The University of New South Wales has signed a major research partnership with China’s prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The agreement is viewed as a potential breakthrough for technology transfer and research commercialisation in China and sets out a future roadmap for SJTU to adopt the principles of Easy Access IP, where universities offer most of their intellectual property to industry for free, and for the two institutions to collaborate on research commercialisation in China and Australia. “The research agreement with Shanghai Jiao Tong gives UNSW a front row seat at the centre of China’s development,” said UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer. “It provides another mechanism for both institutions to make a shared contribution to the great knowledge partnership between the cities of Sydney and Shanghai in the Asian Century.” UNSW's Director of China Strategy & Development Laurie Pearcey said: “With China on track to overtake the US as the world’s largest investor in research and development by 2020 and Chinese universities driving so much of China’s innovation, this is a real coup for Australia.” “China’s rise will hit the US-centric model of patenting and research commercialisation head on. Easy Access IP is fundamentally about university research making a tangible direct impact on society and the economy.” This could be the first step of China’s broader adoption of the system, says Pearcey. “Everyone we have spoken to in China about Easy Access IP from the Vice-Premier, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and universities right through to large state-owned enterprises think this is a game changer.” UNSW became the first Australian university to adopt Easy Access IP following the recruitment of the system’s founder Dr Kevin Cullen to head up the University’s commercialisation offshoot NewSouth Innovations. The partnership establishes a joint investment fund to provide seed funding for collaborative research across a range of areas including materials engineering, computer science and biotechnology.  Media contacts: Laurie Pearcey, 0404 885 088, l.pearcey@unsw.edu.au; Denise Knight, UNSW Media Office, 0405 207 685, d.knight@unsw.edu.au

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The agreement was signed by Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer and SJTU Council Chair Madam Ma Dexiu at a ceremony hosted by Premier Barry O’Farrell. Also pictured is PRC Consul-General to Sydney Li Huaxin.