With a new chair of intelligent vehicle concepts, several research projects on urbanization trends in China, and other initiatives underway, Porsche and Tongji University in Shanghai have expressed a desire to strengthen their cooperation in the future and have signed a memorandum of understanding.

Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche, recently gave a speech to around 200 students on the future of the sports car.

“Promoting high-end engineering and technical excellence in a wide variety of markets has been very successful for us. It is therefore important to intensify our relationships with institutions that are as established and as prestigious as Tongji University. By doing so we are boosting the involvement of Porsche in China and expanding our existing cooperation,” he said.

Prof. Zhang Lijun, dean of the School of Automotive Studies at Tongji University, underlined the importance of the cooperation: “The even closer collaboration with Porsche has benefits for the education we provide in the technical faculties. At the same time, it enables us to cultivate the necessary exchange with industry.”

The driving force behind the partnership with Tongji University has been the Porsche Engineering subsidiary, which was set up to enable the company and the School of Automotive Studies to exchange information and ideas on topics such as science, research, theory, testing equipment and practice.

In November 2018 they jointly organized their first conference, welcoming 80 of the top decision-makers to the Porsche Experience Centre Shanghai to discuss the latest developments in chassis technology.

In September 2018, Porsche and Tongji University also launched a brand academy to educate specialists from the automotive industry about brand management and strategy.

The cooperation will also benefit the students at the university: in addition to attractive internships within Porsche and its subsidiaries worldwide, the sports car manufacturer has also presented the possibility of supporting the School of Automotive Studies’ Formula Student Team.