On Dec. 8th, Tongji’s College of Material Science and Engineering and Bayer Material Science (BMS) China, the Bayer Science & Education Foundation as well as Bayer Group held a grand launching ceremony for the establishment of the Bayer-Tongji Eco-Construction & Material Academy, the first of its kind in the field of construction and architecture industries in China. Zhou Zuyi, Chairman of Tongji University Council, Chen Xiaolong, Executive Vice President of Tongji, Wu Zhiqiang, Vice President of Tongji, Peter Vanacker, Member of the Executive Committee of BMS and Head of Global Industrial Marketing & Innovation, Johannes M. Dietsch, President of Bayer Greater China Group and Dr. Klaus Schaefer, President of BMS China were present at the ceremony.

Prof. Zhou Zuyi appreciated the long-term support from Bayer Group and hoped that both sides will explore ways to cultivate talents with independent innovation and to bring out the best synergy in the university-enterprise innovation system. The representative from Bayer hoped that through joint efforts, this Academy can be a powerful talent incubator for China’s construction industry and make contributions to promote sustainability in energy-saving, eco-construction and materials.

According to the cooperation agreement, this Academy will provide regular classroom lectures, seminars, scholarship, practice project and research grants to further develop eco-construction and materials and to promote talent development.