Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) launched a new Institute of Materials Research (iMR) on November 12 to pursue cutting-edge research in the field of new materials.

The institute’s launching ceremony was presided over by Kang Feiyu, associate dean of SIGS and Executive Vice Director of the iMR, and attended by Zhou Ji, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Cheng Huiming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Director of the iMR, SIGS leaders, iMR faculty, student representatives and other guests. Nan Cewen from the Tsinghua MSE and Duan Wenhui from the Tsinghua Department of Physics, both academicians of the CAS, joined the event remotely.

Kang Feiyu presiding over the ceremony

During his speech, Cheng Huiming reported on the current status and the vision of the institute. Looking back on the development of the materials discipline at SIGS, he then introduced the iMR’s future plan which included setting up five research centers for Energy Materials and Devices, Low-Dimensional Materials and Devices, Information Functional Materials and Devices, Biomedical Materials and Devices, and Material Design and Computation.

Cheng stressed that the iMR not only aimed to lead in the field of cutting-edge new materials, but also aimed to make important contributions to the construction of a pilot demonstration zone in Shenzhen and the overall development of the Greater Bay Area. It would further support Tsinghua University in building a world-leading materials discipline.

Cheng Huiming delivering a speech

SIGS Executive Dean Gao Hong, Tsinghua MSE CPC Committee Secretary Yang Zhigang, academicians Zhou Ji, Nan Cewen and Duan Wenhui delivered speeches and congratulated SIGS for establishing the iMR. They expressed hopes for the institute to establish a world-class platform for interdisciplinary materials research and train high-quality personnel.

During the ceremony, Zhou Pengwei, SIGS alumnus and Chairman of Shenzhen XFH Technology Co., Ltd., a Growth Enterprise Market-listed company, shared his entrepreneurial experience with attendees. Student representatives Liu Yuanming and Luo Yuting also talked about their experiences at SIGS.

Unveiling ceremony of iMR: (from left to right) Kang Feiyu, Gao Hong, Zhou Ji, Cheng Huiming, Wu Xiaofeng and Yang Zhigang    

After the inaugural ceremony, Zhou Ji, Cheng Huiming, Gao Hong, SIGS CPC Committee Secretary Wu Xiaofeng, Kang Feiyu, and Yang Zhigang jointly unveiled the iMR.

Source: Tsinghua SIGS
Editors: Guo Lili, Sangeet Sangroula