As the new year begins, a splendid chapter unfolds. When the first ray of dawn of 2026 falls upon the banks of the Yongjiang River, this beautiful campus designed as a “waterside scroll” resonates with an era of magnificent transformation. On behalf of Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, I extend my sincerest New Year wishes to all faculty, staff and students, as well as leaders at all levels and friends from all sectors of society who have long cared for and supported the university’s development!
The year 2025 stands as a milestone in EIT’s history. Looking back on 2025, upholding the Party’s overall leadership and armed with the courage and wisdom of pioneers, we have drawn the grand blueprint for a new‑type research‑oriented university, laid the cornerstone for a century‑old institution, and created the most solid foundation and vivid footnote for the university’s future growth.
This year witnessed the official founding of Eastern Institute of Technology. In June 2020, Mr. Yu Renrong proposed donating funds to establish a high‑level university. After five years of hard work, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo received official approval from the Ministry of Education on June 19, 2025. On November 28 the same year, the university held its founding ceremony. This new‑type research‑oriented university featuring a high starting point, compact and refined scale, innovation and internationalization set sail.
We opened our new permanent campus on the northern bank of the Yongjiang River. A great university lies not only in its buildings but also in its distinguished scholars. Designed with the vision of “Centennial Classics, Waterside Scroll”, the campus blends classic charm with modern elements. The towering Qiuzhen Tower echoes the library built upon the concept of “heaven is round and earth is square”, forming the campus’s most stunning skyline. The South Gate opens toward the Yongjiang River. Ningbo’s merchant groups once embarked on their journeys from this river, and from here, Eastern Institute of Technology will stride toward the world.
We secured university approval and launched undergraduate admissions within the same year. It took merely 11 days to complete recruitment for the first undergraduate cohort, a feat hailed by some as the miracle of “reaching peak performance right from the start”. The 74 inaugural undergraduates, with vision and courage, chose to build the future alongside EIT. Joint doctoral training programs with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University of Science and Technology of China, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Warwick have yielded initial results.
We pay tribute to the selfless entrepreneurs. The Zheng Jian‑Lihong Building, Sunwill Building and Youngor Library stand tall on campus. Initiatives including the Chunyuan Beacon Scholarship and the Shenzhou Business School nurture talents quietly. The entrepreneurial spirit is integrated with the university’s philosophy of talent cultivation. Launched by Mr. Yu Renrong, echoed enthusiastically by Ningbo‑born entrepreneurs and supported widely by society, this relay of donations fuels the university’s advancement.
We have recruited outstanding talents worldwide, forming a high‑caliber international faculty team comprising 16 academicians, 61 national‑level talents and 101 teaching‑research Principal Investigators (PIs). Adhering to the principle of “science‑oriented foundation, engineering‑oriented mission and integration of science and engineering”, the university keeps producing world‑class outputs. In 2025, 436 high‑level
papers were published, including one in Nature and three in Science. Leveraging major research platforms, the university organically combines the PI system with organized research. It has built six high‑level platforms and 20 joint university‑local and university‑enterprise laboratories, with cumulative research funding reaching 3.15 billion RMB. A U‑shaped scientific and technological innovation system has taken shape covering academics and technologies.
As we look ahead to 2026, the bugle for a new journey has sounded. With the conviction of wave breakers, we enter a critical phase of growth and excellence, heading toward the boundless sea of stars brimming with possibilities. Amid the scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, we will deliver greater innovative contributions and expand our influence, serving national development and promoting social progress.
Moving forward, we will forge ahead without pause on the path of innovation. We will delve deep into cutting‑edge interdisciplinary fields, adopt the academician mentorship system to carefully cultivate top innovative talents, and rely on major research platforms to fully support breakthroughs in original innovation.
We will honor our commitment to integrating education with industry. Rooted in Ningbo and empowering local industries, we will always align our work with national strategic needs, realizing the vision that a first‑class city nurtures a first‑class university, and a first‑class university underpins a first‑class city.
We will stay true to our positioning of “high starting point, compact and refined scale, innovation and internationalization”. We will connect with premium global science and education resources, carry out joint training and collaborative research, and contribute Chinese wisdom amid the tide of opening‑up and cooperation.
A new chapter unfolds in the East; we forge ahead through waves. Let us march alongside the times and respond to the call of the future! May our great motherland enjoy magnificent landscapes, peace and prosperity! May all people across the nation live in peace, health and happiness! May all faculty, staff and students thrive in this auspicious new year!
Shiyi Chen
President of Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo
January 1, 2026
