Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) co-hosted a symposium at COMAC Beijing Aircraft Technology Research Institute from May 5 to 6 about the construction of the School of Aerospace.
Both parties engaged in comprehensive, multi-level, and multi-dimensional in-depth discussions on a series of major fundamental research propositions, frontier issues, and strategic planning in the aerospace field, reaching an important consensus on a range of key areas.
The scene of the symposium. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
He Dongfeng, chairman of COMAC, stated that this university-enterprise collaboration is a key initiative to strengthen fundamental research and serve as a national source of original technology in the aviation field. He expressed hope that both parties would consolidate established paths and pioneer new ones, using the establishment of the School of Aerospace as an opportunity to deepen industry-academia-research integration and jointly contribute to high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.
He Dongfeng delivers a speech. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Chen Jie, Party secretary of HIT, said this meeting is a practical step to jointly plan the future of the School of Aerospace. Co-building the school is a crucial measure to implement national strategies and meet major industrial demands. He expressed hope that both parties would seize opportunities in global aviation industry transformation, jointly establish collaborative innovation benchmarks, expand new aerospace industries, and build new talent hubs, creating a new paradigm for further university-enterprise cooperation down the road.
Chen Jie delivers a speech. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Shen Bo, general manager of COMAC, described HIT as a top strategic scientific and technological force in the aerospace field, with deep historical ties and years of collaborative efforts. He expressed hope that this symposium would deepen mutual understanding, and called on scholars and experts to contribute their wisdom to the construction of the School of Aerospace and the advancement of aerospace science and technology in general.
Shen Bo delivers a speech. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Han Jiecai, president of HIT, said both parties signed the School of Aerospace Co-construction Agreement in November 2025, focusing on fundamental research, frontier technologies, and talent cultivation. The institute carries the shared mission of serving national strategies. He said both parties would build a benchmark for the integrated development of education, science, and talent, and jointly create a bright future for the aerospace industry.
Han Jiecai delivers a speech. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
At the symposium, HIT scholar Du Shanyi donated a treasured statue of Qian Xuesen to the COMAC Beijing Aircraft Technology Research Institute. Qian Zhongyan, deputy Party secretary and director of that research institute, presented a donation certificate to Du.
The donation ceremony. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Yang Zhigang, chief engineer of the same research institute, Lin Dakai, director of the Future Technology Research Institute at that same COMAC entity, and Professor Sun Jian from HIT's School of Aerospace Science and Engineering, delivered keynote reports.
Expert Xue Bangmeng of COMAC, Professor Bao Wen from HIT's School of Energy Science and Engineering, and professors Wang Zhenhua and Hong Changqing from the School of Astronautics, delivered specialized presentations. Participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including establishing disciplines, talent cultivation, project challenges, and core technologies.
Wu Wensheng presides over the symposium, as experts deliver reports and specialized presentations. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Experts exchange ideas. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Participants were divided into three groups – functional support, system integration, and structures and materials – for discussion and exchange, and subsequently reported their findings.
The group discussion session. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
The group presentation session. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Chen Jie and Han Jiecai conduct an inspection visit to the COMAC Beijing Aircraft Technology Research Institute. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]