Published by: Office of International Relations Editor: Chen Machuan

WUST News On the morning of November 7, the inauguration ceremony of the Hubei Sino-Austria (Europe) Center for Innovation in Science, Technology and Education was held in the Roadshow Hall of the library on the Qingshan Campus of WUST. Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Europe Division in the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Song Song, Director of the Europe Division in the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, attended the event online. Zhou Qihong, Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Department of Education, Wang Dongmei, Level-2 Inspector of the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Peter Moser, President, and Thomas Prohaska, Vice-President of Montanuniversitaet Leoben in Austria, Gerold Huemer, Vice-President of K1-MET Center, Xu Yanbing, Party Secretary of the WUST, Ni Hongwei, President of the WUST, and Lei Fengyun, former Science and Technology Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Austria, attended the event in person. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Lv Yong, Vice-President of WUST.

Xu Yanbing and Peter Moser jointly unveiled the plaque for the Hubei China-Austria (Europe) Science, Technology and Education Innovation Center. On behalf of the WUST, Ni Hongwei signed cooperation agreements with Montanuniversitaet Leoben and the K1-MET Center respectively.

Zhou Qihong, Wang Dongmei, Li Gang, Song Song, Ni Hongwei, Peter Moser, Gerold Huemer, etc. gave speeches one after another, expressing their warm congratulations on the establishment of the Center and their expectations for China-Austria cooperation.

Zhou Qihong said that the establishment of the Center marks a new level of in-depth cooperation between the WUST and international partners such as Montanuniversitaet Leoben. It is hoped that the WUST will take the establishment of the center as an opportunity to adhere to a world-oriented and open policy, make full use of its disciplinary advantages, actively integrate into the province's "51020" modern industrial system, continuously broaden the path of educational opening-up, and boldly assume the responsibility of strengthening the Hubei Province through education.

Wang Dongmei said that the acceleration of China-Austria and China-Europe scientific and technological innovation cooperation is in line with Hubei Province's development strategy of expanding international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and strengthening the construction of an international scientific research environment. It is expected that the Center will promote China-Austria scientific and technological cooperation in a targeted manner and promote the high-quality development of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation in both regions.

In his speech, Li Gang affirmed the cooperation achievements of the two universities. He said that since China and Austria established a friendly strategic partnership, the Ministry of Science and Technology has been committed to promoting and supporting bilateral scientific and technological innovation cooperation. It is expected that the Center can fully play its role as a bridge and link, promote the sharing and complementarity of scientific and technological resources between China and Austria, anvance the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, and inject new vitality into the scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two countries.

On behalf of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, Song Song congratulated the establishment of the Center. She hoped that the platform would further strengthen non-governmental scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between China and Austria, and help research institutions and universities in both countries to conduct scientific research and innovation cooperation, so as to jointly address global challenges and serve the economic and social development and the well-being of the people in both countries.

Ni Hongwei reviewed the cooperation and exchanges with Montanuniversitaet Leoben in recent years and sincerely thanked the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Hubei Provincial Department of Education, the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Chinese Embassy in Austria, the Austrian Embassy in China and other parties for their continued support. He said that the establishment of the Center is a milestone in the cooperation between the WUST and Montanuniversitaet Leoben. He looks forward to the two universities working hand in hand with the K1-MET Center to make positive contributions to the development of science, technology and education innovation in China-Europe and even globally.

Peter Moster said that the establishment of the Hubei China-Austria (Europe) Science, Technology and Education Innovation Center will promote the in-depth cooperation between the WUST and Montanuniversitaet Leoben. The addition of the new partner, K1-MET, will also further promote the transformation of scientific research cooperation into industrial applications and advance the integrated development of industry-university-research.

Gerold Huemer also looks forward to further strengthening the exchanges among scientific researchers, especially young scientific researchers, and using his professional knowledge and technological advantages in the metallurgical field to promote the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements.

Professor Jin Shengli from the School of Materials and Metallurgy introduced the establishment background, goals and future plans of the Hubei China-Austria (Europe) Science, Technology and Education Innovation Center, and said that the center will focus on serving the global high-temperature industries, promoting the cultivation of international talents and innovative research, and facilitating the sustainable development of society.

Before the ceremony, Ni Hongwei and Lyu Yong held separate discussions with the delegation of Montanuniversitaet Leoben and the delegation of the K1-MET Center. The two sides fully exchanged views on further deepening cooperation in aspects such as teacher-student exchanges, talent cultivation and joint scientific research.

Huang Nianping, Director of the Foreign Exchange and Cooperation Office of the Provincial Education Department; Zhou Yunfeng, Director of the Policy and Regulation Office of the Provincial Science and Technology Department; Christine Gruber, Regional Manager of the K1-MET Center; Dr. Ye Hang, Head of R&D in China and the Asia-Pacific region of RHI Magnesita in Austria; Dr. Wang Guodong, Director of the China-Austria Innovation Cooperation Center (Jiangsu); some representatives of the Austria-China Science and Technology Association; and heads and teacher representatives of units such as the Undergraduate School, the Graduate School, the Academy of Science and Technology Development, the Personnel Office, the Office of International Relations, the Materials Faculty and the International Education College of the WUST participated in relevant activities. (Office of International Relations)

(Photographer: Chen Machuan)