The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI) moves forward with steady steps.

The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI), a collaboration between the Universitat Politècnica de València and Beihang University, continues to move forward with steady steps. The rector of the UPV, José E. Capilla, and the president of Beihang University, Yunpeng Wang, have today signed four new collaboration agreements aimed at promoting new activities and research projects between the two institutions. The agreements signed provide for the creation of four new joint research laboratories, each focused on artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, mechanics and computer science.

In addition, two other agreements - memoranda of understanding - have been signed: the first between the UPV's VRAIN Institute and Beihang University's School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, and the second for student exchanges.

"This day marks a milestone in our intense collaboration. It constitutes a decisive step in academic collaboration between China and Spain, as well as between our two institutions: Beihang University and the Universitat Politècnica de València. After intense work, based on the foundations of a long history of internationalisation at 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. What's more, we have done so alongside one of the best higher education institutions in the country: Beihang University," said Rector José E. Capilla.

The rector of the UPV also highlighted that yesterday the BVPI received the final approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education for the 14 academic programmes that will be taught at the centre. 'Today is a particularly significant day because we have learned from President Wang himself that our project has now been officially approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education, marking one of the most important milestones in the development of a unique project within the Spanish university system,' added Capilla.

For his part, Yunpeng Wang, president of BUAA, pointed out that "Beihang is willing to work hand in hand with the Universitat Politècnica de València, embracing the concept of "inclusion, innovation and cooperation", taking scientific innovation as a guide, talent training as a cornerstone and humanistic exchange as a link, to jointly build a benchmark platform where digital and intelligent technologies empower talent training and scientific and technological cooperation between China and Spain.

The president of BUAA also expressed his hope that with the launch of the new joint laboratories, "our universities will take full advantage of their respective strengths in fields such as next-generation communication technologies, artificial intelligence, aeronautical engineering and smart manufacturing, apply for international collaborative research projects, and attract more companies to join us in carrying out joint research and development projects, promoting international cooperation between industry, universities, research and application.

Institutional visit

The signing of these agreements took place within the framework of the institutional visit that a delegation from BUAA made today to 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 Education Counsellor Yongfeng Hou. Also in attendance were executives from several multinational companies and Esther Gómez, the Regional Secretary for Universities.

First classes in the 26/27 academic year

The Beihang València Polytechnic Institute (BVPI) will begin teaching in the 2026/27 academic year. Designed to accommodate up to 2,000 students, its academic offering will include four bachelor's degree programmes, six master's degree programmes and four doctoral programmes, focused on three areas: communications, computer engineering and artificial intelligence, and aeronautical engineering.

The centre has also been selected by the Chinese Ministry of Education as a pilot project for the Sino-Foreigner Excellence Engineering Programme. This initiative will allow UPV students to obtain an official Chinese degree from Beihang University (BUAA) after completing an academic stay in China. The programme will be integrated with future double degrees between the UPV and BUAA, to ensure that all shared academic offerings provide a double degree recognised in both Spain and the Chinese market.