Recently, the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government issued the Notice of the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government on Releasing the List of Approved Projects for the Construction of Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center in 2022. Our Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center for Smart Urban Construction led by Vice President Zhang Lefang was approved as the Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center in 2022. This is our first provincial-level university engineering research center.

(Picture 1) Relevant documents of the list of approved projects released by the Education Department

The application went through multiple rounds of demonstrations and evaluations by experts in the university. Vice President Zhang Lefang led backbone teachers of the School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, School of Information Engineering, and the Institute of Digital Research to encourage interdisciplinary integration, set up a staff team for the Center, and build the Center with four well-known companies such as the Glodon Company Limited. During this period, the Office of Academic Research invited more than 10 well-known experts inside and outside the university, organized more than 10 online and offline application guidance sessions, and finally determined the Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center for Smart Urban Construction as the candidate and recommended it to the Education Department. The Education Department, after formal review, defense review and other procedures, finally approved our application.

(Picture 2) Application discussion

According to the medium- and long-term education and science & technology development plans of China and Shaanxi Province, the Center aims to build on the advantages of basic research of the university, strengthen the research of key core technologies, improve engineering and system integration capabilities, promote the transformation of technological achievements and technology transfer, consolidate the technical foundation of the industry, promote the technological progress of the industry, and provide scientific and technological support for the implementation of national strategies and Shaanxi's economic and social development. The Center is an important base to promote the discipline development, cultivate and gather innovative talent, carry out international cooperation and exchanges, and serve local economic and social development.

(Picture 3) Defense discussion

(Picture 4) Online defense

The approval of the Center is a milestone in our implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Scientific Research and Social Services, and also an affirmation of our university-enterprise cooperation and social services. The year 2023 is the "Quality Contribution Year" of our university, and also a transition year for our implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will continue to focus on key research areas and directions, encourage interdisciplinary integration, support the development of research platforms such as the Shaanxi University Engineering Research Center, build a consortium of high-level scientific research and social services, further catalyze the high-quality development of scientific research and social services, and make due contributions to the implementation of our 14th Five-Year Plan.

(Contributed by Office of Academic Research)