The Wind Rises on the Riverbank, Blueprint Unfolds. The Yongriver Forum 2025 was convened at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT). Nearly 90 outstanding scholars from prestigious universities and research institutions all over the world, including Harvard, MIT, and Tsinghua, gathered on the north bank of the Yong River. They focused on academic hotspots and explored cutting-edge research findings, leaving their distinctive EIT footprints on the journey of technological innovation.
EIT: Focusing on Talent Development and Job Satisfaction
The year 2025 marks a new historical stage for EIT's development: the official approval of the university's establishment and the inauguration of its first undergraduate class, etc. EIT remains committed to building a vibrant innovation ecosystem, facilitating exploration and breakthroughs at the frontiers of science and technology.
Professor Shiyi Chen, President of EIT, Delivers Welcome Speech
Professor Shiyi Chen, President of EIT, extended a warm welcome to the young scholars from around the globe gathering by the Yong River. He noted that since its inception in 2021, this year's forum is the first to be truly held by the Yong River, making it particularly significant. President Shiyi Chen stated that EIT adheres to the principles of “High-Caliber Foundation, Compact yet Distinguished, Research Oriented, Globally Engaged” in its educational mission. The university shoulders the strategic mission of exploring new paths for higher education development in China, independently cultivating top-notch innovative talents, and tackling key core technologies. He emphasized that university development must grasp two key points: innovation and societal impact.
The core of education lies in people, and the key to innovation also lies in people. We care deeply about the growth and achievements of our talent, and we value every young individual with dreams. We are dedicated to providing them with the best possible academic environment, working conditions, and life benefits, encouraging them to work healthily and happily for the nation. EIT consistently maintains a student-centered approach, emphasizes faculty educating students through research and nurturing them through practice, and encourages both teachers and students to bravely explore the unknown and pursue excellence.
Professor Chunmiao Zheng, Vice President for International, Introduces EIT's Progress and Talent Policies
Professor Chunmiao Zheng, Vice President for International, introduced EIT's progress in university development and its talent policies, covering aspects such as disciplinary layout, talent cultivation, faculty development, and scientific research. EIT is actively exploring innovative approaches in talent recruitment and cultivation, research layout, and institutional mechanisms, with a strong focus on talent cultivation, thereby forming a distinctive EIT talent development model. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to serve major national strategic needs and the socio-economic development demands of Ningbo. The university will fully leverage talent as the primary resource advantage, achieving development driven by talent innovation.
Professor Wenjun Zeng, Vice President for Research and Executive Dean of Ningbo Institute of Digital Twin, Updates on Research Platforms
Professor Wenjun Zeng, Vice President for Research and Executive Dean of Ningbo Institute of Digital Twin, provided updates on the construction progress of the university's research platforms and the Ningbo Institute of Digital Twin. Aligned with Ningbo's 361 industrial cluster upgrade strategy, EIT focuses on six cutting-edge fields: Artificial Intelligence, Integrated Circuit, Unmanned Technology, New Materials, New Energy, and Intelligent Manufacturing. By establishing a number of national, provincial, and municipal key research platforms and university-enterprise joint laboratories, EIT aims to form an EIT Series industrial matrix.
Fellow's Impressions: Fairness, Respect, Friendliness
What is it really like to work at EIT?
Professor Ming Zhou, Dean of the College of Engineering
Professor Ming Zhou, Dean of the College of Engineering, delivered a presentation titled "My Journey to the Future", where he reflected on his lifelong dedication to the field of flight and shared his motivations for joining EIT. As a pioneering scholar in structural topology optimization and the founder of the simulation-driven generative design paradigm, Professor Zhou expressed his great honor to collaborate with an innovative research university like EIT. He emphasized that dedicating himself to solving scientific challenges with substantial application value and engaging in work that transcends personal achievement is both a firm and inevitable choice for him.
Assistant Professor Qingchen Shen of the College of Engineering, Shared Experience Working and Living at EIT
Assistant Professor Qingchen Shen of the College of Engineering shared his experience of working and living at EIT during the young talent presentation session. Having participated in the Yongriver Forum 2024, he joined EIT earlier this year after his time at the University of Cambridge. He emphasized that “we recruit to retain,” noting that EIT places strong emphasis on supporting young principal investigators (PIs) by providing substantial start-up research funding and sufficient doctoral student resources. At EIT, he has found a genuinely fair, respectful, and friendly environment—and looks forward to walking this path with more like-minded peers.
Opening Ceremony Presided Over by Professor Chuanwu Xi, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Nearly 90 Young Scholars Attended Youngriver Forum 2025
This forum was hosted by the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo. A total of 515 young scholars applied, with nearly 90 final participants selected. They came from top global institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, University of California, Berkeley, Imperial College London, as well as Tsinghua University and The University of Hong Kong, among others.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Chuanwu Xi, Vice Provost for Global Engagement. Party Secretary Bo Jin and other members of the Party and administrative leadership team, all teaching and research faculty, and heads of relevant units and departments attended the opening ceremony.
On the afternoon of November 8th and throughout November 9th, invited scholars presented their research in seven breakout sessions across Colleges of Sciences, Engineering, and Information Science and Technology. They shared their research findings and experiences, engaged in discussions on disciplinary hotspots, and fostered an exchange of diverse perspectives.
