On November 3^rd, the “Day of Tongji University and Inauguration Ceremony of Tongji SEM German-Sino Center” was grandly held in Berlin. Distinguished guests such as Mr. DENG Hongbo, the Chinese ambassador to Germany, and Mr. HUANG Wei, the Minister-counsellor of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, attended the inauguration ceremony. Prof. Dr. FANG Shou’en, Chairman of the University Council, Tongji University, Prof. Dr. LEI Xinghui, former Vice President of Tongji University, Prof. Dr. SHI Qian, Chairman of the School Council (the School of Economics and Management, hereinafter referred to as “SEM”), and Prof. Dr. HUO Jiazhen from SEM inaugurated the Center jointly. Nearly 100 representatives from academia and industries of China and Germany gathered in Berlin to discuss the Tongji’s fruitful achievements in cooperation with Germany, and to celebrate the establishment of the “Tongji SEM German-Sino Center “.

This event is a significant initiative of Tongji University to further enhance its European partnerships on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany. It is also another influential event for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Tongji SEM since the Sino-French Forum held in Paris in September.

Ambassador DENG Hongbo mentioned in the opening remarks that Higher Education collaboration between China and Germany has always been a major highlight in bilateral relations. “Born” in the Chinese and western cultural blending context, Tongji University is an outstanding pioneer in exploring a win-win cooperation model between China and Germany. He stated that the establishment of “Tongji SEM German-Sino Center” is a new milestone for Sino-German cooperation. He encouraged Tongji University to work together with its German partners and attract more Sino-German top-notch innovative talents and resources via the platform, to make positive contributions to the cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in emerging fields such as digitalization, green and innovation.

Prof. Dr. FANG Shou’en stated that Tongji University’s gene in internationalization and its strong connection with Germany are well-known both at home and abroad. A number of initiatives in Sino-German collaborative models have been created and great moments have been witnessed, and documented in governmental files of two countries for many times. The “Strategy 2.0 for Cooperation with Germany” released in recent years has further enhanced the university’s cooperation with Germany to high-level areas such as joint research and joint doctoral training. He believes that the “Tongji SEM German-Sino Center” is a good trial in building a “new lighthouse” for Sino-German cooperation, and he hopes that in the future, Tongji University will continue to work with its German partners and undertake its mission of high-level talent cultivation, research, and cultural exchanges by establishing a truly influential international platform for communications between academia and industries, jointly promoting the innovative development of Sino-German research, industry and cultural exchanges.

Prof. Dr. SHI Qian stated that SEM has inherited the University’s excellent traditional advantage of cooperation with Germany. Currently SEM has established cooperative relationships with nearly 20 well-known German higher education institutions, forming a high-level and wide-ranging cooperation system with German partners in various sectors. He also mentioned that the establishment of “Tongji SEM German-Sino Center” is an active measure for the School to integrate itself into the global innovation network and to promote in-depth integration of talents, education and industries. The Center, relying on Tongji University’s strong background in Sino-German cooperation as well as the high-quality resources of Tongji SEM, will build an influential cooperative platform for Sino-German academic and industrial exchanges by gathering innovative resources and exploring cooperation possibilities, contributing to the innovative development of Sino-German research, industry and cultural exchanges, he said.

Representatives from SEM’s key partners in Germany such as Prof. Dr. Axel Werwatz, Director of the Department of Econometrics/Applied Statistics at TU Berlin, together with Dr. Sigrun Abels, Director of the Center for Cultural Studies on Science and Technology in China, CCST, China Center, at TU Berlin, congratulated the official launch of Tongji SEM German-Sino Center in their speeches. They also expressed their expectations to potential cooperation in the near future.

In the session of “Day of Tongji University”, Prof. Dr. FANG Shou’en, Mr. YIN Wen, Director of International Exchange and Cooperation Office, Prof. Dr. SHI Qian and Prof. Dr. ZHENG Jialin, Dean of the School of Medicine, made comprehensive introductions to the guests about international exchanges and cooperation of Tongji University, Tongji SEM and the School of Medicine respectively.

An academic forum was also held during the inauguration ceremony themed with “Tongji-Germany Symposium 2024: Promoting the Green Transformation of the Automotive Industry—The Key Role of Sino-German Cooperation”. Industrial leaders from both China and Germany were invited to conduct in-depth discussions on new paths, new opportunities, and new challenges in the green transformation of global automotive industries. Guests attending the symposium included: Mr. Harry ROGASCH, Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs at NIO GmbH, Mr. Andrzej WOJCIKOWSKI, Head of Region Asia at Mubea KG, and Ms. Lin Wenpei, Director of Public Affairs at CATL Europe.