9 March 2026
At the UvA, the collaboration is embedded in the deep‑tech initiative of the Molecular and Material Design Technology Hub (MMD TechHub). The hub supports cutting‑edge science and new technology development, with a particular focus on deep tech: developing transformative technologies that bring benefit to society through real-life products. It combines expertise in chemistry, materials science, and artificial intelligence to address major global challenges.
Prof. Susan te Pas, Dean of the UvA Faculty of Science, welcomes the new agreement. ‘This partnership with Tsinghua University creates exciting new opportunities for researchers and students to work together on sustainable technology with real impact,’ she says. She also links the collaboration to the spirit of the recent Deep Tech Day at the UvA, where science‑driven innovation and real‑world challenges were central themes.
Prof. Alfons Hoekstra, head of the MMD TechHub, describes the partnership as a clear example of deep‑tech collaboration. ‘This is exactly what deep tech is about,’ he says. ‘We connect top‑level science with real needs in society. By working with a world-class partner like Tsinghua, we can speed up breakthroughs in materials and energy technologies. And we can train the next generation of researchers through multiple collaborative PhD projects.’
The agreement includes exchange visits of PhD students and researchers, joint teaching activities and R&D projects, promoting both knowledge and cultural exchange between China and Europe.
Tsinghua University is widely regarded as China’s leading university and a global frontrunner in engineering and energy research. Prof. Ruina Xu, Dean of the Department of Energy & Power Engineering, highlights the global relevance of the partnership. She notes its link with Tsinghua’s CNEST initiative and says the collaboration ‘supports our wider efforts in energy system transformation and carbon neutrality under CNEST, while strengthening international scientific cooperation.’ The CNEST initiative (Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation) is a multilateral research program initiated by Tsinghua University, aimed at developing the next generation of energy systems.
Prof. Yixiang Shi, who will lead two of the sub‑projects at Tsinghua, stresses the opportunity for early‑career researchers. ‘This partnership will allow us to combine strengths in advanced energy engineering and new materials,’ he says. ‘It is an excellent platform for young researchers to contribute to clean energy innovation, building trust across cultures.’
The Department of Energy & Power Engineering at Tsinghua University is one of China’s oldest and most respected energy research and training centers. Founded in 1932, it leads in clean energy systems, advanced power technologies, thermofluid science, and efficient energy strategies. The department trains top engineers and researchers and runs five key research institutes, including thermal engineering and gas turbines. Its faculty includes leading scholars, and it works with global universities and industry partners. DEPE drives innovation in energy solutions that support a sustainable and low-carbon future.