On September 27th, the “Austria-China Roundtable on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” co-organized by BMVIT - Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Austrian Embassy in Beijing, Austrian Consulate General in Shanghai, Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center and Shanghai University, was held in No.2 Building of Lehu New Hotel, Shanghai University. Mr. Alexander POGANY, from BMVIT - Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Prof. Li Wei, Assistant to President of Shanghai University, Ms. Birgit MURR, Counsellor, Head of Section of Science and Technology, Austrian Embassy Beijing, Mr. Raymund Gradt, Commercial Consul of Austrian Consulate General in Shanghai and Dr. Chen Hongguang, Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center, attended the opening ceremony.

The meeting was hosted by Prof. Liyi Shi, Director of Science and Technology Office, Shanghai University, and Chief Scientist, Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center. 30 presenters and about 120 representatives from Graz University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, AT&S, Johannes Kepler University, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Materials Center Leoben, Austrian Academy of Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Applied Physics Research Institute, Tongji University, Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center, No.2 Military Medical University of CPLA, Shanghai University of Science and Technology, and Shanghai University, as well as enterprises of Austria and China participated in the meeting.

The meeting was held in very friendly atmosphere. In his welcome speech, Prof. Li Wei, Assistant to President of Shanghai University, introduced to Austrian and Chinese participants the development strategies of Shanghai University and the great achievements of Shanghai University in the aspects of discipline construction, talent cultivation, high-tech research and collaboration with industry in the field of nanotechnology. Ms. Birgit MURR, Counsellor, Head of Section of Science and Technology, Austrian Embassy Beijing, gave high appraisals in her speech to the research capacity and internationalization level of the universities and research institutes in Shanghai in the field of nanotechnology, and expressed strong willingness to strengthen the collaborations between the scientists and enterprises of the two sides. The experts later presented the newest research achievements and industrialization progress on such topics as Sensors, Devices and Optomechanics, Material Sciences and Lithography, Risk Governance, Environment, Health and Safety.
In his summary at the end of the meeting, Prof. Liyi Shi pointed out that there are a lot of complementary advantages on both sides and the communications should be closely followed to find the common interests and topics of collaborations to propel applications of nanotechnology in the field of high performance materials, opto-electronic devices and 3D printing as well as bio-sensors and an efficient supporting platform should be established in Shanghai for the exchange and communication in the field of nanotechnology between the two sides. After one day’s presentations and discussion, there was initial collaboration intention on quite a few research topics. And the two sides have agreed to hold the 2nd “Austria-China Roundtable on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” in Austria.

More than 40 researchers and students of Shanghai University also participated in the meeting, which would provide certain support toward related discipline construction in Shanghai University through the communication and collaboration with Austrian universities, research institutes and enterprises.