Purdue News
Purdue News
May 28, 1997
President Steven C. Beering will sign an agreement Friday (5/30) making Purdue a member of the International Strategic Technology Alliance (ISTA), a cooperative of 15 universities in Hong Kong and China that collaborate on research and development of technologies for the world marketplace.
"This agreement is designed to create opportunities for Purdue to build relationships with both academia and industry in Hong Kong and China," explained Michael Stohl, dean of International Programs. "Building partnerships with their universities and industry leaders can only enhance the atmosphere for investment and trade between our countries. This also will provide a new source of research dollars for Purdue scholars."
The agreement, which is initially limited to two years, is part of Purdue's Pacific Rim Initiative. Purdue is the only university in North America that has been invited to join the alliance.
The ISTA is being represented by Professor Poon Chung Kwong, President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who will be on Purdue's West Lafayette campus to meet with faculty and administrators on Friday. He has served as an adviser to the Hong Kong government on matters of science and technology, and he was a member of the Hong Kong consultative committee, the advisory council for the transition of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty beginning July 1.
"Our new affiliation with the alliance puts us into a collaborative network with Chinese scholars and the growing industry of China," Stohl said. "This is a very vibrant, economically active area of the world with many opportunities for growth. This agreement gives Purdue University a chance to share in that growth and forge the kind of relationships that will create new investment and export opportunities for Indiana and the United States."
Source: Michael Stohl, (765) 494-8463; e-mail, puglobal@ippu.purdue.edu
Writer: Sharon Bowker, (765) 494-2077; e-mail, sharon_bowker@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
