On the morning of 5 December 2025, Hou Long, Member of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Wanzhou Economic Development Zone, led a delegation to our university for an industry-academia-research exchange. Academician Chen Xiangsheng, Dean of the School of Civil and Transportation Engineering at Shenzhen University, Professor Ding Zhikun, Vice Dean, and Professor Chen Zhongping, recipient of the National Ten Thousand Talents Programme, received the delegation. Discussions were held in Conference Room B401 of the Zhi Gong Building at the Yuehai Campus (South Area) of Shenzhen University. Professor Chen Zhongping chaired the meeting.

Academician Chen Xiangsheng delivered a welcome address on behalf of Shenzhen University, extending a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to Director Hou Long and his delegation for their visit. He expressed the hope that this exchange would strengthen multi-dimensional collaborative activities, advance research cooperation between both parties in deeper domains, and actively leverage Shenzhen University's research capabilities to address practical challenges within Wanzhou District.

Director Hou Long expressed gratitude for the welcome extended to Academician Chen Xiangsheng and outlined the purpose of the visit on behalf of Wanzhou District. Director Hou noted, "The situation regarding red mud disposal locally has become extremely critical, with urgent disposal requirements pressing." He further stated that Wanzhou District currently requires Shenzhen University's technical expertise and personnel support to assist in resolving the issue of large-scale red mud disposal locally.

Academician Chen Xiangsheng informed the guests that the School of Civil and Transportation Engineering at Shenzhen University has established a comprehensive disciplinary framework and talent structure, comprising multiple research centres that have long undertaken numerous national-level research projects. The School remains steadfastly focused on green development and environmental engineering, committed to cultivating green innovation talent while integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep learning into traditional engineering disciplines. Moving forward, the School will wholeheartedly support collaborative industry-academia-research partnerships, actively providing talent, platforms and resource support. It anticipates that through sustained and in-depth exchange and cooperation, both parties will jointly advance engineering technology practices, thereby contributing to the development of the industry and society.

Vice-Dean Ding Zhikun outlined the overall profile of Shenzhen University's School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, highlighting the institution's research advancements in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and intelligent construction. He emphasised that given the high degree of alignment between both parties' technological requirements and research strengths, the prospects for future collaboration in the intelligent engineering construction sector are exceptionally promising and hold significant potential.

Professor Chen Zhongping highlighted his team's key technological research and significant achievements in the green, low-carbon resource utilisation of industrial solid wastes such as red mud. This research has identified viable pathways for comprehensive red mud utilisation, successfully achieving large-scale application in demonstration projects. This has been accomplished while ensuring controllable environmental risks, technical reliability, and economic viability.

Subsequently, the participating members from both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics including the resource utilisation of red mud in Wanzhou District. Both parties unanimously agreed to jointly advance specific cooperative initiatives, committing to contribute to the nation's green and low-carbon development as well as the construction of a Beautiful China.

Finally, Academician Chen Xiangsheng spoke highly of the resounding success of this exchange meeting. He expressed his hope that both parties would build upon their existing collaboration to further enhance the efficiency of translating scientific research outcomes into practical applications, thereby genuinely meeting the practical needs of Wanzhou District in its industrial development and transformation process. Together, they would pioneer a new model for university-local government cooperation.

Following the meeting, participants from both sides gathered for a commemorative photograph.

First Review: Lu Qiuyue

Second Review: Guo Jun

Third Review: Zuo Yingzi