Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark breaks ground for the landmark of the Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research

When Her Majesty the Queen breaks ground for the Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research’s (SDC) new building in Beijing, it is an important milestone for the unique Sino-Danish initiative within education and research and it will stand as a symbol of Sino-Danish friendship and collaboration.

The event will be attended by the Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, Ms. Sofie Carsten Nielsen, President of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr. Bai Chunli, Chairman of the Board of the Danish Industry Foundation, Mr. Sten Scheibye, CEO of the Danish Industry Foundation, Mr. Mads Lebech, Chairman of the Danish SDC-board Rector Brian Bech Nielsen and Executive Director of SDC Mr. Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, and SDC’s many Chinese and Danish students.

- It is essential for Denmark’s competitive position that Danish companies can recruit qualified graduates with international experiences. Research, education and talent development is developing rapidly in China, and the vision of The House of the Danish Industry Foundation is to create a appealing physical meeting point, where education and collaboration with the business community can flourish, says Sofie Carsten Nielsen.

The Danish Industry Foundation has donated DKK 99 million (approximately RMB 114 million) for SDC’s new building. The House of the Danish Industry Foundation is designed by Danish architects at Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter to reflect Nordic architectural traditions with a strong focus on high quality, low energy consumption and environmental-friendly solutions. The building will serve as the strong visual landmark for the academic activities of the SDC and provide a hub and meeting point for SDC’s researchers, students and interested companies from both China and Denmark.

- The Foundation hopes that the Danish business community will become actively involved in the life in and around the House of the Danish Industry Foundation in China. This will ensure a close connection between the individual company and the university and provide the company with access to new knowledge, technology and highly educated graduates. This can support the general safeguarding of Danish companies’ interests in the Chinese market, says Sten Scheibye.

When expected to erected in the autumn of 2015 the 10.900 m2 building will have lecture halls, teaching facilities, offices, student facilities, 20 residences for researchers and a large foyer that can be used as showroom and for events. The building will be located next to the Yanqi Lake at the newly-built campus for University of Chinese Academy of Science (UCAS), 60 kilometres northeast of Beijing.

Strong Sino-Danish relations within education and research

SDC is established in collaboration between the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the eight Danish universities, Chinese Academy of Sciences and UCAS.

The overall aim of SDC is to promote and strengthen collaboration between Danish and Chinese research and learning environments for the benefit of both countries, and to bring together leading Sino-Danish researchers. SDC focuses on research areas that contribute to the continued development of the Danish and Chinese societies and which supports the education programmes that SDC offers. Currently, seven Master’s programmes are offered within bioenergy, environmental studies, neuroscience, biotechnology, nanoscience, social science and innovation.

Since SDC opened up for enrolment in 2012, approximately 250 Master’s students from China and Denmark have begun their education at the centre. The students play a key role in future Sino-Danish relations, as they are exposed to the best education and research environments as well as both Chinese and Danish culture. SDC offers a unique experience and opportunity for the students and will play a key role in shaping a unique talent pool for Chinese and Danish companies. When SDC is fully developed, 100 researchers, 75 PhD students and 3-400 Master’s students will be affiliated with the centre.

The ground-breaking ceremony will not only be an important testimony to the progress of SDC but also a testimony to the strong and longstanding relationship between China and Denmark within education and research.

For further information please contact:

Head of Press Ingeborg Nielsen, tel 2211 0200, email:imen@ufm.dk

Senior Adviser Jens Peter Jacobsen, tel. + 45 7231 8600, email:jpj@uds.dk

Project manager Lars Møller Holmegaard tel. +45 3060 3320; email:lmh@industriensfond.dk

Executive Director Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, tel. 23382126, email: lhn@adm.au.dk