A total of 11 academicians from Ukraine are currently working full-time in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, official data show. 

The strong result can mainly be attributed to the establishment of a Sino-Ukraine technology research institute focusing on the new material industry in the city's Zhenhai district in March 2018.

The institute was formed after the Ningbo government reached a partnership with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in September 2017. Since then, a large number of experts and scholars involved in the advanced material sector from Ukraine's top universities and research institutions have come to Ningbo.

Among them is Moliar Oleksandr, who is the first full-time foreign academician to work in the city. In September, Oleksandr was conferred with the honorary title of "Ningbo Outstanding Talent" in recognition of his efforts to bring in titanium alloy and damping bearing projects and technology to the city. 

The new research center to date has established cooperative relations with 10 high-profile Ukrainian science institutes and 52 Ukrainian experts, according to official data.

Speaking highly of the talent services and market environment in Ningbo, Bulyk Ihor, a leading expert in magnetic materials at NASU, said: "I chose to come to China because there are more possibilities for market applications here, and many of my ideas can be put into practice more quickly."

Currently, he is negotiating with local companies and plan to accelerate the application of magnetic materials with better performance in the new energy vehicles.