​Through the support of the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI – formerly called Department of Science and Technology (DST)) and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology – a Joint Research Centre (JRC) has resulted.

The launch event took place on 23 August 2019 at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Auckland Park Library.

The JRC: Chemical and Environmental Engineering is co-hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering at NanjingTech, the Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station (PEETS), and the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at UJ.

The JRC is funded through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and will also facilitate collaboration internally –between FEBE and the Department of Chemical Sciences, UJ Faculty of Science.

There are a number of JRCs in the pipeline with this particular JRC focusing on the water-energy research-innovation nexus with projects advancing fundamental science, engineering and technology for impact. A key example being the use of membrane technology (a key strength of both universities) for water treatment.

Given UJ’s strategic contextualisation within the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – the approach is shaped in this way. This important engagement was facilitated by University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute – UJCI and the UJ International Office.