#China #Germany #Berlin #Tongji University

Tongji Day and Tongji-German Symposium 2025

On June 13, 2025, the Tongji Day and the Tongji-German Symposium successfully took place in Berlin, marking an essential milestone in promoting sustainable cooperation between China and Germany. The event was organized by Tongji University, along with the China-Germany Center for Management, and was themed "New Pathways for Sustainable Transformation in China-Germany Cooperation towards a Greener Future".

Professor Fang Shou'en, chair of the university council, emphasized the pivotal role of Tongji University over the past century as a bridge between China and Germany. He highlighted the institution's strategy to advance digitalization, green innovations, and interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at solving global challenges.

The symposium showcased the International Academy of Study at Tongji University, the Foreign Student Recruitment Base, and the Foreign Talent Recruitment Base. Additionally, it introduced the inaugural Tongji Germany Summer Camp, set to welcome hundreds of students for intercultural education. The certification of the first group of China-Germany corporate mentors, which includes leaders from SAP and Gotion High-Tech, showcased the Center's focus on synergy within academic circles.

Under the theme "New Pathways for Sustainable Transformation as a Driving Force for China-Germany Cooperation," the forum gathered scholars and industry leaders from both countries to explore frontiers in joint innovations. It aimed to inject new energy into global sustainable development through Chinese-European partnerships. Key speakers, including Dr. Gero Decker from SAP and Professor Xie Jingui from the Technical University of Munich, stressed the need for China-Germany cooperation to evolve from resource complementarity to technological joint innovations, especially in AI and green energy.

Discussions featuring Clas Neumann, Senior Vice President of SAP, and Zhang Hui, Vice President of NIO, explored insights into China-Germany innovation collaboration.

The forum culminated with the launch of the Tongji-XJ Group International Joint Innovation Center for Sustainable Energy Management. This center is a collaboration between Tongji University and the XJ Group, aimed at accelerating the energy transition and fostering development in green technologies. Professor Shi Qian, chairman of the School Council at Tongji, noted that this center will serve as a new hub for technological cooperation, intertwining talent development, research and development, and technology transfer to expedite the global transition to green energy.

The event attracted representatives from the academic and political sectors of Berlin, including the Berlin Senate and the Asian Berlin Forum, alongside academics from various universities such as the Technical University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Mannheim University, ESCP Berlin, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Overall, the Tongji Day and Symposium 2025 represent a significant step forward in establishing sustainable relationships between China and Germany, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing global environmental challenges.