From June 1 to 5, Secretary of CPC SDJU Committee Lu Xionggang led a delegation on a thematic visit to Finland and Sweden for exchanges with universities and enterprises. Focusing on international industry-education integration (IEI) and university-enterprise cooperation (UEC), the visit centered on supporting Chinese enterprises in their global development and cultivating high-quality talent with a global vision and strong engineering application capabilities. The delegation held in-depth discussions with Nordic universities, enterprises, and the Chinese Embassy in Sweden, further advancing SDJU’s internationalization efforts and building new momentum for the implementation of our university’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
Deepening UEC to support Chinese enterprises in global development
During the visit, the delegation visited the Finland office of Windrose Technology and held discussions with the company’s Nordic office representatives and partners, signing a cooperation memorandum. The two sides engaged in practical exchanges on areas including the international deployment of China’s new energy heavy-duty truck technologies and the cultivation of overseas operation and maintenance personnel. Both sides explored ways to leverage IEI as a bridge to provide talent support and technical services for Chinese enterprises expanding into overseas markets. As an innovative company in the new energy heavy-duty truck sector, Windrose has pursued development in North European market since its early start-up stage, and this visit will further promote deeper integration between our university and Windrose in areas such as talent cultivation and operation and maintenance technologies.
The delegation subsequently visited Icemakers, where they met with the company’s Vice President, and signed a cooperation memorandum. The two sides reached a consensus on establishing a China business think tank and held discussions on technical cooperation in areas including winter testing services and automotive testing.
At Scania, the delegation met with representatives from Traton R&D department and executives from Scania. They engaged in in-depth discussions on IEI talent cultivation and technological cooperation and later the delegation visited the truck production workshop on site.
Expanding university partnerships to build international talent development platforms
The delegation visited Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Finland, where both sides signed an MOU, followed by a tour of teaching facilities. The two sides held in-depth discussions on student short-term exchange program, dual-degree program, faculty exchange, and research collaboration, expressing strong willingness to further expand cooperation.
At Luleå University of Technology, the delegation held a tripartite meeting with Luleå representatives, including its President, and Icemakers. The participants reached consensus on joint talent cultivation between Chinese and Swedish universities and enterprises, enterprise-university research projects, and collaborative R&D, establishing a pathway for industry-academia-research synergy and innovation.
At KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the delegation was warmly received by its Vice President and other representatives. The two sides held extensive discussions on topics including the development of the excellence engineer institute and overseas student internship and study programs in China. Together with Scania, they explored the establishment of a professional doctoral program through tripartite cooperation, seeking new models for universities and enterprises to jointly cultivate high-level engineering talent.
During the visit, the delegation also hosted an exchange activity for young scholars, which was attended by more than 30 Chinese doctoral students studying in Sweden. At the meeting, the delegation introduced SDJU’s development and recruitment policy. Secretary Lu encouraged young Chinese scholars to return to China for career development and pursue their personal aspirations and professional goals.
Leveraging embassy resources to advance China-Sweden education cooperation
The delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in Sweden and briefed Counselor for Education Huang Liqiong and other embassy representatives on SDJU’s China-Sweden cooperation initiatives. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including the international development of applied universities and strengthening connections with internationally oriented manufacturing enterprises. Counselor Huang introduced the current landscape of China-Sweden educational cooperation, fully recognized the role that SDJU can play in promoting China-Sweden collaboration, and recommended relevant cooperation projects. He also suggested making full use of Swedish professors as bridges for China-Sweden exchanges, providing valuable guidance for SDJU to further expand cooperation in North Europe.
Looking ahead: international IEI to drive high-quality development
This visit achieved fruitful outcomes, not only strengthening SDJU’s cooperation foundations with North European universities and enterprises, but also further expanding opportunities for collaboration in international engineering education, scientific research, and IEI. Building on the outcomes of this visit, SDJU will accelerate efforts in areas including the feasibility study of professional doctoral programs and the establishment of cooperation mechanisms for the excellence engineer institute. We will continue to deepen practical cooperation with partners in talent cultivation, faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and international engagement, promoting the deep integration of high-quality international educational resources with SDJU’s distinctive educational strengths. These efforts will provide strong support for cultivating high-quality applied talent with an international perspective, engineering practice capabilities, and innovative spirit. They will also contribute new international momentum to serving Chinese enterprises’ global development and advancing the high-quality development of SDJU during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
About the Partner Institutions and Enterprises
Windrose Technology was established in 2022, focusing on the new energy vehicle sector. The company is primarily engaged in the R&D of new energy heavy-duty trucks, development of AI platforms, and energy storage technology services. It has a manufacturing base and European headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, and its products have entered 24 countries and regions across five continents. Its Finland office is responsible for business operations throughout North Europe, providing services, maintenance, and spare parts support.
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, located in Kajaani, central Finland, was founded in 1992 and is among the first Finnish universities of applied sciences to receive permanent operating authorization. With five schools and approximately 3,500 students, the university is characterized by applied education and close industry ties. Its strengths lie primarily in information technology, business administration, and sports and tourism.
Luleå University of Technology, located in Luleå, northern Sweden, was founded in 1971. The university has five departments, more than 1,800 faculty and staff members, and nearly 21,600 students. It has internationally leading expertise in multiple research fields and maintains close cooperation with companies, public-sector organizations, and leading universities in Sweden and abroad.
Icemakers AB, located in Arjeplog, Sweden, was established in the 1970s and is a pioneer in winter testing services for the automotive industry. The company offers comprehensive services including customized test tracks, durability testing, facility solutions, and climate chambers. Its clients include automobile manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Citroën, and Dunlop.
Traton AB is the commercial vehicle subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, owning truck brands including Scania, MAN, and International. Its subsidiary Scania, headquartered in Södertälje, Sweden, was founded in 1891 and specializes in the production of heavy trucks, buses, and related services. The company is committed to advancing cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation solutions.
KTH Royal Institute of Technology, located in Stockholm, Sweden, was founded in 1827 and is one of Europe’s leading centers for cultivating innovation and technological talent. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, KTH was ranked 73rd globally, with six subject areas—including electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science—ranked among the world’s top 50.
