On October 30, the 2024 International Conference on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research, and Application (Harbin) was held at Harbin Engineering University (HEU). The conference, supported by the National Center for Schooling Development Programme of the Ministry of Education, was co-hosted by HEU, Harbin Institute of Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang University, Mudanjiang Normal University, and several other institutions.

Key attendees included XI Ru, a second-level inspector from the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Ministry of Education; CAO Diefeng, Deputy Director of the Education Department of Heilongjiang Province; SONG Yingdong, President of Harbin Engineering University; Chizhko Sergei, First Vice President of the Belarus National Academy of Sciences; and Matul Alexander from the Hirschov Institute of Oceanography at the Russian Academy of Sciences, all of whom delivered speeches at the conference.

The theme of this conference was "Cooperation, Mutual Trust, Opportunities: Opening the Education Sector to the World, Empowering New Quality Productive Forces." Over 500 academicians, university presidents, experts, scholars, and student representatives from more than 10 countries attended the opening ceremony and main sessions.

In her speech, XI Ru presented three key suggestions: First, strengthen international cooperation to create an open innovation ecosystem with global appeal. Second, enhance the engagement of enterprises to promote organic connections among the education chain, talent chain, capital chain, innovation chain, industry chain, and supply chain. Third, advance digital applications to foster collaborative innovation and development across industry, education, research, and application.

CAO Diefeng noted that Heilongjiang Province has a strong environment and foundation for international cooperation and integration in industry, education, research, and application. He emphasized the commitment to continuing the International Conference on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research, and Application, aiming to establish it as a key brand for deep integration in the education, technology, and industry sectors.

SONG Yingdong stated that HEU is dedicated to promoting the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, thereby achieving a virtuous cycle among industry, education, research, and application, and contributing to local economic and social development.

Chizhko Sergei, Matul Alexander, and other foreign experts expressed that collaboration between universities and enterprises can elevate the overall technological level and economy of a region. They expressed hopes for strengthened scientific research cooperation with Chinese universities through the framework of this conference, aiming to enhance international collaboration in research, education, and technology applications to address global challenges and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Vice President YU Zhiwen presided over the opening ceremony.

During the conference, HEU signed six framework cooperation agreements with both Chinese and foreign universities, including the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Suihua University, and Grodno University of Belarus, and established three joint laboratories.