On the morning of April 6, the grand inauguration ceremony of the Materials Innovation Building, School of Materials Science and Engineering (SMSE), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), was held at the Minhang Campus. With its completion, the SJTU campus welcomes a new landmark dedicated to modern scientific research. The ceremony was attended by SJTU President Ding Kuiling, former Party Secretary Ma Dexiu, former President Lin Zhongqin, Vice Presidents Jiang Xinghao and Zeng Xiaoqin, Executive Deputy Director of the University Council Zhang Ansheng, university and school leaders, past deans of SMSE, faculty, students, and alumni. The ceremony was hosted by Sun Lizhen, Secretary of the CPC of School of Materials Science and Engineering.
Dean Dai Qing of SMSE delivered an overview of the decade-long journey behind the building's construction, highlighting the collective efforts of the university, alumni, and all faculty and students. He emphasized that alongside the physical rise of the Innovation Building, the school has made a leap in academic and strategic development. Looking ahead, the new facility will serve as a launching pad for future planning, reinforcing SJTU's vision for integrated strategies in education, technology, and talent development.
Speaking on behalf of the faculty, Academician Ding Wenjiang, Director of SJTU's Hydrogen Science Center, underscored the strategic significance of new materials in global competition. He pointed out that the new building will focus on resolving critical bottlenecks in materials science, driving the industrialization of original technologies, and enabling China’s transformation from a follower to a global leader. The facility will promote interdisciplinary integration with fields such as artificial intelligence and life sciences, fostering an ecosystem that bridges research and industry. He also called for a people-centered educational philosophy—"to educate is to shape hearts"—encouraging students to engage in frontier research and nurture both scientific spirit and a sense of responsibility.
In his concluding speech, President Ding Kuiling emphasized that materials science is one of SJTU’s historically strongest disciplines. Over the past 70 years, the field has stood at the forefront of academic progress and is now ranked in the global top 0.01% in ESI rankings, serving as a pillar of the university’s engineering excellence. He outlined three key expectations: first, to strengthen innovation and focus on breakthroughs in core technologies; second, to attract top-tier talent under the university's talent-driven development strategy; and third, to enhance student education by cultivating professionals with both technical expertise and global vision. He stressed that the new building will significantly upgrade the university’s research infrastructure and help shape a full-chain innovation ecosystem, contributing to China’s pursuit of technological self-reliance and excellence.
Located on the south side of the MSE campus complex, the Materials Innovation Building covers 13,800 square meters with a total floor area of 36,000 square meters. It integrates teaching, research, and innovation under one roof. The project was initiated in 2015 to address space constraints amid the school’s goal of building a world-class materials science discipline. It received official approval in 2019, broke ground in 2022, and, after a decade of dedication, was officially completed in April 2025.
Looking to the future, the new building is poised to provide MSE faculty and students with expansive spaces for research and education. It will inject strong momentum into the advancement of materials science at SJTU and the development of a world-class discipline. As fireworks and confetti filled the air, university leaders, faculty, alumni, and guests took group photos to commemorate the event, bringing the inauguration ceremony to a celebratory close. This moment not only pays tribute to more than 70 years of academic excellence, but also heralds a new voyage into the deep seas of scientific innovation—driven by the pioneering spirit of SJTU materials scientists.