On August 26, Professor Gong Weixi, Chief Strategist of Asia Simulation Federation (ASIASIM) and former inaugural Director of the Global Investment and Technology Promotion Office and Institutional Partnerships Division of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), led a delegation to visit Shandong University of Science and Technology. Wang Junsong, Secretary of the University Party Committee, met with the delegation. The two sides exchanged views on simulation technology R&D, technology transfer, international exchange and cooperation, and talent development. Representatives from the University Party Committee Office (University Office), the Office of Development and Cooperation, and other relevant departments attended the meeting.

Discussing University Development

Exploring Cooperation in Simulation Technology

Secretary Wang Junsong welcomed Professor Gong Weixi and his delegation and introduced Shandong University of Science and Technology’s development history, discipline development, research and innovation platforms, and talent development.

Wang Junsong noted that the university is making every effort to advance its Double First-Class development. With the continued development of technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual simulation, simulation technology is finding increasingly broad applications in scientific research and industrial development. He expressed hope that this exchange would serve as an opportunity to leverage ASIASIM’s industry resources, technological strengths, and platform influence to strengthen cooperation in simulation technology R&D, technology transfer, and international exchange and cooperation, while promoting deeper interdisciplinary integration of these technologies with the university’s areas of academic strength. The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation on the basis of existing collaboration, promoting industry–education integration, and leveraging their respective strengths to support major national strategies and high-quality industrial development.

From Simulation Technology to Industrial Applications

Professor Gong Weixi thanked Shandong University of Science and Technology for its warm reception and spoke highly of the university’s achievements in education and development.

Gong Weixi introduced ASIASIM’s recent work in simulation technology standards development, cross-regional collaborative innovation, and industrial digital transformation. He noted that Shandong University of Science and Technology has distinctive academic strengths, strong research capabilities, and a solid foundation in talent development, and that the two sides have considerable potential for further exchange in simulation technology and related industrial applications. He expressed hope that the two sides would leverage their respective resources and strengths to establish a regular communication and coordination mechanism and gradually advance practical cooperation in research, technology applications, and talent development, helping simulation technology better serve the real economy and the digital and intelligent transformation of industries.

Focusing on Talent Development and Research Cooperation

Expanding Areas of Cooperation

The two sides held further discussions on potential areas of future cooperation, focusing on the development of an internship base for international organizations, membership in ASIASIM, participation in the Global Simulation Conference, exchange visits to ASIASIM, research cooperation on simulation technology for workplace safety, and the development of a technology-focused business school.

Both sides noted that cooperation in international organization internships, international simulation conferences, and exchange visits could provide new opportunities for faculty and students to participate in international scientific and technological exchange. Research cooperation on simulation technology for workplace safety could further expand the application of simulation technology in specialized fields.

The participants reached preliminary consensus on the relevant areas of cooperation and will maintain communication and further coordinate on specific initiatives.

Shandong University of Science and Technology（SDUST）

Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST), founded in 1951, is a key university in Shandong Province with a distinctive focus on applied foundational education and high-level university development. The university operates across three campuses in Qingdao, Tai’an, and Jinan. It has 34 teaching units and five research institutes, with more than 40,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students and over 3,300 faculty and staff. Eight disciplines rank among the top 1% globally in ESI, including three in the top 1‰, while 26 undergraduate programs have been selected as National First-Class Undergraduate Program Development Sites. The university hosts national-level research platforms, including national key laboratories. Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan, it has undertaken 717 national-level research projects, received six National Science and Technology Awards and 236 provincial- and ministerial-level research awards, and been granted 3,490 national invention patents. SDUST has established partnerships with more than 130 universities and research institutions across 28 countries and regions and is committed to developing into a high-level application-oriented research university with a strong engineering focus and distinctive academic strengths.

Asia Simulation Federation, ASIASIM

The Asian Simulation Federation (ASIASIM), founded by the simulation societies of China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, is an international, non-profit scientific and technological organization. It was officially registered with China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs in December 2024 and holds independent legal-entity status. Guided by the vision of “Simulation for Everything”, ASIASIM promotes simulation as a general-purpose capability for connecting the physical and digital worlds in the AI era and advancing deeper industry–academia–research integration, serving fields including aerospace, intelligent manufacturing, energy and transportation, healthcare, finance, education, and urban governance. As of July 2026, ASIASIM has more than 70 member organizations and over 2,000 industry experts from nearly 20 countries. It has established key platforms and initiatives including the International Simulation Technology Innovation Center, Digital-Intelligent Simulation International Collaborative Innovation Action Plan, Global Simulation Conference, Asian Simulation Conference, International Journal of Modeling, Simulation and Scientific Computing, International Summer School, and International Simulation Innovation Competition. ASIASIM welcomes collaboration across industries worldwide to jointly build a global simulation technology community for the AI era.