Name of the Research Platform

Shenzhen University–University of Waikato Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Development

Abbreviation: SZU–UoW Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Development

Date of Establishment

The Joint Laboratory was established on November 17, 2025.

Team Leaders

Chinese Lead

Professor Chen Xiangsheng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering at Shenzhen University, serves as the Chinese lead of the Joint Laboratory.

International Lead

Professor Geoffrey Holmes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Science and Engineering at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, serves as the international lead of the Joint Laboratory.

Research Focus and Distinctive Features

The Shenzhen University–University of Waikato Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Development responds to major national and regional economic development needs while advancing research at the frontiers of relevant disciplines. It conducts scientific research and advanced technology development in environmental engineering and science, mechanisms and remediation of water and soil degradation, ecological sustainability, marine science, deep geothermal and solar energy utilization, intelligent construction, future human–machine engineering, intelligent transportation, real-time intelligent diagnosis, early warning and prediction of major infrastructure, and the low-altitude economy.

The Joint Laboratory draws on the existing office facilities, experimental sites, research platforms, and disciplinary strengths of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, and the College of Artificial Intelligence at Shenzhen University. These resources are complemented by the University of Waikato’s international strengths in management, law, computer science, natural sciences, education, and other disciplines.

Through this collaboration, the two universities aim to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism covering joint scientific research, talent development, student exchange, academic conferences, and the transfer and application of research achievements. The Joint Laboratory is intended to become a high-level international research collaboration platform and a base for cultivating innovative professionals with international perspectives.

Principal Research Directions

Research Direction 1: Environment and Sustainable Development

This direction focuses on environmental engineering and science, the mechanisms and remediation of water and soil degradation, marine ecology, and sustainable environmental governance. It seeks to support ecological restoration and regional sustainable development.

Research Direction 2: Renewable Energy and Resilient Intelligent Infrastructure

This direction investigates the utilization of deep geothermal and solar energy, intelligent construction, and the real-time intelligent diagnosis, early warning, and prediction of major infrastructure. It aims to support the safe operation and green transformation of major engineering systems.

Research Direction 3: Intelligent Transportation, Future Human–Machine Engineering, and the Low-Altitude Economy

This direction focuses on intelligent transportation, future human–machine engineering, systems associated with the low-altitude economy, and related interdisciplinary applications. It promotes the development of intelligent engineering technologies and their implementation in practical scenarios.

Landmark Technologies and Theoretical Systems

The Joint Laboratory plans to develop a multisource sensing and artificial intelligence-driven technological system for the real-time diagnosis, early warning, and prediction of major infrastructure. It also intends to establish an integrated sustainable-development technology system for the remediation of water and soil degradation and the utilization of deep geothermal and solar energy.

Supporting Disciplines

Core Disciplines

The principal supporting disciplines are civil engineering, environmental science and engineering, artificial intelligence, and computer science and technology.

Related Disciplines

Related disciplines include transportation engineering, energy and power engineering, marine science, control science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and management science and engineering.

Team Composition

Supporting Platforms

The Joint Laboratory primarily relies on the existing office facilities, experimental sites, and relevant research platforms of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, and the College of Artificial Intelligence at Shenzhen University.

The two universities plan to jointly establish a Management Committee and an Academic Committee for the Joint Laboratory. The Management Committee will be responsible for operational management, while the Academic Committee will provide guidance and oversight concerning academic development and research directions.

Core Equipment

The currently available appendices and press materials do not provide a list of individual large-scale instruments valued at more than RMB 500,000. Initial collaborative research may therefore be conducted using the existing experimental facilities of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, and the College of Artificial Intelligence at Shenzhen University.

Collaboration Network

The two universities plan to expand their international collaboration network through national, provincial, and ministerial-level research programs, China–New Zealand intergovernmental cooperation projects, New Zealand government-funded projects, and other funding schemes.

Future Development Plan

Short-Term Objectives: Within Three Years

The Joint Laboratory will establish its Management Committee and Academic Committee and clarify the leaders, membership, annual evaluation arrangements, and operational mechanisms of both parties.

Joint research projects will be initiated in environmental engineering and science, water and soil degradation and remediation, renewable energy utilization, intelligent construction, and intelligent transportation.

The two universities will jointly apply for national, provincial, and ministerial-level research programs, China–New Zealand intergovernmental projects, New Zealand government-funded projects, and other relevant funding schemes.

Mechanisms for staff visits, student exchanges, and joint student education will be established. The Joint Laboratory will also organize joint academic conferences, seminars, and thematic lectures.

During this period, the Joint Laboratory aims to produce academic papers, joint project proposals, technical solutions, and demonstration applications as its principal interim achievements.

Medium- and Long-Term Objectives: Five to Ten Years

The Joint Laboratory aims to become an internationally influential collaborative research platform in environmental sustainability, renewable energy, intelligent construction, intelligent transportation, and the low-altitude economy.

It will establish a stable research cooperation network and a joint postgraduate education model between Shenzhen University and the University of Waikato. This collaboration will gradually be expanded to include undergraduate exchanges and interdisciplinary course development.

The Joint Laboratory will seek to develop influential technological systems, intellectual property, and demonstration applications in the real-time intelligent diagnosis and early warning of major infrastructure, water and soil degradation remediation, and deep geothermal and solar energy utilization.

It will also promote the transfer and practical application of joint research achievements in major engineering projects and regional sustainable-development initiatives.