Beijing government chooses catalonia to create the first centre of traditional chinese medicine outside asia

Barcelona, february 2, 2016.- the catalan government has signed an agreement with a consortium led by the government of beijing to promote the creation in catalonia of a centre of traditional chinese medicine, the first of its kind outside asia. this project will place catalonia on the map within europe in this branch of medicine and contemplates initiatives in five areas: higher education, research, health, culture and regulation. 

the agreement has been signed by the minister for business and knowledge, jordi baiget, with representatives from the government of beijing, hospitals, universities, research centres and chinese companies that all form part of the consortium. this project is being driven forward by the ministry for business and knowledge, via catalonia trade & investment, and the secretariat for universities and research. 

on the one hand, the project contemplates the launching of an official master’s programme for doctors interested in this brand of medicine, which will be given in collaboration between two catalan universities, the university of barcelona (ub) and the pompeu fabra university (upf) and also peking’s university of traditional chinese medicine, which will mean more international students coming to further their studies in catalonia. 

the promotion of traditional chinese medicine in the fields of higher education will be complemented by the creation of new research areas related to this field, which will be conducted at the idibaps research center. the aim is to apply western scientific knowledge to validate the principles and applications of traditional chinese medicine. this is a new ecosystem that will be completed with the creation of a cultural center that will inform and disseminate this branch of ancient medicine, as well as the creation an institute for assistance and support in recognizing and using herbs used in traditional chinese medicine in catalonia. 

to find the most suitable location for the centre, a delegation of the the chinese consortium will be provisionally based in the offices of catalonia trade & investment in barcelona.