In this golden autumn of September, as the automotive industry undergoes a critical transition towards ‘new energy + intelligent connected vehicles’, a grand school-enterprise cooperation event focusing on technological breakthroughs and talent cultivation commenced at the Jiading Campus of Tongji University. On the afternoon of September 23, 2025, HORIBA and the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University solemnly held the ‘HORIBA – Tongji University School of Automotive Studies Cooperation Signing Ceremony’. Anchored by Shanghai Jiading District’s strategy to build a world-class automotive industry center and leveraging the advantages of the ‘Jiading-Tongji Knowledge Economic Circle’, this partnership deeply integrates HORIBA’s full-industry-chain testing technologies with Tongji’s scientific research and talent strengths, jointly opening a new chapter for the high-quality development of the automotive industry.
Signing Ceremony: Bridging Cutting-Edge Technology, Anchoring Dual Goals of Industry and Talent
This signing ceremony received significant attention from various parties. Yan Jianming, Party Secretary of Anting Town, Jiading District, Shanghai, and Shao Gang, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Anting Town, attended as witnesses. Zhang Lijun, Party Secretary of the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University; Ge Chang, Deputy Party Secretary; and Huang Yanjun, Associate Dean, led team advisors and core student members to attend. Mr. Atsushi HORIBA, President & CEO of HORIBA Group, and Dr. Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Chief Technology Officer, attended with their executive team. Representatives from government, enterprise, and academia gathered together to discuss the future of automotive innovation.
Zhang Lijun and Atsushi HORIBA warm handshake initiates the signing ceremony
A group photo of attending guests, faculty, and students from the automotive school’s teams
Zhang Lijun introduced the college’s development history and educational philosophy. In recent years, the college has focused on four major automotive technology themes: Energy and Power, Information and Intelligence, Materials and Structures, and Human-Machine and Interaction. It has established five national-level scientific innovation platforms in fields such as intelligent new energy vehicles, fuel cells and powertrain systems, hydrogen power, and aerodynamics. He stated that the cooperation between the two sides in joint technological breakthroughs, collaborative talent cultivation, and integrated achievement transformation has significant complementarity and mutual benefit. He expressed the expectation that cooperation with HORIBA would bring scientific research closer to industrial needs and allow students to access world-leading testing technologies.
Hiroshi NAKAMURA shared insights focusing on the company’s technological strengths and localization strategy: ‘HORIBA has specialized in automotive testing and development for many years, covering vehicle and system performance testing such as dynamometers, exhaust emission testing systems, new energy power battery and system testing, and intelligent connected vehicle evaluation. Against the backdrop of accelerating integration of new energy, new materials, and the automotive industry, HORIBA will also accelerate the implementation of its ‘In China, For China, Beyond China’ localization strategy. Relying on 70 years of technological accumulation and innovation in analysis, measurement, and engineering development services, HORIBA is committed to providing professional technical support and comprehensive solutions for China’s automotive electrification and intelligent technology revolution, as well as energy development and environmental protection.’
After the speeches, both parties formally signed the ‘Innovation Activity Fund Donation Agreement’ and ‘Memorandum of Cooperation’, clarifying deep collaboration in three major areas: scientific research (such as new energy vehicle development and intelligent driving testing technology), technology transfer (joint development of testing equipment and solutions), and joint talent cultivation (Formula Student competitions, corporate mentors, international perspective).
Scene of the Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony between the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University and HORIBA
Signatories: Professor Huang Yanjun, Associate Dean of the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University (right); Mr. Zhao Yue, General Manager of HORIBA MIRA China (left).
Witnesses: Yan Jianming, Party Secretary of Anting Town, Jiading District, Shanghai (right); Mr. Graeme STEWART, Chief Technology Officer of HORIBA MIRA Ltd. (left).
Scene of the Innovation Activity Fund Donation Agreement signing ceremony between the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University and HORIBA
Signatories: Professor Ge Chang, Deputy Party Secretary of the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University (right); Mr. Bao Jie, General Manager of HORIBA China Automotive Business Division and Director of HORIBA MIRA China (left).
Witnesses: Shao Gang, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Anting Town, Jiading District, Shanghai (right); Ms. Yuko KIMURA, Senior Executive Officer of HORIBA Group, Chairman and General Manager of HORIBA China (left).
Empowering Future Stars: HORIBA Supports Student Team Technological Innovation
Tongji University Chizhi Racing Team and DIAN Racing, affiliated with the Innovation Base of the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University, are competing teams in the current Formula Student competitions. The signing of the ‘Innovation Activity Fund Donation Agreement’ serves as both the ‘first practical scenario’ for the technical cooperation between the two parties and a concrete embodiment of HORIBA’s commitment to empowering young talent.
Cai Yuxu, Captain of Tongji University Chizhi Racing Team, introduces the team
Zhao Yuanzheng, Captain of DIAN Racing, introduces the team
As a leader in powertrain development solutions, HORIBA will rely on the Jiading Automotive Engineering Technology Center to provide student teams with comprehensive automotive powertrain testing services, supporting R&D innovation. Furthermore, its subsidiary, HORIBA MIRA, will share its nearly 80 years of vehicle R&D experience through professional seminars and open up resources at the MIRA Technology Park in the UK, offering students visits and international advanced study opportunities. This solidifies the foundation for talent cultivation at different levels in the automotive industry to engage in practice and learning, promoting international alignment of technology and talent.
‘HORIBA has always believed that young talent is the future of industrial innovation,’ said Mr. Atsushi HORIBA, President & CEO of HORIBA Group. ‘Through technical support and resource accessibility, we hope that Tongji students can access cutting-edge testing concepts and tools in the early stages of their R&D, laying a solid foundation for their future careers in the automotive industry.’
Dual-Wheel Drive: Synergizing Technological Innovation and Talent Development to Empower High-Quality Automotive Industry Advancement
In terms of technological innovation, the ‘Memorandum of Cooperation’ signed by both parties will focus on technological breakthroughs in new energy vehicles, intelligent connected vehicles, and hydrogen energy, specifically targeting vehicle safety, full-vehicle and system energy efficiency, thermal management, and other ‘dual carbon’ and ‘emission reduction’ areas. A communication platform will be established to share resources and accelerate the application of results. Both sides will jointly promote industry standards and testing specifications, build joint laboratories, and implement localized innovative testing systems and overall solutions. In terms of talent development, a comprehensive cultivation system will be built to nurture outstanding engineering talent; international cooperation will be deepened, relying on overseas resources to broaden talent perspectives, cultivate globally competitive talents, and reserve core strength for the industry.
Two Decades of Shared Commitment, Witnessed by the Wind Tunnel: Profound Cooperation Witnesses Industrial Leap
After the signing ceremony, the guests visited the Shanghai Automotive Wind Tunnel Center at Tongji University, experiencing firsthand the technical accumulation and depth of cooperation spanning over two decades. This wind tunnel is not only a key national facility for vehicle aerodynamics research and development but also a symbolic achievement of the mutual trust, progress, and collaborative innovation between HORIBA and Tongji University.
In 2006, witnessed by Professor Wan Gang, Tongji University and HORIBA signed contracts for the wind tunnel balance and moving belt system. As the core equipment of China’s first low-noise full-scale vehicle wind tunnel, this system provides crucial data support for automotive aerodynamics research in China. For nearly twenty years, the system has maintained stable operation, consistently fulfilling vital functions in teaching, education, and engineering development.
Subsequently, the guests visited the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Evaluation Base to gain in-depth insights into intelligent driving testing and vehicle-road collaboration verification processes, experiencing the cutting-edge applications and rapid development of intelligent connected vehicle technologies firsthand.
From Wind Tunnel Unity to Synergistic Voyage: A Relay of Innovation Spanning Two Decades
This strategic cooperation between HORIBA and the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University is not ‘starting from scratch’ but a continuation and upgrade of over 20 years of technical trust — from the technical synergy of the wind tunnel center to full-industry-chain scientific research collaboration, from the joint cultivation of young talent to the co-establishment of industry standards. With the dual-wheel drive of ‘technology + talent’, both parties are injecting strong momentum into the high-level advancement of the Jiading automotive industry cluster and pioneering new paths for breaking through core technological bottlenecks in the automotive industry. Contributing Tongji wisdom, HORIBA solutions, and Chinese strength for a cleaner, safer, and smarter mobility experience for humanity!
About HORIBA:
In the field of automotive testing, HORIBA covers core needs including powertrain systems, braking systems, wind tunnel testing, emission analysis, and fuel cell development for both traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and new energy vehicles. The company provides customized, turnkey system solutions to achieve one-stop services.
Its subsidiary, HORIBA MIRA, possesses advanced testing facilities and proving grounds in the UK, with nearly 80 years of full vehicle R&D and testing experience. Leveraging its international team and technical advantages, HORIBA MIRA offers professional development, optimization, and integration services to automotive designers and developers.
Provided by | Wang Jiaonan
Reviewed by | Wang Jiaonan
Editors in charge | Ge Chang, Shi Jingyuan, Wu Shi