Zhejiang Shuanghuan Driveline is a Chinese automotive company that manufactures and sells powertrain components. Based in Taizhou, south of Shanghai on the East China Sea coast, the company's products are widely used in cars, motorcycles, power tools and heavy machinery. Among its partners are well-known brands such as Volvo, Volkswagen, Bosch, Caterpillar, Black & Decker and General Motors.

Members of the Chinese delegation and representatives of Széchenyi István University at the Széchenyi statue on the Management Campus (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

The company is considering investing in Europe, and a delegation led by Managing Director Min Zhang visited Győr. The delegation also visited Széchenyi István University. Szilárd Bolla, Hungary's Consul General in Shanghai, played a major role in facilitating the meeting, presenting the institution as playing a major role in the economic development of Győr and the region. He added that the University - which seeks very close cooperation with international economic and academic partners - has particularly strong competences in the automotive field, which are also available to industry.

Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations, Tamás Kolossváry, Head of the University's Innovation and Training Centre in Zalaegerszeg and Dr Tibor Dőry, Head of the University's Centre for Higher Education and Industrial Cooperation, told the guests that the nine-faculty institution, with educational programmes in Győr, Mosonmagyaróvár, Budapest and also at the most modern automotive proving ground in Central Europe, ZalaZONE, has significant technological knowledge. Of its almost 14,000 students, some 800 come from abroad, from 70 countries around the world. The high quality of the University is reflected in its position of 801-1000 in the QS international higher education rankings and in the Times Higher Education sustainability goals ranking, which last year ranked it among the world's top 300 universities in the category of "sustainable cities and communities".

It was also announced that Széchenyi István University is currently building the first phase of its Science and Innovation Park in Győr, which will promote even closer partnerships with companies, support start-ups and spinoffs, and develop the knowledge economy. Last year, the institution opened the first buildings of its Innovation and Training Centre in Zalaegerszeg, alongside ZalaZONE, where, among other things, the focus is on research into self-driving vehicles and transport systems, drone technology, practical training for students and cooperation with industrial companies.

The representatives of the Chinese company also visited the University's internationally renowned Radio Frequency Testing Laboratory (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

Executive Director Min Zhang described the University's presentation at the meeting as very impressive, and said the infrastructure was up to German standards. He said that their company needs a precision manufacturing process and highly skilled workers to produce high-quality products.

The student teams of Széchenyi István University are among the elite in Europe. The Chinese guests were given an insight into the background of the outstanding performance in the workshops of SZEnergy Team….

…and the Arrabona Racing Team on the Győr campus.