Recently, Tianjin University signed a donation agreement for 15,000,000 yuan with a famous alumnus, Rong Zhijian. The intention is to establish the University’s first science research fund: “Tianjin University’s Honorary Research Grants for Technology Innovation”. In order to develop Tianjin into a world-class university, Rong Zhijian thought that promoting talent was the root of the University, while science and technology was the University’s mainstay. He hoped that the establishment of the research fund would enhance the University’s ability to construct talented research teams.

According to the agreement, Alumnus Rong Zhijian is going to donate 3,000,000 RMB each year from 2017 to 2021; in total 15,000,000 yuan. The fund will be used to support prominent scientific research teams in which the University’s eminent scientists are the academic leaders or core members. Tianjin University would select three prominent scientific research teams every year for each to receive the 1,000,000 RMB award. In addition, these teams would be conferred the title, “Honorary Technology Innovation team of Tianjin University”. The 2017 selection jointly organized by Tianjin University’s Peiyang Educational Development Foundation and Office of Science and Technology concerning science and technology development will be completed soon.

In December 2016, Li Jiajun, Party Secretary of Tianjin University, visited alumnus Rong Zhijian during the delegation’s visit to Hong Kong. Alumnus Rong Zhijian felt delighted with the University’s progress in science and technology innovation. They also reached a consensus on the enhancement of the construction of science and technology teams of Tianjin University. Alumnus Rong Zhijian readily agreed to establish the research fund to encourage technology innovation, stimulate the innovative vitality of the University’s scientific and technical personnel, support the University’s construction of technology innovation teams, and propel the University to fulfill the goal to be a world-class university as soon as possible.

Alumnus Rong Zhijian was born in Shanghai in 1942. In 1965, he graduated with a Power Grid and Power System major from TJU. He successively worked in hydraulic power plants in the Changbai Mountain area located in Liaoning Province and in Liangshan, the minority autonomy area of Sichuan. In 1978, he started his business in Hong Kong, and became the managing director of CITIC Limited in 1986. Later he served as chairman of CITIC Pacific Group.

For a long time, alumnus Rong Zhijian has been consistently concerned about his Alma Mater’s development on every respect. He successively funded the new gymnasium of Wejin Road Campus and established Rong Zhijian scholarship and a variety of funds for relevant construction of the University and its colleges. Since 1985, alumnus Rong Zhijian has made donations up totaling about 50,000,000 RMB. He hopes that his Alma Mater can cultivate more talent and make more contributions to the country and the world. As a famous entrepreneur, he not only inherited the rigorous and practical style of Tianjin University, but also manifests the fine tradition of Chinese intellectuals. In the wake of the earthquake in Wenchuan, China in 2008, Mr. Rong Zhijian donated 70,000,000 HKD to the earthquake-stricken area so as to facilitate the earthquake relief work and the rebuilding of new homes.