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A Milestone in Sino-European Collaboration: The Tongji Day and Symposium 2025

On June 13, 2025, Tongji Day and the Tongji-German Symposium took place successfully in Berlin, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of sustainable cooperation between China and Germany. This event was organized by Tongji University in collaboration with the Sino-German Center for Tongji SEM, focused on the theme "New Paths to Sustainable Transformation: Sino-German Cooperation for a Greener Future."

The Role of Tongji University

Professor Fang Shou'en, the Chairman of the University Council, emphasized the pivotal role that Tongji University has played as a bridge between China and Germany for over a century. He highlighted the university's strategy in promoting digitalization, green innovations, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address global challenges. This reflects not only an academic pursuit but also its commitment to fostering dialogue and partnerships that transcend borders.

New Initiatives and Announcements

During the event, the International Study Academy of Tongji University was unveiled, which serves as a recruitment base for international students and overseas talents. Furthermore, the first German Summer Camp at Tongji was announced, anticipated to welcome hundreds of students for intercultural education experiences. The certification of the first group of Sino-German corporate mentors—featuring executives from notable companies such as SAP and Gotion High-Tech—emphasized the center's focus on synergy between academia and industry.

Forum Highlights

The forum brought together scientists and industry leaders from both China and Germany to explore frontiers of joint innovation and provide fresh impetus for global sustainable development through Sino-European partnerships. Notable speakers included Dr. Gero Decker from SAP and Professor Xie Jingui from the Technical University of Munich, who discussed the necessity of transforming Sino-German cooperation from resource complementarity to joint technological innovations, particularly in the fields of AI and green energy.

Additional contributions from Clas Neumann, SAP's Senior Vice President and Head of the Global SAP Labs Network, and Andre Meyer, Director for Business Development and External Relations in the EMEA region, alongside Zhang Hui, Vice President of NIO, provided valuable insights into the collaborative potential between China and Germany for innovation.

Launch of New Collaborative Center

A highlight of the forum was the launch of the Joint International Innovation Center for Sustainable Energy Management under the Tongji-XJ Group collaboration. This center aims to promote energy transformation and the development of green technologies. Professor Shi Qian, Chairman of the Tongji SEM board and Dean of the Sino-German Academy at Tongji, stated that the center will serve as a new hub for technological collaboration, integrating talent development, research and development, and technology transfer to accelerate the global transition to green energy.

Academic and Political Engagement

The event was attended by representatives from Berlin's academic and political sectors, including members of the Berlin Senate and the Asia-Berlin Forum, along with scholars from TU Berlin, Humboldt University, University of Mannheim, ESCP Berlin, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. This gathering not only highlighted the academic community's commitment to international cooperation but also the state’s endorsement of such collaborative efforts.

In summary, the Tongji Day and Tongji-German Symposium 2025 showcased a promising future for Sino-European cooperation in addressing environmental challenges, driving innovation, and fostering sustainable practices. The initiatives and interactions witnessed during this event will surely contribute to a greener future, paving the way for further alliances and collaborations.