On 13th April, the foundation laying ceremony of GIFT building was held on Minhang North Campus. Chen Huawen, deputy secretary of Minhang District Committee and mayor of Minhang District, Zeng Yuqun, chairman and CEO of CATL, director of Shanghai Jiaotong University (hereafter SJTU) and honorary dean of GIFT, Zhou Jia, vice chairman, Qu Tao, assistant to chairman of the board of directors, Ren Wei, secretary of the Party committee of South Riverside Company and chairman of the board of directors, Yang Zhenbin, secretary of the Party committee of SJTU, Ding Kuiling, president of SJTU, Lin Zhongqin, former president of SJTU, Zhang Ansheng, Zhu Xinyuan and Xu Xuemin, leaders of SJTU, Ni Jun, dean of GIFT and Chief Manufacturing Officer of CATL, as well as relevant departments of Minhang District, leaders of relevant institutes at SJTU, and experts and scholars from enterprises attended the meeting. The ceremony was presided over by Zhang Ansheng.
Ding Kuiling delivered a speech representing the school. He stated that the establishment of GIFT is an innovative exploration and crucial step in cultivating future technological talents based on the needs of industry development. He expressed his hope that the institute can continue to strengthen its efficient interaction with major national and industrial development needs, open up the boundaries of future disciplines through cross-innovation, and expand the boundaries of the school through collaborative efforts, thereby contributing to future industrial transformations and leading the development of future technologies.
Ni Jun introduced the current status and future development plan of GIFT. He pointed out that since its establishment, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Government, as well as with the strong support of partner enterprises and sister units, the institute has always been committed to exploring and constructing a new paradigm of industry-academia integration that breaks boundaries. He believes that the completion of the new building will provide a better teaching and research environment for faculty and students, and offer strong support and guarantee for cultivating international technological leaders and innovative frontier achievements.
Zeng Yuqun said in his speech that GIFT is another fruitful achievement of deepening cooperation between universities and enterprises. He expects that GIFT continue to focus on key issues in emerging industries, carry out original scientific and technological research, cultivate more talents with innovative spirit and practical ability, incubate more disruptive technologies that change the existing industrial pattern, and jointly promote the progress and application of new energy technologies.
Chen Huawen congratulated on the construction start of GIFT building. He believes that GIFT will inject strong kinetic energy for Minhang District's scientific and technological innovation and industrial upgrading, and the construction of the new building will further help Minhang Disctrict to serve the construction of Shanghai's science and innovation centre. He said that Minhang District will do its best to support GIFT to conduct schooling and project construction by providing service guarantee in policies, funds, resources and other aspects, and make joint efforts to promote the future technological innovation and achievement transformation, to create a future industrial innovation highland with international competitiveness.
District leaders, school leaders, enterprises and guest representatives jointly laid the foundation stone for GIFT building, and the construction of GIFT building was officially started.
GIFT Building includes 17 floors above ground and 1 floor below ground of the main building, which is expected to be completed in 2026, and then it will form a “Twin Building” with the adjacent CATL Future Energy Research Institute Building. It will become an important landmark in the “Grand Neo Bay” Science and Technology Innovation Park, leading the innovation and development of future technology.
