Introduction

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) aims to bring together the best practice from two leading universities, Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) in China and the University of Liverpool (UoL) in the United Kingdom. XJTLU aspires to be a leading research-led university which combines a strong international profile with an unswerving commitment to the economic and social development of the area of China in which it is located. In May 2008, the University marked the second anniversary of its foundation. Although still at an early stage in its development, XJTLU has set a clear course to become a leader in learning, teaching and research.

At the core of its 5-year research strategy XJTLU will concentrate on: developing research programmes; setting up a research infrastructure; strengthening research activities; nurturing a spirit of enterprise; facilitating the generation of intellectual property; and promoting knowledge transfer.

The undergraduate and postgraduate teaching will be research-led with the requirement that the majority of staff, within the academic departments, will be research active. To gain external visibility the research will be organised into research centres. This will allow staff to pursue their research specialisms across departmental boundaries. The aim will be for every centre to have a high international visibility.

Positioning

XJTLU’s research strategy is fully committed to developing the physical and cultural environment necessary to build on its own and its parent universities’ current strengths. XJTLU aims to establish an international profile based on world-class, cutting-edge research and to provide a framework for action through sharply focused key research themes and centres.

XJTLU will orientate itself towards applied research, aiming at enhancing Suzhou Industrial Park’s (SIP) research infrastructure, in return for which XJTLU expects to gain better support from the local government. XJTLU is also well positioned as the Sino-UK bridge for research collaboration, serving both as a portal for research talents entering China and a showcase for local research potential to the world at large.

XJTLU’s research strategy will be kept under active review and will evolve over the time together with the development of the university academic programmes, and will be measured by its feasibility, focus, and sustainability.

Research Priorities

Currently XJTLU is identifying following research areas where it may jump start, quickly establish international leadership and post immediate impacts to the society

• Exploration and application of New Energy (such as Wind energy, Solar energy, Biogas energy, and Tidal Energy etc.)
• Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• Environmental protection such as pollution detection, measurement and management; recycling application of used water, gas and materials; sustainable development
• Networking and telecommunication technologies
• Intelligent systems
• Finance Studies (such Financial system, policy and risk analysis), Management and Urbanization studies in Chinese society.