On September 22, 2015, CIOMP welcomed a number of distinguished guests from the European Union for the 2015 Research and Innovation Tour: Where Europe and China Connect. This event, the fourth of its kind, aims to foster and facilitate dialogue and collaboration through a series of information-rich seminars and question-and-answer sessions. These sessions were followed by a tour of CIOMP’s extensive facilities.

There were many attendees from the EU, CIOMP and local government and companies as well as more than 40 research staff and guests from three Changchun universities.

The information sessions opened with welcome remarks by CHEN Weiyou, Deputy Director General of Jilin Science and Technology Department, who noted that although Jilin Province’s economy is still developing, it has always sought to foster economically beneficial communication with others. With the strong and rich foundations in education and research that the CAS institute CIOMP offers, Mr Chen hoped both China and Europe could continue to develop mutually beneficial cooperation through further visits and collaborative projects.

MA Mingya,  CIOMP Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President, made welcome remarks on behalf of the Institute. Prof. Ma noted that CIOMP’s deserved reputation as the Cradle of Chinese Optics was based on extensive collaborations throughout the world, but especially with EU countries. Examples of fruitful and strong collaborations include relationships with the Frauenhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering in Germany, Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Nature Publishing Group and many others.

The Deputy Director General of China Science and Technology Exchange Center,XING Jijun, followed with opening remarks in which he thanked the Jilin Science and Technology Department and CIOMP for organizing such a special event. Mr Xing noted CIOMP’s many accomplishments and he encouraged attendees to use the event to foster future cooperation between Jilin Province, CIOMP and the EU.

EU representatives then gave informative presentations from their perspective .Dr Laurent BOCHEREAU presented an overview of EU science and technology; Mr Serge GRELY delved into France’s science and technology capacities; and Ms Andrea STRELCOVA explored EURAXESS Links, a resource facilitating collaboration outside Europe. Importantly, they explained in detail many of the EU’s policies, especially the opportunities afforded by the Horizon 2020 for Chinese research staff, and the many communication opportunities supported by the EU and EURAXESS Links. Prof. WANG Deli concluded the presentation by introducing his rich experience with mutually beneficial cooperation with EU colleagues.

Chaired by Ms WANG Hui, a lively Q& A session followed, with many questions from the floor that explored further aspects of EU science and technology and laid solid foundations for further discussions – and future cooperation.

In the afternoon, the delegations visited the diverse facilities of CIOMP.Dr ZHANG Laiming introduced a detailed history of CIOMP in the Exhibition Hall; Prof. LI Dabing introduced the research and accomplishments of the SKLLA; and Assoc. Prof. LUO Xiao introduced CIOMP’s optics manufacturing ability and some of the major projects at the CAS Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

The EU delegates were gracious in their thanks for the tour, impressed by the information provided, and confident that the increase in their knowledge and appreciation of CIOMP’s work and facilities would lead to further fruitful visits and collaboration in the future.

Dignitaries and Delegates

XING Jijun                          Deputy Director General of CSTEC

Laurent BOCHEREAU       S&T Counsellor of the European Union Delegation

CHEN Weiyou                   Deputy Director General of Jilin Science and Technology Department

GUAN Lihong                   Director of Division of International Cooperation of Jilin Science and Technology Department

PANG Haoran                  Deputy Director of Department of Economic and Technological Cooperation of Jilin Province

HAN Xuefei            Vice Director of Investment Promotion Bureau of Changchun Economic&Technological Development Zone

Serge GRELY                   Science and Education Attaché of French Consulate General, Shenyang

Andrea STRELCOVA                 Country Representative of EURAXESS Links

MA Mingya                                 CIOMP Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President

ZHANG Laiming                         Director of the Division of International Cooperation

WANG Hui                                 Vice Director of the Division of International Cooperation

CHU Bei                                     Director of the Division of Human Resource Management

XIANG Yang                               Director of the Division of Fundamental Research Management

LI Dabing                                   Vice Director of the State Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Applications (SKLLA)

MU Quanquan                           Vice Director of the State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics (SKLAO)

BAI Yuhong                               Vice Director of Information Center