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The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has inaugurated the facilities of the Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI), the first Spanish university center established in China. Located in the city of Hangzhou, the BVPI represents an unprecedented milestone in the history of Spanish higher education, becoming the first institution to deliver official university degrees through in-person teaching abroad.

“The inauguration of the UPV center in Hangzhou strengthens our international presence and underscores our leadership within the Spanish university system. It reaffirms our commitment to excellence in both teaching and research — a commitment now embodied in this alliance between two internationally renowned universities: the Universitat Politècnica de València and Beihang University. Today we present the facilities from which we will carry out our academic activities — a further step toward realizing the dream of operating as a full center at the beginning of the next academic year. This is one of the most significant days in the history of our university,” stated José E. Capilla, Rector of the UPV, during the ceremony.

The selection of Hangzhou as the location of the new center was deliberate. The capital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou is recognized as one of China’s foremost hubs of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ innovation — often referred to as the “Chinese Silicon Valley” — and is home to leading corporations such as Alibaba, DeepSeek, TikTok, and Unitree.

The official opening ceremony of the new UPV center was presided over by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares.

“Today we celebrate a milestone in the relationship between our two countries — a pioneering project that unites two traditions of academic excellence: those of Beihang University and the Universitat Politècnica de València. This initiative symbolizes the very best of China–Spain relations. At a time of global tension, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our shared commitment to enlightenment values and to the universal language of reason, knowledge, the arts, and science — all of which unite peoples, nations, and cultures,” highlighted Minister Albares.

The ceremony was also attended by Zhao Changlu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Beihang University, and Esther Gómez, Regional Secretary for Universities of the Generalitat Valenciana.

“The establishment of the Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute consolidates the international leadership of our universities and strengthens the academic and scientific ties between China and the Valencian Community. From the Generalitat, we are working to ensure that higher education in Valencia remains a global benchmark for quality, innovation, and cooperation,” emphasized Esther Gómez.

Academic activities will start in 2026/27

The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI) will start its academic activities in the 2026/27 academic year. Designed to accommodate up to 2,000 students, the institute will offer four undergraduate degrees, six master’s programs, and four doctoral programs, focused on three key areas: communications, computer and artificial intelligence engineering, and aeronautical engineering.

“We will be the first Spanish university to operate an official, in-person center in China — located at the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ epicenter of the country. Today’s inauguration marks another key step in our strategic plan to ensure that, by next year, all mechanisms are in place to deliver accredited degree programs in China. Being based in Hangzhou gives us a privileged position from which to build academic and scientific bridges with the heart of Chinese innovation,” added Rector Capilla.

The establishment of this new UPV center in Hangzhou coincides with the 20th anniversary of the China–Spain Strategic Partnership (2005–2025) and further strengthens bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, science, and technology.

“We want the BVPI to be more than a symbol — to become a lasting platform for educational and research collaboration between Spain and China. Moreover, we intend to chart a path for other Spanish universities to follow, building on the technical and administrative groundwork we have laid over the past several years,” concluded Capilla.