The XJTU delegation visits Ireland to seek international cooperation.

From April 7 to 10‌, Zhang Liqun, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), led a delegation to Ireland to strengthen collaborations in talent development, scientific research, and enterprise-university-research partnerships. The delegation engaged in discussions with representatives from University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).

‌On April 8, the delegation and UCD explored expanding two-way student exchanges through short-term summer programs and deepening research collaborations.

Zhang also delivered a keynote speech at the ‌65th International Synthetic Rubber Producers Annual Meeting‌, introducing his team's groundbreaking concept of ‌"bio-based engineering elastomers". The team developed the world's first bio-based polyester elastomer, itaconate elastomer, and polyurethane elastomer series, replacing fossil-based raw materials with renewable resources to drastically reduce carbon emissions.

‌On April 9‌, the delegation visited TCD’s School of Physics and discussed strengthening cooperation in fundamental sciences, innovating elite talent training models, and advancing academic collaboration under the "International Society for Information Materials" framework.

Later that day, Zhang met with Deirdre Lillis, the president of TU Dublin, and Executive Committee Member Dominic Dillane. They agreed to promote student mobility through industry-academia summer programs and establish joint educational initiatives in priority disciplines.

The delegation also met with Yang Tong, chargé d'Affaires ad interim and minister-counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland, and participated in a roundtable with the Ireland-China Professors and Scholars Association.

Scholars from TCD, UCD, University of Galway, TU Dublin, and Maynooth University exchanged ideas on enhancing Sino-Irish research collaboration, high-level talent cultivation, and cultural innovation.