ABOVE: Dean Stephen Cheng of the College of Polymer Science & Polymer Engineering and Joseph Rich of the University of Akron Research Foundation (left) and Dr. James Bao (right) of the Triangle Group, a tiremaker based in China, flank UA President Luis M. Proenza, left, and Dr. Yuhua Ding, Triangle’s chairman, as they sign a cooperation agreement Friday, Aug. 19, at the Goodyear Polymer Center. Also observing the signing of this historical agreement are (back row, left to right) Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic; UA Provost and Senior Vice President Mike Sherman; and Weihai, China, Mayor Shutao Sun.
Triangle Group, the largest tire manufacturer in China, and A3T, a new research and development company, will partner with The University of Akron (UA) and the University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) on rubber research, technology development and licensing.
Mr. Yuhua Ding, chairman of Triangle Group in Weihai, China, signed an agreement with Dr. Luis Proenza, President of The University of Akron, on Aug. 19 to engage in research collaborations with UA and UARF, beginning in the next few months.
The signing of this Master Collaboration Agreement was celebrated by approximately 50 people representing UA, Triangle Group, the City of Weihai, and the City of Akron at a ceremony held in the Goodyear Polymer Center on the campus of UA.
Research and development company forms
Visiting scientists with the Triangle Group and UA College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering faculty members will conduct joint research at the National Polymer Innovation Center and other facilities on the UA campus. Such activities will be coordinated through A3T LLC, a new research and development company based at the Akron Innovation Campus, located on Wolf Ledges Parkway in Akron.
Proenza congratulated and welcomed the Triangle Group to Akron.
“What this agreement represents is a demonstration of the vital role an institution such as The University of Akron – as well as the City of Akron – plays in our global, knowledge-conceptual economy,” Proenza said at the signing agreement celebration, which took place at the Goodyear Polymer Center.
“Since its founding in 1870, the University has worked consistently with rubber and polymer companies in Akron to grow our economy. We will continue this trend in international cooperation with Triangle and look forward to working hand-in-hand with our colleagues in China.”
Media contact: Laura M. Massie, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu