Jiangnan University deepens cooperation with leading liquor company

Jiangnan University has decided to deepen cooperation with Kweichow Moutai, a leading liquor company in China. [Photo/news.jiangnan.edu.cn]

Jiangnan University has decided to cooperate with Kweichow Moutai, aiming to lead the way in the development of liquor-making technology and traditional solid-state fermentation technology, according to Jiangnan University News.

Moutai is a sorghum-based spirit and China's top brand of baijiu (white alcohol). The liquor, often served on official occasions and at state banquets, is considered a luxury item and has long been a popular gift.

Moutai is expected to rake in a net profit of about 26.4 billion yuan ($4.18 billion) in 2017, up 58 percent year-on-year. The company expects to earn one hundred billion yuan in revenue through its cooperation with Jiangnan University.

Moutai is a sorghum-based spirit and China's top brand of baijiu (white alcohol). [Photo/VCG]

Chen Jian, principle of Jiangnan University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, will set up a workstation at Moutai and focus on solid-state fermentation technology for liquor.

Jiangnan University is China's leading university in light industry technology and engineering food fermentation, and the team headed by Chen Jian will provide technical and intellectual support to Moutai, advising the company on knowledge management, application of engineering, informatization, and smart fermentation.

Chen Jian believes it is his team's mission to make microorganisms and the process of fermentation more intelligent in the traditional fermentation industry. "The cooperation between China's top university and top company in liquor-making is bound is to revolutionize the industry."

Yuan Renguo, chairman of Kweichow Moutai, regards Jiangnan University as the most important supporter of production technology, management and research. "Moutai will continue to establish more long-term and effective cooperation with Jiangnan University, with the goal of nurturing innovation and talent in the traditional fermentation industry."