Tsinghua and MIT to collaborate on urban innovation in China

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Tsinghua University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have signed an agreement on a technology project aiming to support research and startup teams tackling the challenges and opportunities of urban development in China.

The project named Future City Innovation Connector (FCIC) will identify innovative concepts and technologies from MIT’s work that can be implemented in China.

FCIC will be hosted in the MIT China Future City Lab and run in conjunction with the MIT School of Architecture and Planning’s entrepreneurship accelerator, DesignX.

Zheng Siqi, the Samuel Tak Lee Associate Professor of Real Estate Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT, will direct the project.

The project was formally established last Saturday at MIT when Tsinghua University Vice President Yang Bin and MIT Provost Martin Schmidt signed the agreement.

“I am thrilled to see the launch of this new collaboration initiative,” said Schmidt.

“Under the leadership of Professor Zheng, the MIT-Tsinghua Future City Innovation Connector will become the new starting point of a series of engagements between MIT and Tsinghua in entrepreneurship, education, and urban research.”

Tsinghua University Vice President Yang Bin (L) and MIT Provost Martin Schmidt (R) signed the urban innovation agreement. /Tsinghua News Photo

According to Zheng, FCIC will focus on supporting city innovation ideas and startups involving students from both sides. It will also collaborate with Chinese municipal governments and industry leaders to support the teams.

The program will face challenges in urban resilience, urban health, housing, environmental sustainability, responsive urban management, and the development of “smart” cities.

Tsinghua University and MIT have had collaborations in many areas including education, research, and support of innovation and entrepreneurship in the recent decades.

“MIT-Tsinghua FCIC will build broad partnership with local city and industries to scale up its impact. It is of great meaning to MIT, Tsinghua University, local governments, and industry leaders,” said Yang.