With the Creation of the Drexel-SARI Center in Shanghai, President John Fry Takes a Big Step Toward Establishing Drexel as a Global Power in Higher Education
President John A. Fry has been open about his ambitions to make Drexel a truly global university. Recently, he delivered on that promise.
Fry traveled to China’s Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) in October to sign a collaboration agreement that will bring together researchers from the two institutions for pioneering work in scientific and technological innovation. He was joined by several other Drexel officials, including Julie Mostov, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives. The new Drexel-SARI Center will be a permanent home for Drexel’s research collaborations and educational partnerships with SARI and other institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, offering Drexel faculty insight into the latest technology and innovation in China.
Drexel President John A. Fry speaks with Jiang Mianheng, ’91, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Julie Mostov, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives.
SARI aims promote sustainable economic and social development, interdisciplinary exploration and innovation, and advanced platforms for technology development. The Institute was jointly established by the Shanghai municipal government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China’s leading national comprehensive research and development center in natural sciences and innovative technologies.
“Drexel is proud to launch this collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a driving force in China’s development as a great hub for high-tech innovation,” Fry said during a special ceremony on Oct. 19 in Shanghai. “Together, our institutions can expand opportunities for groundbreaking research, outstanding education and the translation of new technologies to commercial applications.”
Drexel alumnus and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of the Shanghai Branch Jiang Mianheng, ’91, was instrumental in establishing the research connections that have led to the Drexel-SARI Center. Jiang Mianheng received a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering from Drexel’s College of Engineering in 1991. His father, Jiang Zemin, former president of the People’s Republic of China, made a major international visit to Drexel during his presidency in 1997.
“Our distinguished alumnus Jiang Mianheng played a key role in establishing this partnership,” Fry said, “and I thank him on behalf of the University.”
The Drexel-SARI Center will serve as a base in Shanghai for other Drexel educational endeavors including internships and co-ops, and provide staging space for a wide range of programs, symposia and executive training for scientists and engineers covering all aspects of technology commercialization strategy.
Located in the Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Park near SARI, the Drexel-SARI Center will be managed by an advisory board, a steering committee and a lead scientist. Both Drexel and SARI will fund the Center’s operations and research projects.
Among the first research collaborations at the Drexel-SARI Center will be a joint research initiative led by Wei Sun, Albert Soffa Chair Professor in Drexel’s College of Engineering and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, and scientists from SARI’s Life Science Department to apply 3D cell assembly technology to generate in vitro cellular cancer models used for drug screening testing.
Engineering professor Yury Gogotsi, director of the A.J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute, has also proposed expanding his study of nanomaterials for biomedical applications with SARI colleagues at the Drexel-SARI Center.
The SARI partnership is not Drexel’s first initiative in China. In May 2011, Fry led a Drexel delegation to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where he and SJTU Vice President Lin Zhongqin signed an agreement for a dual doctoral program in biomedical engineering, building on Drexel’s already strong partnership with SJTU. Fry also signed agreements with Gu Binglin, president of Tsinghua University in Beijing, promoting student exchanges and faculty collaboration.