Procter & Gamble Delegation Visits TJU

On September 17, 2013, a delegation led by Dr. Rhona Knox, Director Open Innovation at Procter & Gamble (P&G), the world’s largest consumer products company, visited Tianjin University (TJU). Vice Party Secretary Li Yidan met with the delegation. Ms. Fan Yingzi, Deputy Director General of Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission, attended the meeting. Also in attendance were representatives from the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the TJU Office of Science and Technology, the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and the School of Sciences.

During the meeting, Vice Party Secretary Li introduced TJU's engineering strengths and innovation capability. He endorsed the significance of co-establishing a collaborative innovation research platform, hoping to build it into a flagship project of international cooperation. Deputy Director General Fan gave a briefing on Tianjin's economic status, its industrial distribution, and its education. She hoped that TJU and P&G could work together to build a world-class research and innovation center so as to contribute to Tianjin's regional development and innovation. Also, the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission would actively support the establishment of this collaborative innovation center. Dr. Knox praised highly the scientific research strengths of TJU and expressed her optimism on further in-depth collaboration in various fields.

TJU representatives also highlighted a new model for TJU to develop innovative collaboration with world-renowned enterprises. The idea of construction and development of this collaborative innovation center, as well as the implementation of its model, was positively received by attendees. Both sides also discussed issues of a cooperation framework and operation model, and reached consensus on building a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Afterwards, a ceremony where P&G granted research funding was held. $100,000 US dollars seed money was granted to TJU for launching the collaborative innovation research platform, making TJU the only university in China to be granted seed money.