On November 13, Tianjin University (TJU) and Clariant International Limited renewed their strategic cooperation agreement at TJU's Peiyangyuan Campus, marking a new chapter in their partnership.
The signing ceremony was attended by key executives including Dr. Marvin Estenfelder, Head of R&D, BU Catalysts, Clariant, Jace Wang, Vice President / Head of BU Catalysts Propylene, and Weixing Gu, Head of R&D, BU Catalysts China. TJU was represented by Executive Vice President Hu Wenping, former Vice President Ma Xinbin, and leaders from various departments including the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology.
During the ceremony, Executive Vice President Hu Wenping welcomed the Clariant delegation and highlighted the achievements of their collaboration since the initial agreement in 2020. He extended an invitation to Dr. Estenfelder to return in 2025 for TJU's 130th anniversary and the centennial celebration of its chemical engineering discipline.
Dr. Estenfelder introduced Clariant's philosophy of "Greater chemistry – between people and planet" and praised TJU's excellence in catalyst research. He emphasized the successful "open, innovative, collaborative, and trustworthy" partnership over the past four years.
Following the signing ceremony, Dr. Estenfelder delivered a keynote lecture titled "Catalyzing the Energy Transition" at the Peiyang Forum. The presentation explored the challenges and opportunities created by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven insights in catalyst research, as well as the crucial role of innovative catalysts in achieving net-zero emissions and sustainable development.
The Clariant delegation also toured the teaching laboratories and advanced instrument testing platforms at the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, engaging in discussions about future collaboration opportunities.
Clariant, a global leader in specialty chemicals with a significant presence in the catalyst industry, first established its strategic partnership with TJU in September 2020, focusing on heterogeneous catalysis development. This renewal, coinciding with the centennial of TJU's chemical engineering discipline, is expected to invigorate the field through global R&D innovation platforms and establish new benchmarks in international university-enterprise collaboration for cultivating next-generation chemical engineering talent and contributing to sustainable development.
By Eva Yin
