The Sino-Korean Consortium for Chemical Sciences (SKCCS) was officially established at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) on Sept 15. Representatives from 15 universities and research institutions in China and South Korea attended the ceremony, which was also joined by HUST Vice President Zhang Yonghui.

Zhang Yonghui extended a warm welcome to the attendees and provided an overview of the university's research platforms and international collaborations. He highlighted the solid foundation of academic exchanges between Chinese and South Korean researchers in the field of chemistry.

Zhang Yonghui emphasized that chemical research can offer critical technological support for addressing global challenges in energy, the environment, health, and new materials. He expressed the hope that the consortium would establish a long-term cooperation framework to promote mutual learning and collaboration between the two countries in science and education.

Tan Bi’en, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, introduced the consortium and reflected on over a decade of collaboration in chemistry between China and South Korea. The consortium aims to create a multi-institutional collaborative network that consolidates research resources, drives interdisciplinary innovation, and fosters talent development through joint research initiatives.

During a roundtable discussion, participating experts exchanged views on practical topics, including the consortium’s operating model, research collaboration, faculty and student exchanges, joint talent training, and the sharing of academic resources.

The consortium transforms previous decentralized inter-university exchanges into a structured, bilateral platform for institutionalized cooperation. Its primary focus is advancing collaborative research, facilitating personnel exchange, and sharing academic resources, thereby strengthening pragmatic collaborations in higher education and research between China and South Korea.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Chinese and South Korean experts and scholars from institutions such as the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry under Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, Sungkyunkwan University, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Source: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, HUST