The First SJTU-UM Bilateral Symposium on Biomedical Engineering was held smoothly on Jan. 24th and 25th, 2011, Shanghai. On Jan. 24th, the grand opening ceremony of this symposium was held in the School of Mechanical Engineering. Prof. Zhongqin Lin, the Executive Vice President of SJTU, together with Prof. Stephen Forrest, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Michigan, delivered the opening address. Prof. Xiangyang Zhu, the Organizing Committee Chairman of the Forum and Associate Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering welcame the attendees, and the ceremony was opened by Prof. Lifeng Xi, the Executive Deputy Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering. 

During the forum, Prof. Jie Zhang, the President of SJTU, and Prof. Stephen Forrest had a in-depth discussion about the joint research projects, and exchanged heir opinion on the annual SJTU-UM United Fund. Those attending the forum included Prof. Zhongqin Lin, the Executive Vice President of SJTU, Prof. Xuemin Xu, Assistant of the President and Dean of the Med-X Research Institute, Prof. Zhaomin Cao, Associate Dean of Scientific Research Institute, Prof. Ni Jun, Dean of the SJTU-UM Joint College, Prof. Xiangyang Zhu, Vice President of the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Associate Professor Ruifu Zhang, Director of the Office of International Cooperation, Scientific Research Institute. 

The SJTU-UM Bilateral Symposium on Biomedical Engineering was an important part of the joint research projects by SJTU and the University of Michigan, which was aimed at promoting communication and cooperation in the field of biomedical engineering. The forum invited Prof. Daryl R. Kipke, from the Institute of Neural Communication Technology University of Michigan, and Ke-Rong Dai, Academician Of the Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital of SJTU, to make reports. Another 20 professors from the University of Michigan and SJTU also made reports on subject matter ranging from neural and rehabilitation engineering, implantable biological materials and auxiliary equipment, to medical devices, sensors and micro / nano bio-technology, etc. At this forum, the two schools also exchanged their ideas on biology, medicine, mechanical engineering and electronic engineering, and other interdisciplinary research work.

On Jan 25th, in the Hongqiao State Guesthouse, 26 representatives from the two universities listened to the report of the funded projects by the SJTU-UM Joint Foundation of 2010, discussed the SJTU-UM Joint Foundation in the direction of biomedical engineering in 2011. On March 1st, 2011, the two universities will jointly publish the annual guideline of the application for the SJTU-UM Joint Foundation in 2011.

The First SJTU-UM Bilateral Symposium on Biomedical Engineering drew to a conclusion on Jan. 25st. This forum greatly contributed to the exchanges and cooperation in the field biomedical engineering among staff of the two universities. We believe it will bring a profound impact on both of the two universities.