An inauguration ceremony to mark the opening of the Tsinghua Sino-French Product Lifecycle Management Innovation Center (PLMIC) was held in the main building December 6. Guests and representatives from China, France, and the U.S. participated in the event.

The PLM Innovation Center, co-established by Tsinghua, Dassault Systems (DS), a world leader in 3D and PLM solutions in France, and AIP-PRIMECA, a French network of universities and schools of engineering focusing on integrated design and manufacturing in mechanical engineering, with support from the French Ministry of Education, will develop courses related to integrated manufacturing and provide Tsinghua students a platform for PLM research and practice.

The latest PLM solutions software of DS will be installed on the workstations provided by Hewlett-Packard (HP) U.S., while AIP-PRIMECA will give educational support to the center.

Tsinghua President Gu Binglin gave an address at the ceremony. On behalf of the university, he extended congratulations to the founding of the center. He noted the center would help to boost the students’ innovative skills, and help in scientific research and development. 

Mr. Cao Guoxing, director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Mr. Nicolas Chapuis, envoy of the French Embassy to China, Mr. Marc Foucault, director of DRIC from the French Ministry of Education, Mr. Francis Bernard, DS Executive Committee Advisor, HP representatives, and Mr. Mickael Gardoni, co-director of the center attended the ceremony. Professor Zheng Li, vice dean of the Department of Industrial Engineering in Tsinghua and co-director of the center, hosted the ceremony.