Representatives applaud as the Yangtze River Delta Region (Yuhang district) University-Region Cooperation Alliance was founded in Yuhang district, Hangzhou on Jan 5. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

The Yangtze River Delta Region (Yuhang district) University-Region Cooperation Alliance was founded in Yuhang district, Hangzhou, on Jan 5, giving the district access to the resources of many well-known universities in the delta region.

Representatives from 19 universities including Zhejiang University, Nanjing University and Tongji University gathered at the event to witness the founding of the alliance.

According to Zhu Hongdan, director of the organization department of Yuhang district, the alliance is meant to bring together skilled workers and make use of the technological strength of universities to develop digital economy, biomedicine, high-end equipment manufacturing, fashion design and environmental protection in Yuhang.

During the event, eight projects were signed by universities and Yuhang district, including the Yuhang branch of the technological transformation center at Nanjing University, a research center co-founded by electric appliance producer Robam and the State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology at Jiangnan University, and a project signed by the architectural design and research institute at Tongji University and Hengshi Technological Innovation Park.

"We will cooperate with the State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology at Jiangnan University to develop new kitchenware which will make food healthier and tastier," said Yu Jialiang, deputy general manager of Robam.

Robam specializes in the research and production of kitchenware, while Jiangnan University is known for its strength in the research of food science.

During the event, the Yangtze River Delta (Hangzhou) High-level Talent Innovation City was also launched.

The platform is located in Linping New Zone, Yuhang district and covers an area of 224,000 square meters. It plans to introduce technological projects which employ highly skilled workers.

"There are not many universities in Yuhang district, but there are a lot in the greater Yangtze River Delta region," Zhu said, "we hope to make the most of these resources to boost growth in Yuhang."