On March 8th, the Management Committee of Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area, Shandong University, and Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department signed an agreement in Qingdao to jointly build the Yunnan Research Institute of Shandong University. They will work together to create a cross-regional collaborative innovation platform for government-industry-academia-research and application so as to help Yunnan speed up the construction of modern industrial systems, promote the development of new quality productive forces, and accelerate the establishment of a center radiating toward South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Yang Dongwei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area, exchanged views with Li Shucai, Principle of Shandong University and an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Wang Xueqin, jointly witnessed signing agreement.

Yang stated that with a favorable geographical location, Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area attaches high importance to scientific and technological innovation and talents to expedite the development of new quality productive forces. Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area will actively promote the implementation of the cooperation agreement and introduce high-level talents, teams, and projects to ensure the efficient operation and sustainable development of the Yunnan Research Institute. It is hoped that by leveraging the Yunnan Research Institute as a platform, Shandong University will further broaden the scope of cooperation with Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area, jointly achieving high-quality development.

Li expressed that in recent years, Shandong Unversity has carried out a series of scientific and technological cooperation with Yunnan effectively and practically in fields such as transportation and energy. By jointly establishing the research institute, Shandong University will give full play of its academic resources and scientific and technological advantages, dispatch leading experts in key disciplines to undertake major scientific and technological project tasks, establish an innovative platform, and build a deeply integrated model of industry, academia, and research. This will accelerate the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievement, providing intellectual support for the development of Yunnan Province and Yunnan Dian Zhong New Area.

Wang noted that Yunnan is seizing opportunities, leading with technological innovation, and developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions. Shandong University boasts abundant innovative resources and achievements, as well as strong scientific research teams and platforms. The establishment of the Yunnan Research Institute of Shandong University aims to attract more excellent researchers through innovative mechanisms, promote the transformation of scientific and technological results, and create a new model for regional scientific and technological cooperation. (Editors: Ines, Amy)