The Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province has recently announced the list of recognized provincial-level international sci-tech cooperation carriers for the year 2024. “International Sci-tech Cooperation Base for the Development and Utilization of Biobased Resources” and “Zhejiang-Australia Joint Laboratory of Green Flame-Retardant Materials” declared by TU were recognized. This is a historic breakthrough of TU’s provincial international sci-tech cooperation carriers.

“International Sci-tech Cooperation Base for the Development and Utilization of Biobased Resources” is closely centered on the “Bioeconomy 2030 Policy Agenda” of the OECD and the national “dual-carbon” strategic goal, focusing on new bio-based pharmaceutical carriers, bio-based material research and development, bio-based chemical production and bio-based energy development. The base has established in-depth cooperative relationships with a number of related international professional teams to jointly build an international ground for scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges on bio-based resources. The head of the base is Prof. Zhao Kai from the School of Life Sciences.

By tackling the key technological bottlenecks in the development and utilization of biobased resources, and accelerating the transformation and application of biobased technologies through cross-border and cross-disciplinary collaborative innovation, the base mainly aims to comprehensively enhance the scientific and technological innovation strength and international competitiveness of Zhejiang Province in the field of biobased resources.

The work of the base has been closely related to bio-based resources such as animals, plants and microorganisms. By systematically and deeply carrying out the research and development of bio-based functional materials, the comprehensive development and utilization of biomass resources and ecological protection, and other multi-dimensional scientific research, the base has achieved a series of significant scientific research results, including the establishment of national scientific research projects, the publication of high-level academic papers, and the authorization of patents.

Centering on the goal of building the provincial “new materials” science and innovation highland, “Zhejiang-Australia Joint Laboratory of Green Flame-Retardant Materials” has focused on important scientific issues and industrialization problems in the field of flame-retardant polymer materials, and carried out basic and applied research on green flame-retardant materials. The head of the laboratory is Prof. Huang Guobo from the School of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering.

The Chinese and Australian research teams have carried out research on the design and synthesis of phosphorus and nitrogen flame retardants, the preparation of green flame retardant materials, structure and performance research, as well as the industrialization and promotion of application in the field of green flame retardant materials, and have achieved a series of scientific research results of international advanced level. Certain the green flame retardant technologies have already been commercialized, yielding significant economic and social benefits.

Zhejiang international science and technology cooperation carriers have adhered to the globalization vision of planning scientific and technological innovation, focused on the overall coherence of projects, platforms and talents, continuously strengthened the capability of independent innovation in opening and cooperation, and constantly improved the layout of scientific and technological foreign contacts and international scientific and technological cooperation, which are important scientific research platforms for scientific and technological innovation and cooperation. Meanwhile, as important carriers for the internationalization of scientific and technological work, these carriers have been vigorously promoted by universities for the high-level platform construction in 2024.

TU has applied for two types of international cooperation carriers this year, namely, international sci-tech cooperation base and international joint laboratory. The successful approval of the provincial international sci-tech cooperation base and international joint laboratory will enhance the university’s international exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, talent and projects, and help the high-quality development of related fields and industries.