VU seals deal with major Vietnamese paper mill
Victoria University (VU) has joined forces with one of Vietnam’s largest paper mills to research and develop innovative, sustainable and cost-effective solutions for recycled paper manufacturing.
As part of the Collaborative Research Agreement, VU will work with the An Binh-Vietnam Paper Corporation to discover new products and processes. This research will improve the plant’s environmental footprint by reducing its water, energy and chemical consumption.
In addition to lending its expertise in the development of more sustainable industries and liveable cities – a flagship area of strength and growth for VU – the University will provide scholarship opportunities for PhD researchers.
Reseach centre underpins partnership
Underpinning the partnership, the corporation opened a Research and Development Centre in December 2017. The centre is based in an industrial park in Binh Duong, a province with high economic growth and the epicentre of paper and packaging manufacturers in the south and south east of Vietnam.
VU Professor Stephen Gray, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, said the partnership will ultimately support the corporation to upskill other industries through renewable energy, emissions control and natural resource rehabilitation.
"Vietnam is growing rapidly and there are opportunities to improve the environmental performance of companies moving there, particularly from China, and we hope our expertise will pave the way for more sustainable practices,” Professor Gray said.
"It is part of our ongoing commitment to develop more sustainable industries and better communities around the world," he said.
VU offers expertise in Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
VU’s world-leading research in this flagship area provides solutions in water-treatment technology, resource management, e-research, smart energy and social and behavioural research worldwide.
VU Vice-President Engagement, Marketing and International, Steve Berridge, said the partnership "is a great example of our commitment to international engagement at Victoria University".
"We look forward to deepening our strong ties with Vietnam further in the future. Our international success is a key contributor to our ranking in the top 2% of universities in the world [Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018]," he said.
