The People's Government of Shaanxi Province and three of China's central State-owned oil and gas enterprises signed a strategic framework agreement on Monday to cooperate with Xi'an Shiyou University.

The move is a landmark government-enterprise-university partnership designed to boost the university's development and transform and upgrade the local energy industry.

China National Petroleum Corp, China Petrochemical Corp, and China National Offshore Oil Corp were parties to the deal alongside the provincial government. The partnership supports Shaanxi's ambition to grow a trillion-yuan (roughly $150 billion) modern energy industry cluster as the province pushes to strengthen its education system.

The collaboration is set to unlock combined resources to elevate the university's energy-focused disciplines and cultivate skilled talent for the oil and gas industry. Partners will also work together to break through key petroleum and petrochemical technologies and turn research achievements into practical applications to advance national energy security, according to the university.