On the afternoon of December 30, 2014, director of XIOPM Zhao Wei and principal of Shaanxi Normal University Cheng Guangxu, separately representing their units, signed Strategic Cooperation Agreement “Combining Science with Education to Cultivate Talents”, and unveiled the nameplate for Joint Research Centre FOR Advanced Photonics and Photonic Engineering of CAS XIOPM- Shaanxi Normal University.

The signing ceremony was held in the Lecture Hall located at F1 of library, Shaanxi Normal University Chang’an Campus. XIOPM director Zhao Wei and Shaanxi Normal University principal Cheng Guangxu, vice principal Xiao Zhenghong, member of standing committee of the communist party and university office director Lu Shengli attended the signing ceremony. Graduate Department and Comprehensive Affairs Division of XIOPM as well as Shaanxi Normal University specially-appointed part-time tutors Wang Yishan, Yao Baoli, Liu Hongjun and Tian Jinshou, 8 persons in total, presented at the ceremony. Besides, over 150 representatives from relevant functional departments of Shaanxi Normal University, including university leaders, teachers and students also appeared on the ceremony. The meeting was presided over by vice principal Xiao Zhenghong. He gave a brief introduction to the strategic cooperation negotiation and promotion process of “Combining Science with Education to Cultivate Talents”, explained XIOPM’s role in motivating the development of disciplines like physics, biology, chemistry and materials science of Shaanxi Normal University under the cooperation. The cooperation with XIOPM is a milestone in the history of the university.

In the speech, Cheng Guangxu, principal of Shaanxi Normal University, said that XIOPM is a State Team in the field of scientific research, possessing strong scientific research ability, advanced-level research team as well as advanced scientific research instrument and equipment. By cooperating with XIOPM, it will bring more internship and practice opportunities for its students, helped them to come into contact with cutting-edge research relating to their subjects. Experts of XIOPM may also act as the part-time tutors of the postgraduates, and students, under the instruction of two tutors, will have a better development and improve their professional abilities. The strategic cooperation, based on making use of advantages of student resource, education resource, basic disciplines and others, aims to conduct scientific research cooperation and cultivate talents at the same time, to improve mutual disciplines development, establish laboratory jointly and finally realize win-win result.

Afterwards, director Zhao Wei delivered a speech. He said that Shaanxi Normal University has cultivated many talents for China, and XIOPM’s backbones engaging in scientific research like researcher Liu Hongjun all graduated from the university. The strategic cooperation was reached under the proposal of principal Cheng Guangxu and both parties’ joint efforts. Promoting university-institute cooperation and realizing complementary advantages are key methods and links for advancing high-level scientific research, and the said cooperation is conducive to making use of advantages of both parties’ talents cultivation, scientific research, equipments and facilities, transformation of scientific research achievements, and will play significant roles in future development of XIOPM and Shaanxi Normal University and promote the state science, technology and economic development.

After the ceremony, director Zhao Wei made a wonderful report titled “XIOPM Photonics and Photonic Engineering Research Progress”. He introduced XIOPM’s special works in the fields of optics, space optics, optoelectronic engineering as well as achievements obtained in recent years by orientating to state needs and economic development, transformation of hi-tech results, cultivation of strategic emerging industries. The report lasted for more than 1 hour which left a deep impression to teachers and students of Shaanxi Normal University.

Strategic cooperation agreement signed by XIOPM and Shaanxi Normal University is an important step of “Combining Science with Education to Cultivate Talents” and also an important opportunity to deepen cooperation and realize mutual development. The first stage of the strategic cooperation is expected to end in 2019, and will play positive roles in disciplines development, improving scientific research level and cultivating high-quality talents of both parties. By aiming at national strategic needs and world advanced science and technology, both parties will conduct multi-type and multi-level cooperation, and make contributions to China’s scientific and technological progress and innovative country establishment.