The National Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Green Recycling will be located in the Water Town Living Roomof the Yangtze River DeltaEcology and GreeneryIntegrationDemonstration Zone, officials announced on July 30.

The Executive Committee of the Demonstration Zone, Tongji University, the Qingpu District Government, and Changxin Company have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly advance the establishment of the laboratory in the region. This marks the first national-level innovation platform to be set up in the jointly developed area of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

With the introduction of thenationalkeylaboratory, cutting-edge and strategic fundamental research will be conducted to tackle key technological challenges in environmental protection, drive the development of the Yangtze River Delta as a hub for scientific and technological innovation, and support Qingpu in building itself into aYangtze Deltainnovationhub.

The laboratory will bring together multiple academician-led research teamsfrom Tongji University and Nanjing Universityas a national-level innovation platform in the field of ecological and environmental sciences. The partners will align with national strategic priorities, focusing on systematic research in green and low-carbon development, watershed management, resource recycling, environmental functional materials, and environmental health.

"The establishment of thenationalkeylaboratory in theWater TownLiving Room will strongly promote the integration of scientific and industrial innovation in thedemonstrationzone, attract more R&D platforms, and provide robust momentum for high-quality regional development," said Lu Gang,deputydirector of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission.

Academician Tong Xiaohua of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Vice President of Tongji University stated that the university will encourage the laboratory’s research teams to deepen industry-academia collaboration with enterprises in thedemonstrationzone. The goal is to jointly develop green, low-carbon, and energy-saving technologies while integrating global innovation resources to facilitate the practical application of the laboratory’s research outcomes in the region.

In the first half of this year, Qingpu District achieved a GDP growth rate of 9.3percent, the highest in Shanghai. The district also added one national-level corporate technology centerand44 innovativesmall and medium-size enterprises.