Students stepped out of their classrooms and textbooks to visit the forefront of industrial production. Recently, over 20 students and faculty members from the New Energy Materials and Devices program at East China University of Science and Technology visited the Jiaxing National High-Tech Zone. They toured advanced smart manufacturing workshops, observed cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations, and explored the innovation strategies of established brands. This immersive field study allowed them to closely experience the pulse of industrial development and genuinely feel the new atmosphere of high-quality industrial growth in Jiaxing, driven by technological innovation and the coexistence of traditional and modern industries.

The first stop of the study tour was the globally recognized photovoltaic smart manufacturing benchmark—the Longi Green Energy Jiaxing Lighthouse Factory. The modern, intelligent production scene provided a direct and tangible understanding of the powerful role new energy materials play in supporting high-end smart manufacturing. The factory leverages digital and intelligent technologies to achieve fully intelligent control over the photovoltaic module production process, along with green manufacturing and efficient output. On-site, technical experts from the company provided detailed explanations of the R&D and iteration history of core materials, thoroughly breaking down the photovoltaic smart manufacturing processes, diverse application scenarios for clean energy, and the company's digital transformation achievements. The students closely observed the production lines, took detailed notes, and engaged in in-depth discussions with frontline engineers. The vivid production reality and advanced technological applications gave the students a profound appreciation that new energy materials, as the foundational core of the new energy industry, provide indispensable and solid support for the iterative upgrade of high-end smart manufacturing.

Next, the group visited the Xiuzhou Photovoltaic Technology Museum, transitioning from hands-on production environments to a science education base to systematically learn about the innovative development journey of the photovoltaic industry. Through various formats such as physical models, dynamic demonstrations, interactive experiences, and informational displays, the exhibition hall comprehensively outlined the transformation of the photovoltaic industry from its exploratory beginnings to its current scale as a clustered development. It presented a full picture of technological innovations in new energy materials within the photovoltaic field, diverse application scenarios, and the future development layout of the clean energy industry. Moving from fundamental theoretical principles to breakthroughs in frontier technologies, and from residential distributed photovoltaic applications to comprehensive green energy system layouts, the students engaged in immersive study and reflection. They gained a clear understanding of the developmental path for the deep integration of new energy materials with the new energy industry. They also developed a more three-dimensional and profound recognition of the Jiaxing National High-Tech Zone's strategic advantages in focusing on the green, low-carbon track and its concerted efforts to build a photovoltaic industry cluster. This experience further broadened their professional horizons and clarified industry development prospects.

After experiencing the dynamism of the new energy high-tech industry, the students visited the Wufangzhai Industrial Park to explore up close how a traditional private enterprise is achieving transformation and upgrading by leveraging technologies related to new energy materials. Challenging the common perception of traditional food companies as relying on extensive production methods, today's Wufangzhai deeply integrates technology to assist the traditional industry, incorporating new material technologies throughout the entire chain of food production, preservation, and packaging. The innovative cross-border fusion of traditional cuisine with modern new energy material technologies broke the students' preconceived professional notions. It helped them understand that new energy material technology not only serves the high-end manufacturing sector but also profoundly contributes to the upgrading of people's livelihood industries, injecting strong scientific and technological innovation momentum into revitalizing traditional time-honored brands and enhancing their quality and efficiency.

Throughout the journey of observation and touring, the rich array of frontline study scenarios left the participating students with substantial gains and deep reflections. "The abstract principles and process technologies from textbooks have become visible, tangible realities on the industrial frontlines!" remarked one student involved in the study, highlighting the significant value of this on-site visit. By delving into three distinct characteristic industrial settings, the group gained a direct understanding of the application models for new energy materials across different fields such as new energy and consumer goods manufacturing. They clearly grasped industry technical pain points, key R&D directions, and corporate talent demand standards. They genuinely felt the strong atmosphere of industrial agglomeration, innovation-driven development, and iterative upgrading within the Jiaxing National High-Tech Zone. This experience effectively addressed the practical shortcomings of classroom teaching and provided clear direction for subsequent specialized study, scientific research innovation, and precise career planning.

This field study, integrating knowledge with practice, serves as a vivid example of innovative talent cultivation models in higher education and a microcosm of the high-tech zone's efforts to deepen university-local collaboration and connect with Shanghai's innovation resources. In recent years, the Jiaxing National High-Tech Zone has consistently prioritized talent introduction and cultivation, as well as the integration of industry, academia, and research, as core drivers for high-quality industrial development. It continuously establishes diverse connection platforms and innovates cooperation mechanisms, striving to deeply intertwine the innovation chain, industrial chain, and talent chain.

Leveraging external channels such as its Shanghai-based office, the high-tech zone proactively strengthens regular communication with major Shanghai universities, research institutes, and industry platforms. It continuously broadens channels for cross-regional talent exchange and scientific innovation collaboration, precisely connecting with Shanghai's high-quality intellectual resources and cutting-edge research achievements. It is fully committed to advancing work in talent introduction and cultivation, industrial quality enhancement, and city promotion.

Moving forward, the high-tech zone will continue to leverage the advantages of its Shanghai presence to deepen regular cooperation with quality universities like East China University of Science and Technology. It will focus on key areas such as industry-education integration, research-to-industry transformation, and talent introduction and cultivation. The goal is to promote precise alignment between university intellectual resources, scientific innovation achievements, and local industrial needs. Through bidirectional university-local collaboration, the zone aims to activate innovation momentum and attract young talent, accumulating a continuous stream of new vitality for the high-quality and innovative industrial development of the Jiaxing National High-Tech Zone.