Event Organiser

RCE Ningbo

On 6 June 2025, the launch ceremony of the Regional Centre of Expertise Ningbo on Education for Sustainable Development (namely RCE Ningbo), were held at Dongqian Lake, Ningbo. At the event, RCE Ningbo - established at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) - was officially inaugurated, marking the beginning of this international platform.

The RCE, initiated and accredited by the United Nations University (UNU), promotes global sustainability through industry-academia collaboration and innovation. To date, nearly 200 RCEs have been certified worldwide. RCE Ningbo, the 10th UNU-accredited RCE in China, applied by the Centre for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) at UNNC, was officially acknowledged by United Nations University on 20 December 2024. As a member of this prestigious global network, RCE Ningbo serves as a hub for sustainable development education, integrating international best practices, policy innovations, and industry advancements to empower Ningbo and the Yangtze River Delta region. By aligning local government, industry, academia, and research resources, RCE Ningbo aims to develop a unique sustainability model that enhances Ningbo’s global competitiveness. This also provides a platform for students to transform theory into practice, fosters in-depth collaboration with the stakeholders, and advances the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Competition Brief

The “2025 smart X UNNC Vehicle Sustainable Retrofitting Competition” is hosted by the Regional Centre of Expertise Ningbo on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE Ningbo) and sponsored by smart. The smart has donated an electric vehicle to support participating students in their sustainable vehicle retrofitting design and technical practice. Open to all students at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), the competition encourages students to propose forward-looking and feasible vehicle retrofitting designs focused on green travel and lifestyles, environmentally friendly materials and design, low-carbon technologies, and energy efficiency, exploring the deep integration of smart mobility and sustainable development.

The competition initially attracted 27 interdisciplinary teams with 100+ students from three faculties. Six groups have advanced to the final round based on a collaborative evaluation by smart and UNNC judges. These finalists will receive dedicated mentorship from smart experts to refine and improve their designs. The teams will also visit the smart Retrofitting Centre in Changxing to communicate directly with engineers, gaining critical insights to ground their projects in technical reality. The final judging round will be held on 17 December 2025, where the top three teams will be determined and awarded.

Tentative Event Agenda

Date: Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Time: 13:30-16:45

Venue: New International Conference Centre (NICC) at University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)