Beijing, April 23, 2015 - Today in Beijing, ABB, the world's leading power and automation technology group, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ABB Corporate Research Center in China with experts and scholars from Chinese research institutions and universities.
As one of ABB's seven major R&D centers worldwide, ABB Corporate Research Center in China was launched in early 2005. In Beijing and Shanghai, it includes a power electronics laboratory, a material and insulation laboratory, a processing laboratory, an environment laboratory, and a mechatronics laboratory. The center is focusing on power and automation research in renewables integration, outdoor insulation, small parts assembly and other areas. To date, ABB Corporate Research Center in China has applied for nearly 200 international patents and played a leading role in the research and innovation of fields such as machinery, controls, materials and power electronics.
Claes Rytoft, Chief Technology Officer of ABB Group, said, "China has become one of ABB's most important R&D bases worldwide. An increasing number of locally developed products and technologies have been introduced in major global markets. Innovation is a key component of ABB's Next Level strategy. ABB Corporate Research Center in China will remain a technological pioneer in the future. We will continually create greater value for our global customers through smart technology within the Internet of Things, Services and People."
Currently, ABB employs more than 2,000 R&D experts in China and is committed to local innovation. Since its establishment in 2005, ABB Corporate Research Center in China has been deeply involved in a number of significant projects, demonstrating an increasingly stronger R&D ability such as "Dragon" IRB 120, the world's fastest and most accurate six-axis robot; ±800 kV HVDC transmission technologies; and YuMi, the world's first truly collaborative robot that will make human-robot collaboration a reality.
To meet market demand, in 2014 ABB China's R&D team developed the all-new IRB 1200 small robot for modern material handling and machine tending industries; the Terra 53 Z - its first general type of DC fast charger in line with China's electric vehicle charging standard; the "i-Home" wireless smart home system; a gas insulated switchgear that uses dry air to replace greenhouse gas; and a number of new type low-voltage motors and medium-voltage drivers.
Dr. Chunyuan Gu, Chairman and President of ABB (China) Limited, said: "ABB has a history of innovation for more than 100 years. Innovation is a crucial part of ABB's competitiveness in the marketplace. In the future, ABB will continue to develop innovative technologies to help our customers create sustainable value and to support the economic transformation and sustainable development of China under the 'New Normal'."
Cooperation with universities is one of the ways ABB promotes technology research and innovation. In recent years, ABB has invested more than 10 million yuan to support basic research of Chinese universities, and collaborated with around 20 universities including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on various research projects, which covered different areas of power and automation technology such as industrial robots, renewables and industrial nanotechnology. In early 2015, ABB also helped the Lanzhou University of Technology set up a joint automation laboratory to research and push forward the application of automation in the field of new energy.
Talent is playing an important role in innovation. In addition to attracting and cultivating innovative talent, ABB has provided scholarships for students through the "ABB - New Great Wall Fund" and the "ABB Jürgen Dormann Foundation for Engineering Education", helping to cultivate talent for industry and society as a whole. Students majoring in electrical engineering and automation at Chinese universities can apply for these scholarships to help them complete their studies. Furthermore, ABB has organized its "University Innovation Contest" in China three years in a row, providing a platform for Chinese students to showcase their creative ideas.
Qianjin Liu, head of ABB Corporate Research Center in China and Chief Technology Officer of ABB (China) Limited, said: "The key to innovation lies in talent, especially innovative technological talent. ABB Corporate Research Center in China places a strong emphasis on talents for both team building and external collaboration. Moving forward, we will further enhance the strength of our team and use cutting-edge technologies to support the country's evolution from 'Made in China' to 'Created in China'."
ABB China's R&D capabilities and achievements are fully recognized by the society. In 2013, ABB (China) Limited was named "Innovator of the Year" at the Swiss Business Awards. In 2014, ABB Corporate Research Center in China was rated among the "10 Most Influential R&D Centers" by Global Science magazine. In early 2015, Global Science ranked ABB (China) Limited among the "Top 10 Innovative Multinational Companies of 2014".
As a global company with more than 100 years of history, ABB has invented and pioneered the application of many power and automation technologies such as industrial robots, high-voltage direct current, drives, grid management, and electric propulsion system for ships. Through these innovations, ABB has supported the evolution of many industries around the world. ABB Group invests approximately US$1.5 billion in R&D annually and employs around 8,500 technical experts. Additionally, ABB works with more than 70 universities worldwide to carry out research in order to ensure its global technology leadership in mechanics, control, sensors, communication, software, switching, material, power electronics and electromagnetics.
Based on its milestone achievements in innovation, ABB has been recognized for times by Thomson Reuters as one of the world's top 100 innovators. ABB was also named one of Europe's top ten innovators by the European Patent Office and has ranked on the MIT Technology Review's Top 50 global innovators list. The hybrid HVDC breaker developed by ABB removed a 100-year-old barrier from the development of DC transmission grids, and was named among the ten most important technology milestones of 2012 by the MIT Technology Review.
ABB is a Global 500 company and a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with 19,000 employees, 39 local companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 126 cities.
For more information on ABB, please visit http://new.abb.com/cn, Sina Weibo: @ABB China, Official WeChat Account: abb_in_china, Official WeChat QR Code:
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