Successful Launching of Double PhD Program and Research Collaboration by Tongji University and Politecnico di Milano: PoliMi Day at Tongji &  Tongji-PoliMi Collaborative Symposium

On the occasion of 117th anniversary of Tongji University, on the afternoon of May 21st, PoliMi Day at Tongji & Tongji-PoliMi Collaborative Symposium was successfully held in Tongji University. At the symposium, Tongji University and Politecnico di Milano released the framework cooperation agreement between the two universities and the agreement on establishing a double PhD program. The first batch of cooperation teams of faculty from both universities gave academic representations on the direction and prospect of their collaborative research. The event opens a new chapter of inter-university high-level talent cultivation and joint scientific research cooperation.

Participants and guests include: Prof. LOU Yongqi, Vice President of Tongji University; Prof. Giuliano Noci, Vice President of Politecnico di Milano; Daniele Rocchi, Vice President of Politecnico di Milano and Head of the Ph.D. School; Mr. Vojko Bratina, Science and Technology Counsellor at the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai; representatives from the Office of Research Administration, the College of Civil Engineering, the School of Automotive Studies, the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the College of Design and Innovation, and the Sino-Italian Campus, among other departments and schools of Tongji University, as well as Chinese and international students and faculty; professors from the Department of Energy, the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, the Department of Design, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Department of Civil Environmental Engineering of Politecnico di Milano; representatives of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce and member enterprises.

Prof. LOU Yongqi and Prof. Daniele Rocchi exchange the Framework Agreement of Cooperation and the Agreement for Double PhD Program. The two universities will continue to support the development of research cooperation and PhD exchanges.

Prof. LOU Yongqi commended the PoliMi Day as an important milestone for the collaboration between the two universities. Politecnico di Milano is one of Tongji’s major strategic partners in Europe, and the keyword of seeking innovation marks the new stage of cooperation. With faculty collaboration as the foundation and joint PhD training as a crucial link, both universities will encourage more faculty and students to engage in future cooperation.

Prof. Giuliano Noci stressed the importance of the partnership between Politecnico di Milano and Tongji University among PoliMi’s earliest efforts to collaborate with China. Over the past 25 years, they have weathered challenges together and continuously expanded their areas of academic cooperation. The PoliMi Day at Tongji marks a significant milestone, as the two universities embark on a new chapter of collaboration, which will undoubtedly contribute to the cultivation of high-level talent and the development of their respective cities and regions.

Mr. Vojko Bratina addressed Italy’s a long-standing tradition and history in science and technology and the importants of Sino-Italian cooperation and exchange. The academic exchanges between the two countries serve not only as a technological link but also promote diplomatic and economic prosperity. The rapid development of Chinese universities has attracted many Italian institutions to engage in collaboration. The partnership between Tongji University and Politecnico di Milano has been particularly active in promoting scientific cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Bratina hopes that in the future, the two institutions will continue to support the exchange of young scholars, establish joint laboratories, and deepen the close ties between the two beautiful nations.

PoliMi Day at Tongji & Tongji-PoliMi Collaborative Symposium

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Information Session: Double PhD Program

Prof. Daniele Rocchi gave a talk to help Tongji faculty and students better understand Politecnico di Milano and its related academic exchange programs. He provided a detailed overview of the application process for the double PhD program, and available scholarship support. He emphasized the importance of experiences with international joint laboratories and exchanges. The presentation attracted the attentive audience of students from various disciplines and degree levels. Additionally, Prof. Rocchi announced plans for advancing research activities over the next two years, including expanding collaborative projects and engaging PhD students and faculty teams, sharing best practices, building the Tongji-PoliMi community, and promoting joint publications.

Joint Collaborative Symposium

Focusing on the frontiers of Sino-Italian education, academia, and industry, the first batch of collaborative teams from Tongji and PoliMi gave joint academic presentations on the future cooperation under five major themes.

Prof. Francesca Valsecchi from Tongji’s College of Design and Innovation and Prof. Stefano Maffei from PoliMi’s Department of Design presented a dialog on “Design Xchange: A New Education, Research, and Entrepreneurial Platform”. Based on years of experience in cooperation, they presented a wealth of design-driven research practices and discussed potential sources of support for building a healthy design ecosystem.

Prof. CAO Shuyang and Prof. CAO Jinxin from Tongji’s College of Civil Engineering and Prof. Daniele Rocchi from PoliMi’s Department of Mechanical Engineering presented “Simulations of Non-Synoptic Wind Effects on Structures”, sharing the collaboration results of their research teams and potential research topics for PhD students.

Prof. WU Guangqiang from Tongji’s School of Automotive Studies and Prof. Massimiliano Gobbi from PoliMi’s Department of Mechanical Engineering presented their progress of establishing the Laboratory for Digitalization of Vehicle, Driver and Infrastructure (DVDI). They demonstrated the simulation and testing solutions for different scenarios combined with the application of artificial intelligence and digital applications.

Prof. SHI Xing from Tongji’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning and Prof. Francesco Causone from PoliMi’s Department of Energy shared experiences on “Low Carbon Buildings and Cities: Performance Simulation, Design and Assessment”, introducing case studies such as renewable energy communities in Italy as a model for creating treatments and simulations to solve complex urban problems.

On the panel of enterprise representatives, Ms. Francesca Bonesi, Asia-Pacific Program Management Director for UFI Filters/Sofima Automotive Filter, and Mr. Mirko Turrina, Vice Chairman and General Manager of Goglio Tianjin, gave presentations on “Product Development Change in Chinese Automotive Market” and “Scientific Excellence for Industrial Excellence: An Example of Italian Global Group’s Collaboration with PoliMi and Tongji” respectively. They addressed topics of the development of Italian enterprises in China, their advanced technologies and products, challenges faced by multinational enterprises, and the expected cooperation with universities in terms of scientific research projects and practical courses.

Prof. Daniele Rocchi concluded the event by expressing gratitude for the cooperation platform coordinated by the Sino-Italian Campus of Tongji University, and he expected to meet with incoming faculty and students of Tongji University at Politecnico di Milano in the coming year, where they can work toward further achievements in research collaboration and exchange.

Tongji X PoliMi

MORE INFORMATION

On the morning of May 20th, the PoliMi delegation held a cooperation seminar with Vice President Prof. LOU Yongqi and representatives of the Graduate School and Sino-Italian Campus of Tongji University. The participants reviewed the results of cooperation, reaffirmed the major goals of development, and commended mutual efforts on research team match-making, academic activities, and visits and exchanges, contributing to a long-term and stable partnership and a new industry-education-research cooperation ecosystem.

From May 22nd-24th, the faculty team of Politecnico di Milano will also participate in a series of symposiums and meetings to discuss the plans for furthering collaboration with Tongji professors from relevant departments.   

Politecnico di Milano signed the first inter-college cooperation agreement with Tongji University in 1998. Both universities have carried out fruitful international cooperation at both disciplinary and university levels, building a competent platform for faculty and student exchange and academic seminars, covering research fields of Mechanical Engineering, Electronic and Information Engineering, Design, Architecture, Economics and Management, etc. They have trained nearly a thousand Chinese-Italian double-degree students.

From the PoliTong undergraduate and Master’s double degree programs to joint PhD training and in-depth scientific research team cooperation, Tongji University’s efforts in cooperation with Italy has been committed to cultivating high-level talents with international vision and innovative spirit, and contributing to global scientific and technological progress and social development.

Tongji-PoliMi Double PhD Program Info Group

(for Tongji students)