On January 3,2024, Shandong University and FAW-Volkswagen Qingdao Branch held a signing ceremony for their strategic cooperation agreement. Attendees included Cao Xianqiang, Member of Standing Committee of the University Party Committee, Vice President, and President of Qingdao Campus; Han Shenghao, Dean ofSchool of Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Liu Dong, Party Secretary and General Manager of FAW-Volkswagen Qingdao Branch; and Bruno Torres, Foreign General Manager of FAW-Volkswagen Qingdao Branch.
In the address, Cao Xianqiang outlined Shandong University's recent institutional advancements and achievements in supporting Qingdao's high-quality development. He emphasized that this collaboration represents a strategic alliance of strengths, fully embodying both parties' shared commitment to advancing education, cultivating talent, and upholding the principles of continuous innovation and technological revitalization. He expressed hope that both parties would leverage their respective strengths to jointly advance the construction of the Joint Innovation Center, continuously promoting the integration and mutual reinforcement of theoretical research and practical development. This would press the acceleratorfor the digital development of the automotive industry and jointly contribute greater strength to the advancement of scientific and technological innovation in QingdaoCity, Shandong Province, and the nation.
Liu Dong statedin his address that deepening cooperation based on the foundation and consensus established through prior collaboration holds profound significance. By complementing institutional and corporate strengths and sharing resources, this collaboration will empower the cultivation of high-calibre applied talents and support enterprises in achieving efficient transformation and development. He expressed hope that through a long-term cooperation mechanism, both parties would foster in-depth exchanges among students, scholars and industry experts. This would provide data and case studies to advance academic disciplines within universities, while offering talent and think-tank resources to support enterprises in high-quality operations. Together, they would deepen industry-academia-research collaboration and propel continuous technological innovation.
At the ceremony, Qiao Yue, Vice Dean of School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Liu Benfa, Manager of FAW-Volkswagen Qingdao Branch, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of both parties. Han Shenghao and Bruno Torres jointly unveiled the plaque for the Joint Innovation Center. Under the agreement, the partners will engage in comprehensive, in-depth, and regular collaboration across scientific research innovation, talent cultivation, think tank development, and digital transformation, striving to establish a new high ground for scientific research in automotive industry technological innovation.
Subsequently, the parties held a plaque-presentation ceremony for Shandong University Student Practice Base.
Attendees also included heads of Undergraduate Affairs Department of Party Working Committee and Discipline Development and Post graduate Education Office of Shandong University,Qingdao, the head of Service Qingdao Development Office, SDU, and relevant personnel from School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
