WATCH Workshop was successfully held in Chengdu from November 21 to 23, 2022

In order to promote bilateral cooperation between China and Germany, after coordination with the DLR and the WATCH partners, the WATCH Workshops were successfully held in Chengdu from November 21 to 23, 2022. In terms of content, the WATCH Workshops were held in three parts: all partners were invited to the plenary session on the first day, and partners from relevant Chinese and German companies were invited to attend the Economy Special meetings on the second and third day.

The WATCH Workshop the 21st November was mainly held in presence in Chengdu, combined with online participation. Nearly 50 participants attended the conference on the 21st November.

Professor Shi, former Vice President of Sichuan University, gave a welcome speech to the participants. Dr. Heinrichs, Head of Department for Asia / Oceania, International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), introduced (online) the cooperation projects of BMBF. He highly praised the progress made by WATCH in recent years, rated WATCH as a Flagship project, and thanked the organization of the WATCH research coordinator, Dr. Yao of ISA of RWTH Aachen. Ms. Röfer, Consul General of Germany in Chengdu, attended the opening ceremony and gave an opening speech. She hoped to hold more academic exchange meetings in the future to deepen cooperation between the two countries. She expressed her wish that Sichuan University together with RWTH Aachen University strive for the recognition of WATCH as a regular institution by the Chinese responsible authorities (MoST/MoE). The German Consulate in Chengdu will certainly make a positive contribution to promoting bilateral cooperation and exchanges.

Dr. Montag, Chief Engineer of the Institute of Environmental Engineering (ISA) of RWTH Aachen University, presented (online) the ISA and its main research in the field of urban water management in ordert o foster future cooperation between the WATCH partners. Professor Shi, Director of the European Research Center of Sichuan University, introduced the academic activities and research work of WATCH, and demonstrated the rapid development and academic achievements of the WATCH in recent years.

At the meeting, additionally several researchers from China and Germany introduced their respective scientific research work. Ms. Wolters, M. Sc., from ISA (online) reported on the progress of the Chinese-German BMBF Joint Project (PEPcat) to construct an advanced oxidation system for efficient removal of organic micropollutants from wastewater by plasma-enhanced photo catalysis. Prof. Dr. Reimers, Director of Research Group Electronic Business, RWTH Aachen University, gave (online) a presentation of his WATCH research activities: The Challenges of Bringing Together Drug Waste Management and Medication Management. Associate Prof. Dr. Xiong from WATCH at SCU introduced WATCH 's research project in China and reported the applied research of electro catalytic oxidation technology for hospital wastewater treatment. PD Dr. Paulzen from the Faculty of Medicine of RWTH Aachen University shared (online) his topic on the Sewage-based Quantification of Psychotropic Drugs in hospital sewage.

Group photo on site