration between Danish and Chinese research environments.

The Sino-Danish Centre will offer a framework for Danish-Chinese research projects, PhD programmes and joint Master’s degree programmes. The Sino-Danish Centre will also collaborate with Danish companies operating in China with regards to training and internships as well as research & development (R&D).

The Sino-Danish Centre in Beijing will be established gradually in the period from 2010 to 2013. Once the centre is fully operational in 2013, it is expected to have 100 researchers, 75 PhD students and 300 graduate students, of whom half will be from Denmark and the other half from China.

Five research themes

Initially, the Sino-Danish Centre will focus its activities within the following five research themes:

• Renewable energy
• Water and sustainable environment
• Life sciences
• Social sciences
• Nanosciences

The House of the Danish Industry Foundation

In order to ensure an optimal physical framework for the collaboration, a building for the Sino-Danish Centre – The House of the Danish Industry Foundation – will be constructed in Beijing. The building has been made possible by a donation of up to 80 million DKK from The Danish Industry Foundation. The building will be located at GUCAS’ new Yanqihu Campus approximately 60 km northeast of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The House of the Danish Industry Foundation will feature an auditorium, classrooms, office facilities, and apartments for short-term stays etc. Furthermore, the building is intended to be a showcase for Danish universities and companies related to the Sino-Danish Centre.

The building will be inaugurated in the spring of 2013.