Shanghai University (SHU) is assessed as high risk for its growing involvement in defence research, secret-level security clearance and strong links to China’s territorial ambitions and major geopolitical controversies in the South and East China seas.
SHU is engaged in growing levels of defence research. [1]https://web.archive.org/web/20250518234333/https://www.shu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm In 2016, the Shanghai Municipal Government and defence industry agency SASTIND agreed to jointly supervise and support its participation in such research. [2]https://web.archive.org/web/20191117012031/http://m.sohu.com/n/457828567/ ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190730042104/http://www.shu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm
The university has begun building up its capability in defence research in areas such as uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), materials for missiles and microwave technology. [3]http://yjszs.shu.edu.cn/info/1071/3861.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190807063608/http://yjszs.shu.edu.cn/info/1009/4695.htm
It holds secret-level security credentials, allowing it to participate in classified defence technology projects. [4]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807051438/http://www.zzb.shu.edu.cn/info/1012/2451.htm
In 2023, SHU reported 0.31% of its graduates entering the defence industry. [5]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519005437/https://xxgk.shu.edu.cn/info/1115/95784.htm
SHU’s Research Institute of Unmanned Surface Vehicle Engineering researches and produces USVs, some of which are used by the China Maritime Safety Administration and the State Oceanic Administration. [6]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519041100/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1049/1324.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190808033152/http://www.jhai.shu.edu.cn/Default.aspx?tabid=35110 ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190808033520/http://www.jhai.shu.edu.cn/Default.aspx?tabid=35148 ; https://web.archive.org/web/20190808034206/http://www.jhai.shu.edu.cn/Default.aspx?tabid=35149 So far, the institute has developed 15 models of ‘Jinghai’ SUVs, which have been tested in the South and East China Seas and in the Antarctic. [7]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519043010/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/kxyj/yjfx.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20250519044216/http://m.shedunews.com/msite_1/con/2023-09/15/content_17495.html The USV research team collaborates with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. [8]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519042208/https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/993071.shtml In 2013, Jinghai 1, developed by the research institute, conducted an oceanic and geological survey of the Paracel and Spratly islands. In 2014, Jinghai 2 travelled to Antarctica for underwater mapping.9 The research team has also developed a drone swarm system that has successfully completed more than 1 million flights. [9]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519041100/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1049/1324.htm
Source: Shanghai Education News Network [10]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519044216/http://m.shedunews.com/msite_1/con/2023-09/15/content_17495.html Jinghai USV
Source: Shanghai University School of Future Technology [11]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519041100/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1049/1324.htm Research on swarm intelligent unmanned systems in multimodal domains
Source: Shanghai Education News Network [12]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519044216/http://m.shedunews.com/msite_1/con/2023-09/15/content_17495.html SHU’s USV Research Institute Jinghai team
Source: Shanghai University School of Future Technology [13]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519041100/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1049/1324.htm Series of 15 Jinghai USVs and where they were tested
Collaborations with Russia
In 2019, Shanghai University’s School of Economics and Moscow State University’s Faculty of Economics signed a cooperation agreement. [14]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722045456/https://news.shu.edu.cn/info/1012/60083.htm
WireScreen Insights
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Designated Defence Research Areas
- Military-use materials science and engineering
- Mechatronics engineering and robotics
- Electromagnetic fields and microwave technology [15]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807063608/http://yjszs.shu.edu.cn/info/1009/4695.htm
Defence and Security Links
Cai Daming, the Party Secretary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s 701 Research Institute, made a visit to SHU’s Research Institute of USV Engineering on 31 October 2017. [16]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807055447/http://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1053/8903.htm According to an SHU press release, the meeting was focused on improving scientific exchange and collaboration between the two institutions. [17]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807055447/http://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1053/8903.htm
In 2017, SHU held a symposium on military–civilian integration with Nanjing Raflatac and the 51311 Factory of the PLA, which is responsible for the repair and development of airborne equipment for the Air Force and Naval Aviation. [18]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519035947/https://www.sohu.com/a/199658758_99895914
In 2021, a delegation from the PLA Artillery and Air Defence Academy visited SHU. [19]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519040413/https://mkszyxy.shu.edu.cn/info/1136/14478.htm
In 2021, SHU collaborated with the Xi’an Aerospace Composite Materials Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on developing composite materials used for the launch of Shenzhou XII manned spacecraft. [20]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722035922/https://news.shu.edu.cn/info/1012/61639.htm
In 2023 SHU and China Rongtong Healthcare Group Co. Ltd signed a strategic cooperation agreement with an emphasis on military–civilian integration in the field of medicine and engineering. [21]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519035652/https://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1053/321475.htm
In 2024, SHU signed a formal strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Shanghai Aerospace Science & Industry Electrical Appliances Research Institute. [22]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722040231/https://scie.shu.edu.cn/info/1064/42135.htm
In 2022, SHU’s School of Communication and the 23rd Research Institute of the China Electronics and Technology Group Corporation (CETC) established the CETC Optoelectronics Class, focused on opto-electronics technology. [23]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722042708/https://scie.shu.edu.cn/info/1064/6466.htm
In 2024, SHU’s Zhejiang Institute of Advanced Materials signed strategic cooperation agreements with various partners, including the National Key Laboratory of Transient Shock of Norinco’s Ordnance Equipment Research Institute, Henan Zhongyuan Special Steel Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and Shanghai Automotive Group Co. Ltd. From those agreements, SHU jointly established five centre: [24]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722042143/https://www.iamshu.cn/newsinfo/7153364.html
- Materials R&D Centre for Special Equipment
- Zhongyuan Special Steel R&D Centre of China North Industries Group Corporation
- Degradable Bio-Iron Studio
- Special Vehicles and New Materials Studio
- Advanced Fastener Materials Studio.
SHU’s School of New Materials collaborates with various defence-affiliated entities, including China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co. Ltd, CASC, China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Baowu Steel Group. [25]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722041427/https://zhgy.shu.edu.cn/lyjs/xcl.htm
Noteworthy International Collaborations
SHU runs the Sino-Sweden Microsystem Integration Technology (SMIT) Centre and the International Centre for Quantum and Molecular Structures. [26]https://web.archive.org/web/20191117033905/https://www.natureindex.com/institution-outputs/china/sino-sweden-microsystem-integration-technology-smit-center/5731ac5d140ba081108b4574 ; https://web.archive.org/web/20191117032005/http://news.shu.edu.cn/info/1012/37921.htm
SHU is the Chinese partner institution of five Confucius Institutes in North America, Europe and Asia. [27]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807050821/http://www.shu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm
By May 2019, SHU had signed cooperation agreements with more than 206 universities in 53 countries. [28]https://web.archive.org/web/20190807050821/http://www.shu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm
SHU has established four Sino-foreign cooperative schools: SHU Sydney Business School, SHU Sino-European Institute of Engineering and Technology, SHU Vancouver Film School and SHU Lisbon College . [29]https://web.archive.org/web/20250518234333/https://www.shu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20250519003206/https://xxgk.shu.edu.cn/info/1141/90974.htm
SHU’s SILC Business School was established in 1994 as a joint venture school between SHU and the University of Technology Sydney. [30]https://web.archive.org/web/20250728000208/https://shusilc.shu.edu.cn/About_SILC/SILC_History.htm Located in Shanghai, it had around 4,000 students enrolled in 2024, including 300 international students. It has ongoing school–enterprise cooperation in joint training, research and exchange with the PLA Army 4805 Group, which is a large-scale naval support enterprise engaged in ship repair and shipbuilding. [31]https://web.archive.org/web/20250728002251/https://www.eworldship.com/app/factory/about_300.html ; https://web.archive.org/web/20250519025842/https://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1053/344715.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20250728002323/https://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1056/310814.htm ; https://web.archive.org/web/20250728002421/https://silc.shu.edu.cn/info/1036/24680.htm
In 2022, SHU established the Lisbon College.39 It’s the first Sino-Portuguese college and offers three majors in civil engineering, environmental engineering and electrical and computer engineering. [32]https://web.archive.org/web/20250518235842/https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E9%87%8C%E6%96%AF%E6%9C%AC%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2/61285950?noadapt=1
Research Centres and Dual Use Technologies
In 2020, SHU established the Shaoxing Research Institute, which focuses on technology transfer and industrial technology incubation. [33]https://web.archive.org/web/20250518234546/https://news.shu.edu.cn/info/1021/55982.htm
In 2021, SHU established the Engineering Research Centre for Marine Intelligent Unmanned Systems Equipment of the Ministry of Education. It focuses on intelligent uncrewed systems, intelligent perception and control technology of surface uncrewed platforms, weak target detection technology in the sea–air interface environment, complex environment detection technology and equipment, vibration reduction and noise reduction technology. [34]https://archive.is/49OmK original: https://kyglb.shu.edu.cn/info/1012/3964.htm
In 2021, SHU established the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, which has focused on the construction of naval uncrewed cluster equipment and systems, national polar scientific expeditions, and the construction of intelligent underwater archaeological research systems. [35]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519024847/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1045/1517.htm
In 2023, SHU established the School of Elite Engineers, which focuses on key industrial fields such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, aerospace and dual-carbon materials. [36]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519000246/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23753088
In 2023, SHU established the School of Future Technology to promote future intelligent uncrewed system technology and develop China as a strong maritime and manufacturing power. [37]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519024847/https://ai.shu.edu.cn/info/1045/1517.htm
In 2023, SHU established a joint training base with Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co. Ltd, with a focus on key structural materials for nuclear reactors. [38]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722032407/https://zhgy.shu.edu.cn/info/1051/1631.htm
SHU has established joint laboratories with CNNC and Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research Institute. [39]https://web.archive.org/web/20250722031956/https://ece.shu.edu.cn/__local/D/F9/81/4D94A3E6EDE4A9913DFA20EC26D_D9CB6EA8_CC5BA.pdf (page 7 bottom)
In 2024, SHU established the Quantum Science and Technology Research Institute. [40]https://archive.is/A1GU1 original link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/O4dT8_9fEDm7v5kn01kpLQ
In 2024, SHU jointly established the Humanoid Robot Joint Innovation Centre. SHU showcased the humanoid robot ‘Ziqiang No. 1’ developed by the humanoid robot team of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Automation. [41]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519001906/https://wappass.baidu.com/static/captcha/tuxing.html?ak=572be823e2f50ea759a616c060d6b9f1&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmbd.baidu.com%2Fnewspage%2Fdata%2Flandingsuper%3Fid%3D1816321755833085091%26wfr%3Dbaike%26third%3Dbaijiahao%26baijiahao_id%3D1816321755833085091%26c_source%3Dkunlun%26c_score%3D0.999000×tamp=1747613941&signature=4a78191a701f81620ceed4e02d58e853
In 2025, SHU jointly established the Shanghai Baoshan Shangda General Intelligent Robotics Research Institute with Baoshan District Committee and Yushu Technology, which is a Chinese robotics company. [42]https://web.archive.org/web/20250519043515/https://www.shu.edu.cn/info/1053/366865.htm
