Shanghai Jiao Tong University has renewed its comprehensive collaboration in scientific research and interdisciplinary education with the University of Adelaide, reaffirming its special relationship with its long-term strategic partner.
The two universities’ re-signing of the Agreement of Cooperation signals the intent to maintain and intensify their existing research collaborations in agriculture, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Since signing their first Memorandum of Cooperation in 2009, the two world-class institutions have jointly established multiple joint research centres, including the SJTU-UoA Joint Lab for Plant Science and Breeding (2015), the Joint Research Centre of Grains for Health (2016), and the China-Australia Joint Research Centre of Offshore and Wave Energy Harnessing (2017).
As both SJTU Vice-President Lisa X Xu and UoA Vice-President Gallagher noted, the two universities share an institutional identity as action-takers who strive to translate their cutting-edge research into practical solutions. In the words of Vice-President Xu, the institutions operate via an integrated ecosystem that enables researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers to streamline the process of translating technological innovations “from laboratory to industry”.
Furthermore, SJTU and UoA have also renewed their staff exchange agreement, continuing a mutually beneficial arrangement that has been in effect since 2018. The renewal of this agreement indicates a strong desire by both parties to further collaboration between their respective administrative staff, in addition to the joint PhD program that has already been in place for a decade.
During this visit, both Vice-Presidents also delivered opening speeches at the “International Innovation Forum on Offshore Wind and Wave Energy”, which was held at SJTU this year. Alluding to Vice-President Xu’s earlier remarks on SJTU’s and UoA’s shared identity as innovative and pragmatic research institutions, Vice-President Gallagher commended the research teams for their continued “pursuit of contemporary education and research excellence”.
The SJTU-UoA meeting concluded with a tour of two world-class laboratories at SJTU’s Minhang campus: the Joint Research Centre of Wave and Wind Energy and the SJTU-UoA Joint Laboratory for Plant Sciences and Breeding. As research institutions committed to the imperatives of renewable energy and food security, the partnership between SJTU and UoA symbolizes China and Australia’s commitment to achieving net-zero within this century.