After nearly three years of preparation, the TJU-P&G-EXDA Innovation Institute of Science and Technology was inaugurated in the Xiqing Economic-Technological Development Area on October 10.

Deputy Director General Fan Yingzi of Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Zhang Hanbing, Deputy Head of Xiqing District, Professor Zhang Lixin, Assistant to the TJU President, and Mark Smerznak, R&D Director at Procter & Gamble (P&G), among others attended the ceremony.

Professor Zhang Lixin spoke that TJU had been selected into the list of "Double World-Class Project", and the discipline of Chemical Engineering and Technology was selected into the list of the development of the “World-Class Discipline”. A feature of a world-class university is to build internationally high-level innovation platforms with world-renowned companies, an effective and sustainable way to deliver substantial achievements for both sides and to promote the development of domestic industries as well as science and technology generally. The Institute is an open-ended international innovation platform closely linked with China's ecological system, combining P&G’s international influence, its staff’s creative thinking, its consumers’ experience and TJU’s resources in experimental facilities, talent development and innovation ability. TJU hopes to achieve innovative breakthroughs despite a challenging business environment and to build a world-class innovation platform through interdisciplinary cooperation.

Deputy Head of Xiqing District Zhang Hanbing hoped to develop this platform into a landmark project of international cooperation, contributing locally and nationally to scientific research, the industrialization of technological achievements, talent cultivation and public technological services.

Deputy Director General Fan remarked that the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission will support and promote the construction of innovation platforms of this kind, carry out major strategic plans pursuing innovation-driven development to have scientific and technological progress contribute more to economic development, and improve the environment for mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative.

Director Mark Smerznak said P&G will expand and deepen the cooperation with the Institute to push their innovation capability to a higher level.

The Institute is located at No.5, Xinghuabazhi Rd, Xiqing Economic-Technological Development Area, Tianjin. It is equipped with standardized laboratories and the most advanced large-scale instruments for chemical analysis. The platform lays emphasis on research in basic theories and industrial applications and encourages interdisciplinary research in chemical engineering and technology, material science, pharmaceutical science, mechanic engineering and precision instruments among others. Thus, it will contribute to TJU’s endeavors in building a Double World-Class university.

 Editors: Yin Shiyu and Ross Colquhoun