Shanghai Jiao Tong University has announced plans for the development of its Minhang campus, including a hub for future innovation and a testing ground for educational reform.

Covering a construction area of 950,000 square meters, the new area is designed to serve as a highland for innovation in future industries. The focus will be on four key fields: future energy, high-end equipment, new materials and biomedicine.

"The development will include five types of facilities: pilot colleges for talent cultivation reform, national-level scientific research platforms, technology transfer platforms, high-tech platforms, and future research institutes dedicated to cutting-edge technologies," said Zeng Xiaoqin, vice-president of the SJTU.

According to the university, the new hub, which will be divided into three main zones, will be built in phases. The first zone to be built will be the educational reform pilot zone, the second will be the future industry innovation zone, and the third will be the industry-education integration zone. The educational reform pilot zone will feature four buildings, including the School of Biopharmaceutical Sciences Frontier, the School of Energy Frontier and the Future Energy Institute.

The School of Biopharmaceutical Sciences Frontier will leverage the university's strengths in medicine, pharmacy and bioengineering to build an innovation system spanning the entire chain from basic research to clinical applications and industry. The school will focus on major health challenges, such as malignant tumors and autoimmune diseases, using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence to enhance new drug development.

The School of Energy Frontier will integrate the university's multidisciplinary strengths and focus on the entire hydrogen energy chain, from production and storage to conversion and utilization, as well as AI application.