On the morning of July 16, the opening ceremony of the summer school for 2024 China-Italy Joint Laboratory on Advanced Manufacturing (CI-LAM) was grandly held in Classroom 3-102 of the West Main Building at Tsinghua University. This summer school is hosted by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA) at Tsinghua University, with student delegations from the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Bergamo, and Capital Normal University participating. The event aims to promote exchange and cooperation between China and Italy in the field of advanced manufacturing and to cultivate talents with an international perspective.

At the opening ceremony

Professor Yu Zhanqing, Deputy Secretary of EEA, served as the host of the opening ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. He warmly welcomed the 35 students from Chinese and Italian universities and looked forward to their collaborative learning, exchange, broadening horizons, and enhancing friendships during the summer school.

Yu Zhanqing hosting the opening ceremony

Professor Yu Xinjie, Secretary of the Party Committee of EEA, emphasized the importance of the CI-LAM project in his speech and introduced the research achievements and talent training efforts of the department in the field of advanced manufacturing. He stated that the CI-LAM project provides a valuable cooperation platform for universities in China and Italy, helping to promote the development of advanced manufacturing technologies and talent cultivation.

Yu Xinjie delivering welcome speech

Professor Giovanni Breglio from the University of Naples Federico II spoke on behalf of the university. He reviewed the eight-hundred-year history of the university and introduced its current situation from various perspectives, including faculty strength, program offerings, and research platforms. He expressed that the University of Naples places great importance on developing relationships with Chinese universities and looks forward to deeper cooperation with more departments at Tsinghua University.

Giovanni Breglio delivering speech

Professor Gianluca D’Urso from the University of Bergamo also delivered a welcome speech. He briefly introduced the background and objectives of the China-Italy Summer School and its important initiatives in educational development. He stated that the University of Bergamo is honored to participate in the CI-LAM project and looks forward to cultivating more excellent talents in advanced manufacturing together with Tsinghua University and other Chinese universities.

Gianluca D’Urso delivering speech

Professor Shao Zhenzhou, Deputy Dean of Information Engineering at Capital Normal University, spoke on behalf of the university. He noted that Capital Normal University, as a new member of the CI-LAM project, has 12 students participating in this summer school. He believes that the summer school provides students with a valuable opportunity to understand the industry, learn advanced manufacturing technologies, and broaden their international horizons, contributing to their personal growth and career development.

Shao Zhenzhou delivering speech

Dr. Wang Jian, founder of the Science and Technology Automation Alliance, delivered a speech on behalf of the industry. He expressed his appreciation for the achievements of the CI-LAM project from its inception to the present and hopes that this summer school will serve as a new starting point for cooperation in talent training, research collaboration, technology transfer, and industrial development. He then introduced the program setup for this summer school. The CI-LAM Summer School will last for two weeks, featuring a series of academic lectures, seminars, company visits, cultural experiences, and more, covering various fields including intelligent manufacturing, industrial internet, and robotics technology. It is believed that through this summer school, students will gain rich knowledge, broaden their international perspectives, enhance friendships, and contribute to the development of advanced manufacturing in both China and Italy.

Wang Jian delivering speech

Student representatives Nunzia Illiano from the University of Naples, Gabriele Locatelli from the University of Bergamo, and Zhang Yurou from Capital Normal University each spoke, expressing their gratitude to the organizers and their expectations for the summer school. They noted that participating in the CI-LAM Summer School is a rare opportunity and they will cherish this learning experience, striving to acquire advanced manufacturing knowledge and contribute to the development of the field in both countries.

Student representatives speaking

After the opening ceremony, all faculty and students took a group photo and engaged in free exchange.

Group photo of the opening ceremony

The China-Italy Joint Laboratory on Advanced Manufacturing (CI-LAM) is one of the earliest cooperation projects between China and Italy focused on intelligent manufacturing/smart factories and the digitalization of the manufacturing industry. The purpose of CI-LAM is to promote and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in talent training and cutting-edge technology research and development, including technology transfer and entrepreneurial incubation. Its vision is to become the most effective and successful cooperation bridge in the fields of advanced manufacturing and intelligent robotics between China and Italy. The “CI-LAM Summer School” is one of the important activities organized by CI-LAM for student exchanges. The first session of the China-Italy Summer School was held in Naples, Italy, in 2019; due to the pandemic, the three sessions from 2020 to 2022 were conducted entirely online; the fifth session in 2023 was held in Bergamo and Naples, Italy; and the sixth session in 2024 is being held at Tsinghua University.