The title means that Bing Hu is recognised by the Beijing government as a ‘high talent’ and therefore eligible to apply for high level grant awards and investments from China. As part of the arrangement he will also be given an honorary professorship at Capital Medical University, whose clinical medicine and dentistry both rank seventh among more than 100 medical and dental schools in China.
China has increased its research investment seven fold over the past decade (for 2015 the total research investment in China is 1200bn RMB/£120bn pounds) and the Chinese government has an active campaign to encourage international scientific collaborations. As a Distinguished Expert of Beijing City and already working as external expert for the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Bing will be able to attract grants to Plymouth awarded either by the Chinese government or joint awards from the Chinese and UK governments, all of which require an established link to China.
So far fewer than 500 people around the world have been awarded this status since the programme started in 2009. The programme covers education, public health and industry.
The news comes soon after a visit from senior management from Capital Medical University from which closer ties between that organisation and Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry were announced.
Bing said, “I am delighted to have been awarded this accolade. Not only is it a huge personal achievement, but it also reflects excellently on the research work we are carrying out in here in Plymouth. It is extremely exciting because it is the key to attracting Chinese and UK/China joint grant funding, top level Chinese students and researchers to Plymouth which would not otherwise be possible."
Professor Robert Sneyd, dean of Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry added, “Our congratulations go to Bing Hu for this superb achievement. This confirms the international impact of our research and extends our partnership with China."