The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI), the first Spanish University Center in China“advances with firm steps” and adds new research projects in areas such as artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, mechanics and computer science.
The rector of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), José E. … Capilla and the president of Beihang University, Yunpeng Wang, – entities that promote the campus – signed this Friday four new collaboration agreements whose objective is to carry out new activities and research projects between the two entities.
The signed agreements envisage the creation of four new joint research laboratories each of them focused on artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, mechanics and computing.
In addition, two other agreements were signed – MoUs: the first, between the VRAIN Institute of UPV and the School of Automation Sciences and Electrical Engineering of Beihang University; and the second for student exchange.
“This day marks an important step in our intense collaboration, it constitutes a decisive step in academic collaboration between China and Spain, as well as between our two institutions. After intense work, built on the foundations of a long history of internationalization of our university, today I can proudly say that we have made history: the UPV has become the first Spanish university to have a campus in the People’s Republic of China. And we did it in collaboration with one of the best higher education institutions in the country: Beihang University,” emphasized Rector Capilla.
Furthermore, the head of the UPV stressed that the BVPI received yesterday the last of the validations from the Chinese Ministry of Education concerning the approval of 14 academic programs which will be taught at the center.
“Today is a particularly important day because we learned from President Wang himself that our project now has official approval from the Ministry of Education of China, which marks one of the most important steps in the development of a unique project within the framework of the Spanish university system,” Capilla added.
For his part, Yunpeng Wang indicated that “Beihang is willing to work hand in hand with the Universidad Politècnica de València, adhere to the concept of inclusion, innovation and cooperation, take scientific innovation as a guide, talent training as a cornerstone and humanistic exchange as a link, to jointly build a reference platform where digital and intelligence strengthen talent training and scientific and technological cooperation between China and Spain.”
The BUAA President also expressed his hope that with the launch of the new joint laboratories “our universities will make full use of each other’s strengths in areas such as next-generation communication technologies, artificial intelligence, aeronautical engineering and intelligent manufacturing, seek international collaborative research projects and more companies will join us to carry out joint research and development projects, promoting international cooperation between industry, academia, research and applications.”
The signing of these agreements took place within the framework of the institutional visit that a BUAA delegation carried out at the Vera campus of the UPV. The Beihang University delegation consisted of a total of 22 people, accompanied by three representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Spain, including Minister of Education Yongfeng Hou.
For her part, the Minister of Education, Culture and Universities of the Generalitat, Carmen Ortí, highlighted that the project “will open up opportunities in the areas of aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, sustainable mobility and industrial digitalization.”
Ortí, accompanied at the meeting by the regional secretary of Universities, Esther Gómez, thanked the presence of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Chinese Embassy in Spain, Hou Yongfeng, the rector of Beihang University, Professor Wang, and representatives of companies participating in the initiative. Their involvement, he said, “demonstrates the solidity of the project and the common confidence in its potential”.
Likewise, he assured that “the Valencian Community, Spain and China can move forward faster if you collaboratesharing capabilities, resources and experiences in these key sectors for the transformation of our economy.
The head of Education took the opportunity to reaffirm the Generalitat’s commitment to the development of the international center, emphasizing “the importance of alliances that generate mutual value, strengthen our university systems and contribute to economic and social progress.”
Start of activity in 2026
The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI) will begin its teaching activity in the academic year 2026/27. Designed to accommodate up to 2,000 students, its academic offering will include four degree programs, six master’s programs and four doctoral programs, focused on three branches: communications, computer engineering and artificial intelligence, and aeronautical engineering.
The center was also selected by the Chinese Ministry of Education as a pilot project for the Sino-Foreign Excellence Engineering Program, an initiative that will allow UPV students to obtain the official Chinese Diploma of Beihang University (BUAA) after completing an academic stay in the Asian country.
This program will be integrated into future double degrees between UPV and BUAA, with the aim that the entire shared academic offer offers a double degree recognized both in Spain and on the Chinese market.
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