The 16th International Annual Workshop on Tribology, themed “Tribology in the Automotive and Engine Industry,” was held at Donghua University (DHU) from October 17 to 19. The event drew nearly 100 participants from 10 countries and regions, including leading experts, scholars, researchers, graduate students, and industry representatives in the field of tribology. Yan Linping, Vice President of DHU, attended the opening ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the university, Yan Linping extended a warm welcome and heartfelt appreciation to the guests from China and abroad. He emphasized that, against the backdrop of China’s dual-carbon goals and the rapid rise of high-end equipment manufacturing, tribology has become a critical technology for improving energy efficiency, enhancing equipment reliability, and strengthening industrial competitiveness. Yan also highlighted DHU’s progress in interdisciplinary initiatives spanning materials science, mechanical engineering, and intelligent manufacturing. He expressed DHU’s commitment to collaborating with global scholars to build an open academic community and an innovative industrial ecosystem, so as to accelerate the application of tribological advancements in automotive and aerospace and other sectors.
(Yan Linping delivering a speech)
The workshop brought together a distinguished lineup of attendees, including international experts such as Professor Ton Lubrecht from INSA Lyon (France), Dr. Florian Pape from Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany), and Dr. Eduardo Tomanik from the University of São Paulo (Brazil). Renowned domestic representatives included Professor Meng Yonggang of Tsinghua University; Professor Li Jiusheng, President of the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Professor Meng Xianghui and Professor Cui Yi of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Industry leaders such as Dr. Wen Tianyou, Manager of Hong Kong Defu Gao Lubrication Technology Co., Ltd., and Dr. Ma Zikui of the Schaeffler Group also joined the discussion.
(Workshop venue)
Across the two-day program, the workshop featured 33 invited talks and 30 poster presentations, centering on five major research domains: high-end bearings, high-end lubricants and additives, tribology in new energy vehicles, engine tribology, and complex friction interfaces and surface engineering. Participants engaged in dynamic academic exchanges, sharing frontier developments and research insights that reflect global advancements in tribology.
The workshop successfully established a vibrant and diverse platform for international collaboration. It not only showcased cutting-edge achievements in key areas—such as high-end bearing technology and tribology for new energy vehicles—but also strengthened cooperation among universities, research institutes, and industries worldwide. By bridging academic research with practical industrial needs, the event injected new momentum into the advancement of the high-end equipment sector.