On April 28, 2016, Li Jiajun, the president of Tianjin University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) with Proctor and Gamble.

Procter and Gamble is classified as one of the leading producers of consumer goods around the globe. To enhance its success in the business world, Procter and Gamble's goal is to create innovative products cost effectively so as to improve consumers lives throughout the world. Procter and Gamble seeks collaborative environments to form a basis for the distribution development strategy. Procter & Gamble entered Mainland China in 1988 and now has operations in many cities including Tianjin with a technical center in Beijing. Proctor and Gamble are proud that some 97% of employees in China are Chinese nationals.

President Li Jiajun introduced the Collaborative Research Center of Tianjin University telling the P&G delegation: “Our research center projects include the Wuqing Research Institute and the Qingdao Ocean Research Institute, which focuses on the purification of seawater, the recovery of ocean resources and other important projects. The signing of the MOU with P&G aligns exactly with the objectives of the Collaborative Research Center.”

President Li Jiajun also expressed his hope for further cooperation between them. The signing ceremony began with a welcome meeting, followed by a detailed discussion about future collaboration between Tianjin University and Proctor and Gamble. Li Jiajun added: "We now intend to expand our research center projects to other countries, cooperate with transnational enterprises and build an international research center".

The P&G delegation included Dr. Mark Smerznak, the technology president, David Upite, the legal innovation leader for greater China, Wang Xiaoli, the open innovation technology director, and Tan Hongxing, the technology principal fellow. They also visited the Peiyang Park Campus. Dr. Mark Smerznak was impressed deeply by the beautiful campus. After touring around the campus, the delegation and faculty then visited the Xiqing Economic Technological Development Area.