The College of Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia will open the first U.S. environmental and energy technology office in China next March. U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) joined university leaders on Friday, Jan. 27, to announce the $287,000 U.S Department of Commerce grant, which will help fund the Beijing office. The office is designed to serve as a neutral academic setting to provide educational resources and training seminars for Chinese professionals interested in learning about advanced environmental technologies. “We will be the only university running the only U.S. environmental technology office in China,” said project director Thomas Clevenger, an MU civil engineering professor.
College of Engineering project leaders believe the office’s educational orientation and training programs will help American companies overcome societal barriers that have blocked their entry into China’s burgeoning market.
“We have found a unique and acceptable way to introduce technology to people who need it and assist U.S. companies in expanding their sales,” said Brian Gauler, the Beijing office’s associate director.
Clevenger said the University also will run a series of two-week technology training programs for Chinese decision makers on MU’s campus. Both the Beijing and Columbia efforts will initially focus on wastewater and drinking water treatment, solid waste management, energy-saving technologies and heat pumps.
