# Strategic Partnership RWTH Aachen and Tsinghua University
**Source**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/dwrq/lidx/1
**Parent**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bure/lidx/1
- [Funding Opportunities and Programs](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/wir/Profil/Internationalisierung/Strategische-Partnerschaft-zwischen-der/~qzgs/Foerdermoeglichkeiten-und-Programme/lidx/1/)
Copyright: © Peter Winandy
## Contact
### [René Seyfarth](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bdfr/contact/aaaaaaaaaaadwrt/gguid/0x056C7543FC490E448DB0C90012714273/lidx/1/)
Coordinator for Strategic Partnerships
[Phone:
+49 241 80-92227](tel:+4924180-92227)\
[Send Email](mailto:rene.seyfarth@zhv.rwth-aachen.de)\
### About the strategic partnership
RWTH Aachen University has been linked in friendship with prestigious [Tsinghua University](http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/) in Beijing for many years. In 1981, a collaborative agreement had already been established between the two universities, who are both recognized for their strong engineering and natural science programs. Since 2001, a [Double Degree Program](https://www.maschinenbau.rwth-aachen.de/cms/maschinenbau/studium/internationales/auslandsaufenthalt/ab-ins-ausland-austauschprogramme-und/austauschprogramme/~fzdj/tsinghua-double-degree-/?lidx=1) in mechanical engineering has been in existence, which has already produced more than 850 graduates. In 2013, Tsinghua University became RWTH Aachen University's very first strategic partner.
The fact that the special funding of this partnership through the DAAD has expired, has been offset by the wish of both universities to establish a privileged partnership. Professor Ernst Schmachtenberg, the then Rector of RWTH Aachen, and Professor Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, have thus been able to assure each other of their mutual connectedness while also affirming their express wish to keep working together in the future and even further consolidate their relationship.
Rector Ulrich Rüdiger confirmed this course in 2019 and not only signed an extension of the existing partnership agreement, but also expanded the collaboration to include the [Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS)](https://www-en.sz.tsinghua.edu.cn/enhtml/index.html). In concrete terms, this means another double-master program (in preparation), joint top-level research, and exchange places for RWTH students in one of China's youngest and most innovative cities.
#### Completed Collaborative Projects
In the EU HORIZON 2020-Projekt [MIX-UP,](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/elvrd/lidx/1) an international consortium – including RWTH Aachen and Tsinghua University – is researching novel and sustainable recycling methods. The project is coordinated by [Professor Lars Blank](https://www.iamb.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~ilqf/iamb/?lidx=1).
The [Institute of Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines](https://www.ikdg.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~ocnc/ikdg/?lidx=1), IKDG for short, has kept close ties with Tsinghua University for many years. Regular joint workshops and the exchange of Master’s students and doctoral candidates have made it possible to establish a bilateral network between both institutions. In 2017, supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the [Clean Energy Research Initiative](https://ceri.rwth-aachen.de/en/homepage/) (CERI) was launched, which is concerned with current and future challenges in the field of energy engineering. October 2018 saw the official opening of the CERI liaison office on the campus of Tsinghua University.
Since 2017, the [Chair of Structural Analysis and Dynamics](https://www.lbb.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~eaxh/lbb/?lidx=1) and the [Department of Hydraulic Engineering](http://www.civil.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/he/) have been investigating real-time hybrid simulations in their collaborative [DFG research project](http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/322268262?language=en), which is looking to determine the seismic performance of shape memory alloy dampers.
The [Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production, WZL for short,](https://www.wzl.rwth-aachen.de/cms/www_content/de/index.htm) is running the project [StarTest](https://www.elektronikforschung.de/projekte/startest) in collaboration with Tsinghua University from 2018 to 2021. The aim is to standardize testing procedures for batteries used in electric-powered vehicles in Germany and China.
The [Energy & Mineral Resources Group, EMR for short,](https://www.emr.rwth-aachen.de/aw/EMR/Energy-Mineral-Resources/Themen/~wbx/home/?lang=en) has been running a research project in collarboration with the [School of Aerospace](http://www.wanglab-tsinghua.com/) at Tsinghua University since 2018, which is concerned with the [permeability of rocks for gas transport](http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/392108477?language=en). The objective of the project is to gain marked improvement in predicting effects during gas transport.
The [Chair for Medical Information Technology, MedIt for short,](https://www.medit.hia.rwth-aachen.de/) will join up with the [Department of Mechanical Engineering](http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/jxxen/index.html) at Tsinghua University to conduct fundamental research on the [use of exoskeletons](http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/392037132) for patients suffering from paralysis. The aim is to develop models and applications over the course of the project that will allow transfer of the concept to treating paraplegics in real life, concluding with a study with paraplegics at the end of the period allotted for the project.
## FAQ
### What is a strategic partnership?
RWTH adopts strategic partnerships with renowned partners with similar profiles, such as the Canadian [University of Alberta](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/nlog/lidx/1) in Edmonton, the Indian [IIT Madras](http://go/id/lwzg/lidx/1) in Chennai, and the Chinese Tsinghua University in Beijing. These special partnerships distinguish themselves through the sustainable expansion of collaboration at all institutional levels. This concerns teaching, research, and administration. Part of this collaboration includes developing joint structures and innovative teaching offers, establishing research associations, and solidifying synergetic collaborative formats. The objective is to sharpen the teaching and research profile and to promote the internationalization of RWTH and its partner universities.
### What are the core objectives of the strategic partnership between RWTH and Tsinghua University?
The core objective of the strategic partnership is to cooperatively develop innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies in order to meet the global challenges of our day. For this purpose, scientific partnerships are to be expanded, application-orientation, entrepreneurship and collaborations with industry are to be promoted and students are more intensively to be trained to become highly qualified and culturally sensitive staff. International visibility and mobility on all levels are to be boosted, research-oriented (and digital) teaching is to be strengthened, and common governance and administrative structures are to be established. Through optimal research opportunities and the promotion of their careers, academic talent and elite researchers are generally to be attracted.
### What are the key topics of the strategic partnership between RWTH and Tsinghua University?
Tsinghua University's partnership with RWTH Aachen is characterized by a multitude of activities. Special focus areas are in Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with the Sino-German Joint Laboratory of Innovative Design and Manufacturing of Advanced Mechanical Systems, and also in the sustainable energy research conducted at the [IKDG](https://www.ikdg.rwth-aachen.de/cms/ikdg/das-institut/~onch/kooperationen/?lidx=1) in partnership with the Clean Energy Research Initiative. The strong partnership is furthermore cultivated in the field of Management, Business and Economics – both through a special faculty partnership and through the [WIN-Program](http://www.gruenderzentrum.rwth-aachen.de/2016/02/07/rwth-tsinghua-entrepreneurship-austausch/).
## Application Information
- [Funding Opportunities and Programs](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/wir/Profil/Internationalisierung/Strategische-Partnerschaft-zwischen-der/~qzgs/Foerdermoeglichkeiten-und-Programme/lidx/1/)
## \*\*\* Tsinghua Bilder \*\*\*
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Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Tsinghua University Campus
[Original Photo (JPEG: 1.7 MB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwftf)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Tsinghua University Campus
[Original Photo (JPEG: 1.1 MB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwftt)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Auditorium
[Original Photo (JPEG: 940 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwfue)
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### Tsinghua University, Old Gate
[Original Photo (JPEG: 926 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwfus)
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### Main Building
[Original Photo (JPEG: 1 MB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwfuw)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Tsinghua University Campus
[Original Photo (JPEG: 826 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwfxg)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Lee Shau Kee Technology Building
[Original Photo (JPEG: 812 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwfxu)
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### Tsinghua University Art Museum
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Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Shenzhen International Graduate School
[Original Photo (JPEG: 472 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaairlukn)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Shenzhen International Graduate School
[Original Photo (JPEG: 211 KB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaairlwvu)
Copyright: © René Seyfarth
### Tsinghua University Campus
[Original Photo (JPEG: 1.7 MB)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_picture_asis.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabcwftf)
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