From 14^th to 15^th March, the China-UK Low-carbon Manufacturing Workshop was successfully held at HUST. The workshop was hosted by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and UK Research and Innovation China (UKRI China) and organized by HUST. The theme of the workshop was “Low-carbon Manufacturing Basic Research”.

More than forty experts and scholars from over twenty universities and institutes in UK and China participated in the workshop. Prof. Shao Xinyu, the Chairman of University Board of HUST, and Prof. Gao Liang from the State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology at HUST attended the workshop as representatives of Chinese scholars.

Prof. Luo Qingming, vice president of HUST, addressed the opening ceremony and extended his warm welcome to all the participants. Then, Prof. Che Chengwei from the Department of Engineering and Material Sciences of NSFC, Dr. James Fleming from EPSRC, and Dr. Glen Noble from UKRI China made a speech and gave a brief introduction of their organizations respectively. Prof. Shao Xinyu from HUST and Prof. Savvas Tassou from Brunel University London presented the conference report respectively, introducing the low-carbon manufacturing research and challenges in China and UK.

At the discussion session, participants exchanged their opinions on the problems facing the low-carbon manufacturing today and conducted in-depth discussions. Representatives from China and UK formed groups freely, and every group needed to reach a final conclusion and represent the results after discussions. The brainstorming session stimulated participants to take initiative and exchange ideas with others despite differences in organization, region, culture and value, which in turn inspired new ideas. Participants of the workshop reached a consensus on certain key issues and were expected to deepen cooperation in various aspects in the future.

During the workshop, participants also visited Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company and Wuhan Heavy Duty Machine Tool Group Corporation. They investigated the production modes of large-scale manufacturing enterprises and discussed with the company representatives about the possible application of low-carbon manufacturing technology in the production of enterprises.

In the form of special reports, academic discussions and enterprise visits, the workshop built a platform for academic exchanges in low-carbon manufacturing between China and UK, promoting mutual understanding and strengthening scientific cooperation.