On the morning of April 22, the 2025 Annual Academic Symposium of the Tsinghua University–Imperial College London Joint Research Center on Smart Power and Energy Systems was held in the West Main Building of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA). Attendees included Kang Chongqing, Dean of the Department; Xie Xiaorong, Deputy Director of the Carbon Neutrality Research Institute; Jiang Yongbin, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; Sun Kai, Chinese Director of the Joint Research Center; Associate Professors Zhang Ning and Zhong Haiwang from EEA; Goran Strbac, UK Director of the Joint Research Center; Fei Teng, Associate Professor at Imperial College London; Daniel Brooker, UK Director for China of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); Sophie Durrans, Deputy Director of UKRI China; and project director Zheng Ying, among other experts and scholars.

The meeting was chaired by Sun Kai, Deputy Dean of EEA and Chinese Director of the Joint Research Center. Following the opening remarks by Professor Goran Strbac, doctoral students from Tsinghua University—He Boyu, Wang Jiaxin, Wang Linguang, and Zhang Shiyu—and doctoral students from Imperial College London—Michael Nestor and Zhang Tai—gave academic presentations. Associate Professor Fei Teng delivered a keynote speech titled “How Many Grid-Forming Converters are Needed? — A Techno-Economic Perspective.” Associate Professor Zhang Ning and Professor Goran Strbac presented on behalf of both China and the UK sides, outlining the construction progress of the Joint Research Center, the latest research achievements, and future collaboration plans.

During the discussion session, Daniel Brooker, Director of UKRI China, highly praised the Joint Research Center’s leading role in cutting-edge research on power and energy systems, emphasizing that the platform provides an innovative model for global university cooperation. He also analyzed opportunities and challenges in future UKRI funding projects and expressed strong willingness to deepen and support Sino-UK scientific collaboration in the energy field.

In his closing remarks, Professor Kang Chongqing summarized the outcomes of the symposium, expressed gratitude for the support from the leadership of Tsinghua University and Imperial College London for the Joint Research Center’s development, and outlined a vision for further enhancing cooperation between the two institutions.