February 22 to 23, the 2017 annual council of the virtual joint research institute of functional materials and electronics established by SIMIT and Juelich Research Center was held in Shanghai.

Helmholtz Association is the largest national scientific research power in German, with 18 national laboratories, over 4,000 staffs and 4 billion annual research expenses. Aiming at mid and long term national mission, it provides technical support for the national economy, and has a similar system as Chinese Academy of Sciences.  

The cooperation began in 2006 on the base of visiting and projects. SIMIT has built joint laboratories with Juelich Research Center on superconducting, bioelectronics and quantum materials. In 2015, “virtual joint research institute of functional materials and electronics”. During the past 10 years, 6 cooperation workshops, over 30 joint students as well as over 50 papers were generated.  

Scientist from both two sides discussed on the cooperation in superconducting, sensing, bioelectronics, quantum information, energy and environment through joint laboratory, shared facilities, academic symposium and personnel exchange. The research plan, evaluation, and the academic committee were also been discussed. Prof. Sebastian Schmidt and prof. Andreas Offenhaeusser were awarded the honor professor of SIMIT. 

At last, invited by prof. JIANG Mianheng, president of ShanghaitTech University, the delegation visited the university and shared experience in building the national laboratory, and provided suggestions for the building of Center of Technological Innovation in Shanghai.