Nippon Express begins joint industry-university research in Shanghai

Shanghai e-Technology Co., Ltd. (Tajima Haruya, president), one of Nippon Express' subsidiary corporations in China, has begun a joint logistics technology and system development training/education program in conjunction with the Shanghai Second Polytechnic University.

Shanghai e-Technology was established in April 2001 to carry out data processing and information system development, and boasts advanced information processing and development capabilities; in February of this year, its second year in business, the company was certified as a High Technology Enterprise by the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee in recognition of its proficiency in system development. The Shanghai Second Polytechnic University is one of the leading comprehensive universities in Shanghai. Featuring arts and humanities as well as science and engineering departments, the university has more than 7,200 students and 1,000 instructors.

This joint industry-university research will bring together the research and practical know-how of both parties and their highly skilled personnel in pursuing a wider scope of advanced technology R&D. More specifically an "e-Tech System Research Center" was opened at the Shanghai Second Polytechnic University on February 8 and projects set underway. The focus of the Center's R&D will go beyond logistical operations systems to cover a broad range of topics, including sensing of location information via mobile communications, calculation of optimal means through virtual on-screen operations, and matters linking environmental issues and logistics.

The current plan is to choose topics from among those proposed by customers of Shanghai e-Technology and the Nippon Express Group as well as by the university, and initiate an R&D project for each. More than 50 suggested topics have already been received from within and without the company. The products of these R&D efforts will be utilized in one of two ways: packaged for sale or offered to customers by the company in the capacity of an ASP (application service provider).

Together with selling these products, Shanghai e-Technology will continue to assess the logistics needs of customers and push further ahead with research to enhance its product line. The company started with a staff of about 30 persons, but intends to expand its scale of operations in future and begin accepting research consignments from the general public.

Nippon Express has begun to offer wider-ranging logistics proposals, and will pursue new technology R&D on a global scale.