The Munich Institute of Digital Innovation is launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Oct 16. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The 10th China-Germany Forum on the Integrated Development of Education, Science, and Technology and Industry was held on Oct 16 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, hosted by Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST).

More than 200 participants gathered, including leaders and scholars from over 50 Chinese and German universities, representatives of more than 10 companies from both countries, and other supporters of bilateral cooperation.

They discussed ways of reforming applied higher education, promoting collaboration among education, research and industry, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.

At the forum, ZUST inaugurated its Munich Institute of Digital Innovation, its third Chinese-foreign cooperative education institution approved by China's Ministry of Education.

Drawing on resources from both countries, the institute will develop an internationally aligned training system combining Chinese and German strengths, deepen industry-education and science-education integration, and train globally minded, highly skilled applied innovators.

Young representatives from China and Germany also launched the China-Germany Partnership for Innovation, a new initiative focusing on intelligent manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

It will combine academic exchange, technological innovation, corporate practice, and cultural experiences to encourage joint projects and collaboration among young people.

Launched by ZUST in 2007, the forum has grown into an influential platform for cooperation in applied higher education, with more than 60 member universities from China and Germany.