The 1st Conference on Disciplinary Development and Industry-academia-research Integration in Microbiology was held on Oct 18 at Shandong University's (SDU) Qingdao campus. The event convened over 1,000 attendees, including alumni, academic guests, industry leaders, and media representatives from home and abroad.

The conference celebrated the 75 years of development of SDU's microbiology discipline and the 30th anniversary of the State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology. The primary goal was to promote the deep integration of the talent chain, innovation chain, industrial chain, and disciplinary development.

Chen Hongwei, Deputy Party Secretary of SDU, highlighted microbiology as one of the university's traditional strengths and noted the State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology's status as a new strategic platform for national technological advancement. He pledged that SDU would further integrate the discipline with industry, ensuring the laboratory aligns with national strategies, deepens its innovation ecosystem, and becomes an international academic benchmark.

The event also marked several major milestones, including the launch of the China-EU Joint Forum on Biomanufacturing and the official launch of the Wang Zunong Education Fund. Furthermore, SDU signed strategic cooperation agreements during a concentrated signing ceremony with major entities, such as BGI Genomics and Angel Yeast.

Li Shengying, Vice President of the Qingdao campus, introduced the discipline's development history and future plans.

Guests unveiled the "Microbiology at Shandong University: 75-Year Legacy Exhibition" at the Qingdao campus museum.

The official launch of the China-EU Joint Forum on Biomanufacturing. [Photo/Shandong University]

The official launch of the Wang Zunong Education Fund. [Photo/Shandong University]

Shandong University signs strategic cooperation agreements with industry leaders at the event. [Photo/Shandong University]