From July 17 to 18, 2025, ICARE organized a delegation of Chinese and international faculty and students to visit State Grid Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “NARI Group”) for a corporate visit activity. Aimed at exploring cutting-edge technologies and innovative practices in the energy and electric power field through on-site research and in-depth exchanges, this activity also sought to expand new paths for university-enterprise cooperation in cultivating international energy talents. Participants of the activity included Prof. Georgios KARALIS (ICARE European supervisor), Ms. Zheng Jing (Director of the General Office of ICARE), Ms.Zhao Yiting (Head of the Postgraduate Working Group of ICARE), Ms.Kou Fangling (Assistant to the Vice Dean of ICARE), student representatives, as well as summer campers from several world-renowned international universities such as the University of Oxford, National Technical University of Athens (Greece), University of Padova (Italy), and Egyptian Chinese University.
Accompanied by relevant leaders of NARI Group, the delegation first visited the corporate headquarters building, gaining an in-depth understanding of NARI Group’s development history and industrial layout as a key scientific research and industrial unit directly under State Grid Corporation of China. After years of development, NARI Group has become a leading enterprise in China’s energy, electric power, and industrial control fields, with its business covering four major sectors: smart grid, low-carbon energy, digital-energy integration, and industrial internet.
Subsequently, the delegation visited the key laboratories of NARI Group in person. The person in charge of the laboratories gave a detailed explanation to the faculty and students, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of NARI Group’s scientific research strength. The delegation also observed the production processes of core products such as Ultra-High Voltage converter valves and new energy control systems on site. Notably, when the global layout and international cooperation projects of NARI Group were introduced, students from different countries showed strong interest upon seeing examples of cooperation between their home countries and China.
At the symposium, experts from NARI Group systematically introduced the company’s strategic layout and technological advantages in the energy and electric power field, with special emphasis on the comprehensive strength of the entire industrial chain—from equipment manufacturing to system integration—formed relying on major projects such as Ultra-High Voltage and pumped storage. The experts pointed out that many scientific research achievements of NARI Group have reached the international leading level. During the interactive exchange session, the corporate experts also gave detailed answers to the questions of concern to the faculty and students.
Ms.Zheng Jing emphasized that this visit was a key initiative for ICARE to practice its educational philosophy of “integration of industry and education, and a global perspective.” She stated that as an important hub for technological innovation in the energy and electric power sector, NARI Group’s development path is highly aligned with the institute’s focus on the goal of “low-carbon clean energy transition.” In the future, the two parties will deepen cooperation in areas such as joint scientific research, and the construction of student internship and practice bases, to jointly promote the cultivation of international energy talents and technological innovation.
