The Institute of Materials and Energy (MERC) in Karaj, Iran and Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoU) to foster closer scientific cooperation.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Hadavi, MERC chief Executive Officer, and Tan Tianwei, president of Beijing University of Chemical Technology.
The agreement includes cooperation on joint international projects; student and professor exchange programs and holding workshops and joint international seminars on advanced materials and renewable energies.
It also covers joint cooperation in technology commercialization and production of knowledge-based products.
MERC has developed close academic ties with a number of Chinese universities in the past. Its first PhD program (in Materials Engineering) was established in 1991 as a joint program with Shanghai University.
In 2015, MERC becan its collaboration with "The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)" for training international students in short-term programs.
There are currently some 250 students are enrolled at MERC in the fields of renewable energies, nanotechnology, thin film physics, ceramics, and materials engineering.
Established in 1971, MERC started its research activities in materials engineering, renewable energies, semiconductor technologies and environmental issues.
With 80 faculty members and advanced laboratories, MERC has developed extensive collaborations with national and international universities and industrial research institutes over the past few years.
Over the decades, MERC has extensively collaborated with Iranian and international universities and industrial research institutes.
Among MERC's key objectives are establishing an effective link between research and production; extending the interaction between researchers inside and outside Iran for transferring needed technologies and supporting scientific initiatives.
The city of Karaj is located in northern Iran. It is Iran's fourth largest city.
Beijing University of Chemical Technology, also known as Beihua, is one of the most prestigious multidisciplinary universities in China. Founded in 1958, BUCT has made considerable strides in the core fields of science and technology.
It is also renowned for integrating the academic disciplines of management, economics, law, the liberal arts, education and medicine.