Yulong Ding: Energy-storage engineer

In 2016, our centre established a joint energystorage research laboratory with the Beijingbased State Grid Corporation of China, which operates the country's electricity network. A year before that we started working with China's largest train manufacturer, CRRC, to develop more-efficient air-conditioning systems that can be used on high-speed and metro trains. There are many other factors that will help to build a sound commercial partnership, which include having a strong academic reputation, the ability and capacity to deliver on time, a clear sense of what the company wants to achieve and a willingness to negotiate when it comes to the ownership of IP rights.