On October 13th, a four-member delegation from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) visited Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) for an academic exchange. The delegation included Ivar Horneland Kristensen, Director General of NIBIO; Thomas Hartnik, Director of the Division of Environment and Natural Resources; Jihong Liu Clarke, Coordinator for China Affairs; and Henrik Nykvist, Counsellor for Science and Education from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in China. President Tan Tianwei attended the meeting and delivered a speech, joined by Vice President Wang Feng, along with representatives from the Graduate Student Affairs Office, the International Exchange and Cooperation Department, the College of Materials Science and Engineering, the Institute of “Belt and Road” Global Cooperation, and the College of Life Science and Technology.
President Tan extended a warm welcome to the delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of BUCT’s history, flagship disciplines, and notable achievements. He expressed a commitment to deepening research collaboration and academic exchanges in areas such as sustainable development, biomanufacturing, and bioprocessing, and hoped to strengthen the development of international joint laboratories in the future.
Director General Ivar Horneland Kristensen expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and spoke highly of BUCT’s campus environment and advanced teaching facilities. He stated that NIBIO attaches great importance to internationalization and partnerships with Chinese universities, expressing his hope for enhanced research collaboration in sustainable development and biomass utilization in the future.
Counsellor Henrik Nykvist remarked that China and Norway have long been dedicated to advancing scientific and technological cooperation, and that both countries will continue to deepen exchanges and expand collaboration in these fields. He noted that this visit to BUCT with the NIBIO delegation allowed him to witness the achievements of bilateral scientific research collaboration, and he expressed great confidence in the prospects for a deeper partnership.
During the meeting, participants from both sides held in-depth discussions on scientific research collaboration and the development of international joint laboratories, reaching a consensus on future cooperation. President Tan and Director Kristensen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of their respective institutions, laying a solid foundation for further cooperation in education and scientific research.
About NIBIO:
The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) is a leading national research institute in Norway, dedicated to research and development in the field of bioeconomy. Its core mission is to provide a scientific basis and innovative solutions for Norway’s agriculture, forestry, food industry, land use, and environmental management. NIBIO’s research covers a wide range of disciplines, including plant science, animal science, environmental science, soil science, biomass utilization, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and bioeconomy policy. Committed to sustainable development, NIBIO promotes green innovation and enhances the value of biological resources through interdisciplinary collaboration and international exchanges. It plays a key role in addressing global challenges such as climate change and food security. In 2023, BUCT and NIBIO signed an agreement to jointly establish the Chinese-Norwegian Joint Laboratory for Bioenergy.