GIFT and POSTECH Department of Materials Science and Engineering Sign MOU to Formalize Collaboration

The Global Institute of Future Technology (GIFT) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 10, 2026, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership in education and research.

Jun Ni, Dean of GIFT, extended a warm welcome to the POSTECH delegation's visit. He introduced GIFT's education philosophy, development progress, research platforms and faculty development. He highlighted the research innovation and education reform initiated by GIFT centered on two interdisciplinary academic focuses: Future Energy and Future Health.

Professor Byoungwoo Kang, Head of the POSTECH Department of Materials Science and Engineering, presented the university's core research directions in materials science and expressed strong interest in joint curriculum development, collaborative research and joint talent cultivation programs.

The two parties signed an MOU to establish a collaborative framework.

In the discussion session, Qian Wang, Deputy Director of the SJTU Division of Global Cooperation and Exchange, reaffirmed SJTU's support for deeper bilateral collaboration with global institutions. Hua Bao, Associate Dean of GIFT, elaborated on potential patterns for joint talent cultivation. Both sides exchanged views on a broad spectrum of collaborative initiatives, including teaching reform, shared laboratories, faculty exchanges, and curriculum development. These efforts are expected to broaden the scope of partnership and provide students with more diversified international development pathways.

After the signing ceremony, the POSTECH delegation toured the SJTU-CATL Collaborative Laboratory to learn about innovative achievements in education-industry collaboration and the application scenarios of technology advancement.

Later in the afternoon, the two institutions co‑hosted a joint academic workshop. GIFT faculty representatives Professors Hua Bao, Xiaozhang Zhu, Runhui Liu, Shouhang Bo, Mengjiao Cheng, Jiayu Wan, and Xiangwen Gao presented their ongoing work on solid‑state batteries, organic optoelectronic materials, biomaterials, supramolecular self‑assembly, thermal management for energy storage, and novel electrochemical systems. POSTECH counterparts shared insights on oxide solid electrolytes, 2D functional materials, flexible bioelectronics, artificial molecular recognition, and perovskite optoelectronic devices.

The workshop provided a concrete foundation for charting the blueprint of future academic collaboration.

The event held in Auditorium 200, GIFT, was attended by Professor Byoungwoo Kang, Head of the POSTECH Department of Materials Science and Engineering, along with faculty representatives Si‑Young Choi, Sungjune Jung, Seung Soo Oh, and Changsoon Cho. SJTU attendees included Professor Jun Ni, Dean of GIFT; Professor Tianshu Ge, Chair of the GIFT Council; Mr. Han Haibo, Deputy Chair of the GIFT Council; Professor Weiliang Xia and Hua Bao, Associate Deans of GIFT. Also present were Qian Wang, Deputy Director of the SJTU Division of Global Cooperation and Exchange, and Hailei Chen, Asia Affairs Specialist.