BP pumps $10 million into energy research
5 Nov 2001
BP has recently signed a ten-year $10 million agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences for a broad research programme considering strategic and technical issues relating to the development of cleaner sources of energy.
The research programme is said to mark the largest such agreement reached between a western company and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The research programme will cover topics ranging from the development of natural gas to longer-term issues associated with the introduction of hydrogen as a fuel. A major study of energy strategy, to be undertaken by Tsinghua University, will underpin technically focused work.
The funding is intended to support graduate students as well as those pursuing post-doctoral research. New faculty members will be added, and exchanges with other BP-funded centres in the UK and US are said to be planned.
'The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University are world-class institutions undertaking ground-breaking research with the potential to have a profound impact both inside and outside China,' commented Dr Bernard Bulkin, BP Chief Scientist.
BP's agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences is said to be the latest in a series of ten-year university partnerships in the UK and US, representing a total commitment of $100million.
