The opening ceremony of the Sino-German Environmental Center and an academic exchange seminar were held successfully

On October 13, 2023, the Sino-German Environmental Center’s unveiling ceremony was held at the 14th meeting of the Sino-German Department Council. Professor Fang Shouen, Chairman of Tongji University, Kai Sicks, Secretary-General of the German Academic Exchange Center, and Vice Chairman of the Sino-German Department Council, delivered a welcome speech for the meeting and jointly unveiled the center. The meeting was hosted by Professor Lei Xinghui, Vice President of Tongji University and Director of the Sino-German Department.

Professor Christoph Hilgers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and Professor Wang Zhiwei, Dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University, gave their comments. Professor Hilgers expressed his honor to witness the establishment of the Sino-German Environmental Center. In the future, it will strengthen both Germany and China, and jointly contribute to climate change and sustainable development technology innovation. Prof. Wang stated that it was a new measure to promote practical cooperation in the environmental field between Germany and China at a new starting point of nearly 40 years of cooperation with German partners. The two sides will jointly promote cooperation in the direction of key technologies and equipment for resource recycling, green low-carbon technology innovation and engineering applications, sustainable urban water systems, climate change response, and environmental health risk assessment and control and make positive contributions to environmental protection and sustainable development.

The launch of the Sino-German Environmental Center will further unite the advantages of German partners such as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; integrate the development characteristics of strong practice and heavy application in the field of German engineering research; promote the construction of the college’s scientific research team and the docking of industry, university, and research; plan and implement major Sino-German scientific research cooperation plans; build a highland of environmental scientific research and education; and serve as an important measure for global environmental governance.

After the meeting, Professor Wang Zhiwei met with Oliver Schmidt, Director of International Cooperation and Projects at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and Professor Christoph Hilgers, Director of the Institute of Applied Earth Sciences, and held an academic exchange seminar to discuss future construction.