A vocational college in Pingtan, Fujian province has reached a deal on robot development with Taiwan-based enterprise alliance on Sept 7, local news portal ptnet.cn reported.

Based on agreements, Pingtan Vocational School will build a robot research and development base, which will cost about five million yuan ($783,500), said Gao Xiangyun, an official from the Pingtan school.

The robots of the future will be able to provide educational training to students and corporate clients in the future, he said.

China Haixia Enterprise Communication Association will provide faculty, facilities and textbooks, according to Fang Zhongyi, chief executive of the association, adding that the specific cooperation remained to be discussed.

Fang revealed that the association decided to cooperate with Pingtan because of the zone’s preferential policies for investors.

“The central authorities in the Chinese mainland are advocating industrial upgrading from traditional to intelligent manufacturing. Pingtan has a great deal of incentives as a pilot zone for cross-Straits cooperation .”

Courses at the robot base will include automation, microcontroller operation and mechanical design, which will be instrumental for students in job-hunting and career startups, he added.

Pingtan Vocational College signed a collaboration deal with some Taiwan companies during a matchmaking event in Pingtan on Aug 16.

The two sides, based on agreements, will cooperate on vocational training concerning Pingtan’s “Beautiful Village” program, which includes protection of traditional folk dwellings, development of gifts, wine and food in rural areas.