TONGJI UNIVERSITY

Their core work

Tongji University is a major Chinese research university in Shanghai with deep strengths in civil engineering, geotechnical sciences, and urban planning. In H2020, they contributed expertise in geohazard assessment, hydraulic fracturing modeling, IoT for built environments, and EU-China sustainable urbanisation research. Their role has consistently been as a Chinese knowledge partner bridging European and Chinese approaches to infrastructure, urban development, and environmental engineering challenges.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Tongji's early H2020 involvement (2015-2019) centered on hard engineering: geohazards, hydraulic fracturing, porous media modeling, and IoT sensor systems for infrastructure. From 2018 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward urban sustainability, societal transitions, and the human dimensions of city development. The most recent project (T-Factor, 2020) deals with culture-led urban transformation — a clear move from subsurface engineering toward above-ground urban policy and social innovation.

Tongji is shifting from traditional civil/geotechnical engineering toward interdisciplinary urban sustainability research with a strong EU-China comparative dimension, making them increasingly relevant for projects on smart cities, urban policy, and social integration.

How they like to work

Tongji never coordinated an H2020 project — they consistently join as a partner or third party, serving as the Chinese knowledge node in European-led consortia. With 90 unique partners across 28 countries from just 7 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia rather than small focused teams. This makes them an accessible and experienced international partner, particularly for projects needing a credible Chinese academic institution with strong European network ties.

Remarkably broad network for their project count: 90 unique partners across 28 countries, reflecting participation in large multi-partner consortia. Their geographic reach spans Europe fully while anchoring the China connection that many EU-China cooperation projects require.

What sets them apart

Tongji is one of China's top universities for civil engineering and urban planning, giving European consortia a direct bridge to Chinese research infrastructure and urban development expertise. Their dual strength — hard geotechnical science combined with urban sustainability policy — is unusual and valuable for projects that need both technical depth and socio-economic perspective. For any EU project requiring a credible Chinese partner with proven H2020 experience, Tongji is a well-tested choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BESTOFRAC
  Five-year deep-science project on hydraulic fracturing optimization, showcasing Tongji's core geotechnical and multi-physics modeling capabilities.
• URBAN-EU-CHINA
  Received EUR 82,500 in direct EC funding — their highest single grant — as part of the flagship EU-China sustainable urbanisation innovation platform.
• T-Factor
  Their most recent project (2020-2024) signals a strategic pivot toward culture-led urban regeneration and societal transformation themes.