As part of a broader European tour to promote international scientific collaboration, a delegation from Southeast University (SEU) visited Portugal, with a key stop at i3N. The delegation was led by Professor Wang Baoping, Director of the Shicheng Laboratory and former Executive Vice President of SEU, with the objective of strengthening ties in research, innovation, and higher education between SEU and European institutions.
The SEU delegation included Professor Li Quan, Dean and Chief Scientist of the Institute of Intelligent Materials and Professor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Jiang Xuehua, Party Secretary of the School of Electronic Engineering; and Professor Zhang Yuning, Dean of the Institute of New Displays at the School of Electronic Engineering.
At ti3N, the delegation was received by Professor Elvira Fortunato, Academician of the European Academy of Sciences and former Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, and Professor Rodrigo Martins, President of the European Academy of Sciences, pioneer in flexible electronic materials and President of the International Federation of Materials Research Societies.
During the meeting, Professor Wang Baoping presented Southeast University’s development plan, disciplinary strengths, and achievements in international scientific cooperation, highlighting SEU’s interest in expanding collaboration with i3N in strategic research areas. He formally invited i3N faculty members and students to visit Southeast University and engage in joint research and academic exchange. In recognition of long-standing scientific collaboration, Professor Wang also presented Professor Rodrigo Martins with a cultural and creative gift representing SEU’s academic identity.
The delegation toured i3N’s Flexible Electronics Laboratory and participated in a NANOMAT-Talk. At the event, Professor Li Quan delivered an overview of recent advances in responsive materials, while Professor Zhang Yuning presented the latest industrial achievements related to PVG optical waveguides. Jiang Xuehua introduced the academic environment, research infrastructure, and talent development strategies of the School of Electronic Engineering at SEU to i3N researchers and students.
Throughout the visit, discussions focused on future cooperation frameworks between i3N and Southeast University, including joint international research projects, researcher and student mobility, science and technology education, and the integration of academia and industry. Areas of common interest such as new display technologies, flexible electronics, and 3D printing were identified as priority domains for collaboration, reinforcing i3N’s role as a hub for international partnerships in advanced materials and nanotechnology research.