Recently, Professor LI Hanying, Dean of the International Campus, Zhejiang University, led a delegation to the Joint Research Center for Bio-based Materials and Carbon Neutral Development at Zhejiang University (Ninghai). During the visit, a renewal agreement with Ninghai County was signed on behalf of Zhejiang University, marking the beginning of a new chapter in cooperation and development between the university and the local government. 

Professor LI Hanying and his delegation visited one of the early achievements of the center: the "Ninghai Bamboo Tower,” the world’s first six-story bamboo building. The Bamboo Tower is a striking demonstration of the innovative use of biomass materials in architecture. Its unique design and its embodiment of the principles of environmental protection have received widespread attention both at home and abroad. LI showed a detailed understanding of the progress of the scientific research work of the center, expressing his support for its work and encouraging the research team to continue to make valuable contributions to scientific research and industrial expansion. He also expressed his expectation that the center will focus strongly on carbon-neutral construction and further contribute to local economic development while engaging in high-level research work.

Professor XIAO Yan introduced the work and development plans of the center to the guests. He described how, in the future, the center will further increase investment in scientific research, actively explore new ideas, and introduce a range of measures to attract and develop new talents. The center will further expand and deepen its exploration of the applications of biomass materials and continue to make efforts in expanding their use in architecture. It will also reinforce its commitment to strengthening cooperation with domestic and foreign universities, scientific research institutions, and enterprises to jointly promote the innovative development of biomass materials and carbon neutrality technologies. Moreover, it will actively carry out popular science publicity activities to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of biomass materials and the importance of carbon neutrality.

Since the establishment of the Zhejiang University (Ninghai) Joint Research Center for Bio-based Materials and Carbon Neutral Development in May 2021, the center has achieved remarkable results in the research, development, and use of biomass materials as well as in promoting carbon-neutral construction. The unremitting efforts of the research team have led to the successful development of a variety of new biomass materials that have broad application prospects in the fields of energy conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development. At the same time, the center actively explores innovative paths towards carbon neutrality, providing strong technical support for carbon emissions reduction in Ninghai County and beyond. The renewal of the agreement between the university and the local government marks a further deepening of their cooperation in the fields of biomass materials and carbon-neutral construction. In the future, the center will continue to leverage both the scientific research advantages of Zhejiang University and the industrial advantages of Ninghai County to achieve even greater benefits, contributing wisdom and strength to the efforts to achieve the goals of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality.” 

In the first row, from left to right: LI Binbin; JIN Wangping; RAN Shiya; LI Hanying; XIAO Yan; WANG Jianhe, CEO of the Sino-Canada Low-Carbon Technology Research Institute. Co.Ltd.; WANG Ting, Deputy General Manager of Ninghai County Investment Group; and XU Xingyou

The participants in the signing ceremony included Gong Hui, Deputy County Chief of Ninghai County; RAN Shiya, Director of the Science and Technology Bureau; XU Xingyou, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Bureau; XU Qifeng, Chief of the Science and Technology Cooperation and Foreign Experts Section; JIN Wangping, Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Technology Transfer of the International Campus, ZJU; XIAO Yan, Professor of the Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI) and Director of the Center; LI Binbin, Assistant Professor of ZJUI; as well as representatives of the faculty, staff and students.