On October 30, 2024, the Infineon-Tsinghua University Day was held at the Department of Electronic Engineering (EE), Tsinghua University. Prof. Shen Yuan, Party Secretary of the EE Department, Deputy Chair, Prof. Li Maokun, Vice President of Infineon Greater China, Chen Zhihao, Collizi Ernesto, Senior Director of R&D in the Zero-Carbon Industrial Power Division at Infineon, along with other visitors from Infineon attended the event. Over 100 faculty members and students from Tsinghua University participated in the event.
Prof. Shen Yuan delivered the opening remarks, extending a warm welcome to Infineon and expressing gratitude for their support in providing oversea social practice opportunities for Tsinghua EE students. Prof. Shen introduced the Sustainable Innovation Initiative launched in 2022, aimed at cultivating globally minded, interdisciplinary talents through fostering international cooperation and industry-academic-research exchanges. The initiative includes a comprehensive English-taught core courses, global exchange programs, and joint degree programs. Prof. Shen encouraged students to make full use of global resources to contribute to addressing global challenges and the ongoing wave of digitalization and green industrial transformation. He also expressed hope for future collaborations with Infineon in exploring technology innovation and talents cultivation.
Prof. Shen Yuan delivered the opening speech, warmly welcoming Infineon and expressing gratitude for their support in hosting Tsinghua EE students during their overseas social practices. Prof. Shen then introduced the Sustainable Innovation Initiative launched in 2022 with the aim of nurturing high-quality, interdisciplinary talents with a global perspective. This initiative achieves its goals by promoting international cooperation and facilitating exchanges between industry and institutions. It encompasses a comprehensive range of English-taught core courses, global exchange programs, and joint degree programs. Prof. Shen encouraged students to fully leverage the global resources to contribute to tackling global challenges and the ongoing digital and green industrial transformation. Additionally, he expressed his hope for future collaborations with Infineon to explore technological innovation and talent cultivation together.
Opening Remarks by Shen Yuan
Chen Zhihao from Infineon provided an overview of Infineon's development, business operations, and corporate philosophy. He emphasized that Infineon, as a global leader in power systems and IoT, focuses on automotive electronics, power management, energy-saving technologies, and IoT solutions, striving to provide green, low-carbon, and efficient solutions. Chen highlighted Infineon's commitment to sustainable development and its corporate social responsibility, aiming to tackle global challenges with innovative products.
Speech by Chen Zhihao
Ernesto Collizi was invited to deliver a guest lecture to EE students enrolled in the Sustainable Innovation course. He shared insights on the crucial role that electronic engineers play in combating climate change and discussed career development paths. Ernesto emphasized the significance of optimizing electronic components and driver circuits in power drive and transmission systems to achieve significant energy savings and reduce emissions. He highlighted that recent advancements in high-voltage power technology and intelligent control systems are paving the way for a new era of enhanced efficiency in power systems. Ernesto encouraged the students to actively participate in sustainable development efforts and collaborate to address global challenges.
Collizi Ernesto and students from the Sustainable Innovation course
Hosted by Huang Zheng, a PhD student from the EE department, the alumni sharing session featured three Tsinghua University alumni. Wang Liwen, a 2006 alum and Senior Director of Infineon's Greater China Automotive Division, introduced Infineon's key focus areas and innovative products in the automotive sector. She emphasized the revolutionary changes and opportunities in China's automotive electronic and electrical architecture amid the trends of new energy vehicles and smart driving. Li Xiang, a 2011 alum and Strategic Director of Industrial & Infrastructure Business at Infineon Greater China, discussed Infineon’s strategic focus in the industrial and infrastructure sectors, particularly its breakthroughs in silicon carbide technology and its contributions to carbon reduction. Nan Zheng, 2000 alum and Marketing Director of Consumer, Computing, and Communication Business at Infineon Greater China, reflected on his student time at Tsinghua and the influence of Tsinghua’s ethos of "Actions Speak Louder Than Words." He shared insights on Infineon’s strategic initiatives in artificial intelligence, edge computing, low-altitude economy, and post-quantum era data security.
Speech by Wang Liwen,Li Xiang,Nan Zheng
Zhang Jialin, Senior Manager of Infineon’s University Program in Greater China, introduced Infineon’s University Program and talent development initiatives. As a bridge for industry-academic collaboration, the program aims to prepare specialized talent for the ecosystem by harnessing the combined efforts of industry, academia, and research. Jialin expressed a desire for more collaborative opportunities with Tsinghua University in the future and extended an invitation for faculty and students to visit Infineon’s global R&D centers.
The roundtable discussion, moderated by Lu Gang, Director of Human Resources and Head of the University Program at Infineon Greater China, featured an engaging exchange between the guests and students. Topics included career choices and development paths for graduates in the electronic information field, strategies for enhancing practical skills and career competitiveness in the training of electronic engineering talent, and the impact of rapid AI development on the semiconductor industry. The lively discussion provided valuable insights and fresh perspectives for students on their career planning.
Roundtable Discussion
This event marked the first time that Infineon University Day was held at Tsinghua University's Department of Electronic Engineering. It aimed to serve as a bridge between academia and industry, providing students a platform to gain in-depth insights into industry trends, career development opportunities, and avenues for international exchange. The event helped students broaden their international perspectives and enhance their global competencies, equipping them for long-term development in the increasingly globalized technological landscape.
During Infineon’s visit, researchers from EE Department, including Prof. Lu Yan, Prof. Qiao Fei, Prof. Zhou Sheng, and Prof. Yu Jincheng, as well as Dr. Lin Yuming from Prof. Li Yong’s team and Fu Tianyu from Prof. Wang Yu’s team, along with Prof. Liang Sisi, Associate Dean of the School of Architecture, delivered presentations. They shared their latest research progress on topics such as integrated power converter design, applications of cognitive computing technology, intelligent transportation systems, embodied robotics, advanced power optimization management, improving large model computational efficiency, and the use of data to enhance urban design and operation. These in-depth academic exchanges laid the foundation for exploring future collaborative opportunities and opened new avenues for partnership.
Group Photo
About the Sustainable Innovation Initiative
In 2022, the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University launched the Sustainable Innovation Initiative. This program aims to foster technological innovation and sustainable development in the electronic engineering field. Its core objectives include enhancing students' global competencies through an improved global education system; Establishing a sustainable global cooperation network to create a vibrant education and research hub; and actively promoting innovation and technology transfer for the benefit of society and the common good. The initiative focuses on nurturing high-quality talents with a global perspective, who are equipped to address global challenges and adapt to the ongoing digitalization and green industrial transformations.
