On October 12, the 26th China International Industry Fair (CIIF), themed “Smart Economy, Boundless Manufacturing,” opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). SUES showcased 25 technological innovations spanning intelligent manufacturing, new materials, environmental protection and digital creativity, highlighting its latest achievements in fostering new quality productive forces and strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, research and application. SUES President Lou Yongqi attended the opening ceremony and moderated a Panel Discussion: Global Industrial Transformation and Talent Development Driven by New Quality Productive Forces. Together with experts from the global industrial and educational communities, he explored the role of universities in talent development and technological innovation amid industrial transformation.
During the fair, SUES leaders visited the exhibition booth and reviewed the projects on display. Lou Yongqi noted that the exhibits demonstrated SUES’ innovation capabilities across the entire spectrum, from advanced equipment manufacturing to new materials research, and from fundamental research to industrial applications. He emphasized SUES’ commitment to serving national strategic priorities and regional economic development by strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, research and application, and accelerating the transformation of research achievements into market-ready products.
Vice President Xu Kaiyu examined the technical features and commercialization progress of several projects and commended the Research Administration Office and participating teams for their preparations. She stressed that SUES would continue improving its technology transfer services and university-industry collaboration platforms, providing comprehensive support for the commercialization of research outcomes and helping more advanced technologies reach the market.
A major highlight of this year's fair was the 2026 CIIF Leading Innovation Award presented to the project “Thermally Processed Fiber-Reinforced Polyethylene Hollow Fiber Membrane,” jointly submitted by SUES and Sinopec Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. The project, led by Associate Professor Ji Dawei and his team, made SUES the only local university to receive the award, marking the university’s first major award at CIIF. The technology features hollow fiber membranes with microscopic pores that enable efficient water treatment and impurity separation. It holds considerable potential for applications in wastewater treatment, biomedicine, food processing, electronics and energy.
Several other innovations exhibited by SUES have already been developed into commercial products or entered the industrialization stage. Associate Researcher Yang Lijun and his team presented a research-grade fiber forming and processing equipment platform comprising 13 devices. Covering the entire experimental process from polymer forming to fiber performance evaluation, the platform has developed into a series of research instruments marketed primarily to universities, research institutes and industrial enterprises.
Professor Liu Bin showcased an electromagnetic linear motor dynamic fatigue testing machine. The equipment has been developed into testing systems for different materials and components. Now entering industrial production through enterprise partnerships, the technology has already found applications in medical devices and automotive components.
Professor Hu Dingyu, in collaboration with Shanghai Guanghong Zhichuang Electronics Co., Ltd., presented two products developed through a technology transfer partnership: the DA680 Handheld Intelligent Acoustic Imaging Device and the DA500 Intelligent Acoustic Imaging Monitoring Unit. These products support intelligent equipment operation and maintenance in industries including electric power, petrochemicals, railway transportation and intelligent manufacturing.
A flight simulator project developed by Hu Shaolin and his team attracted considerable attention, with visitors stopping to experience the simulators firsthand. The team has developed several product series, including helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, glider, integrated and experience-oriented flight simulators, as well as aviation science education equipment. The team is also exploring the development of eVTOL flight simulators to support the emerging low-altitude economy.
Professor Zhang Peilei and Suzhou Leihe Laser Technology Co., Ltd. jointly developed intelligent dynamic laser mass-welding equipment for Micro LED display panels. The first unit has been exported, delivered and passed acceptance testing. The technology also has potential applications in advanced manufacturing processes such as photovoltaic crystallization, Low-E glass annealing, power battery production and carbon fiber processing, offering promising market prospects and the potential to reduce reliance on foreign technologies.
Other exhibits included an AI-powered intelligent laser welding quality diagnosis system using multimodal sensing, a high-performance lead-free tin-based alloy solder powder, and an ultra-efficient magnetically controlled rotating arc solid-state welding system from School of Materials Science and Engineering. School of Design presented advanced digital battery-swapping equipment for new energy vehicles, while School of Textiles and Fashion showcased green, low-carbon processing technology for bio-based fibers and a fluorine-free waterproof spray. Together, these projects demonstrated SUES’ strengths in interdisciplinary innovation.
At the opening ceremony, an AI-powered intelligent musical installation titled Heming (Harmony), developed by Chen Junkai and his team from the Nlimited Tech Lab, delivered a performance of the original composition Rust Pulse. Using intelligent algorithms to control mechanical structures, the installation transformed music into perceptible acoustic pulses, symbolizing the vitality of industrial development. The performance embodied SUES’ 3-Wing interdisciplinary innovation model integrating Engineering × Management × Design and received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The overall planning of the university exhibition area at this year’s CIIF was undertaken by Yingmu Industrial Group, a company founded by a SUES alumnus. The Shanghai-based group, which operates globally in technological innovation, culture and tourism, industrial investment, sports and wellness, provided strong support for SUES’ participation. Looking ahead, the two sides will continue strengthening industry-education integration and cooperation to accelerate the commercialization of innovative achievements.
Since its Third Party Congress, SUES has undertaken 3,885 industry-commissioned research projects, obtained 1,698 invention patents, completed 406 patent transfers and 69 patent licensing agreements, and implemented 397 technology commercialization projects. The total value of technology transfer contracts has exceeded RMB 110 million, with an average annual growth rate of 69.61% in payments received from commercialization projects and a patent commercialization rate of 11.94%. SUES ranks among the leading universities of its kind in terms of growth in technology commercialization. Looking ahead, SUES will continue strengthening its technological innovation capabilities and contributions to society, advancing its goal of becoming a world-class university focused on applied innovation with distinctive industry-oriented strengths, while contributing to China’s development as a global leader in science and technology.
