#Germany #Berlin #Tongji University #Green Collaboration

Tongji Day and Tongji-German Symposium 2025: Advancing Sino-European Green Cooperation

On June 13, 2025, the Tongji Day and Tongji-German Symposium 2025 took place successfully in Berlin, marking a significant step forward in the sustainable collaboration between China and Germany. Hosted by the Sino-German Center at the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University, this forum centered on the theme of exploring new pathways toward a sustainable future through Sino-German cooperation.

Professor Shou'en Fang, the Chairman of the University Council, highlighted Tongji's pivotal role over the past century in connecting China and Germany. He emphasized the university's commitment to advancing digital adoption, fostering green innovation, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to address global challenges. The event also served as a platform to introduce the Academy of International Studies at Tongji, which focuses on recruiting international students and foreign talent, paving the way for cultural exchange.

A notable announcement was the launch of the inaugural Tongji-German Summer Camp, which will host hundreds of students seeking intercultural learning experiences. Additionally, the certification of the first cohort of Sino-German business mentors—which includes executives from SAP and Gotion High-Tech—demonstrated the center's focus on synergy between academia and industry.

The forum's discussions revolved around new pathways to sustainable transformation, attracting scholars and industry leaders from both China and Germany to explore collaborative innovations. High-profile speakers included Gero Decker from SAP and Professor Jingui Xie from the Technical University of Munich, who emphasized the need for Sino-German cooperation to evolve from resource complementarity to co-technological innovation, especially in fields like artificial intelligence and green energy.

The dialogues among experts such as Clas Neumann, Senior Vice President of SAP and Director of the Global SAP Labs Network, and Andre Meyer, Director of Business Development at Gotion High-Tech for EMEA, sparked enriching exchanges on bilateral cooperation in innovation.

The forum concluded with the launch of the International Joint Innovation Center Tongji-XJ Group, dedicated to sustainable energy management. This collaboration between Tongji University and XJ Group Corporation aims to promote a transition towards renewable energy and the development of green technologies. Professor Qian Shi, Chairman of the School's Council and Dean of the Sino-German Academy at Tongji, stated that this center will serve as a new hub for technological collaboration, enhancing talent development, R&D, and technology transfer to expedite the global shift towards green energy.

This event drew representatives from academia and political circles in Berlin, including the Berlin Senate and the Berlin-Asia Forum, alongside numerous students and researchers from prestigious institutions like the Technical University of Berlin, Humboldt University, University of Mannheim, ESCP Berlin, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

The successful execution of the Tongji Day and Symposium not only strengthens the Sino-German partnership but also underscores the commitment to a greener, more sustainable future through collaborative efforts and innovative strategies.