Sichuan University held a meeting for “medicine +” and “information +” in Mingde Building on March 27. Present at the meeting were Chairman Jianguo Wang of the university council, President Yanrong Li, vice presidents of Lin Zhang and Liangyin Chu, among other leaders of relevant departments.

At the meeting, vice president Lin Zhang first introduced about the construction of medicine and engineering integration in the university, especially the institutional set-up of West China Medical Center, the construction progress, implementation path and management mode of "three centers and one platform". Director Wei Zhang of Medicine+ Information Center of West China School of Medicine, Director Jin Huang of Medicine + Manufacturing Center, ( West China Hospital ), Director Ling Ye of Medicine + Materials Center, (West China Hospital ), and Yong Huang, chief scientist for 5G transformation and application platform, and executive associate dean of West China School of Medicine ( West China Hospital, reported on the construction plan and progress of each center respectively.

Vice President Liangyin Chu introduced about the work of "information +", especially the construction progress of the university industrial Internet research center. Xingguo Yang, Party Secretary of College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Xu Ji, Professor of School of Chemical Engineering, Xianyong Xiao, Dean of College of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Junfeng Wang, Professor of School of Aeronautics and Astronautics introduced about the construction progress of each of the following centers: Research Center of Intelligent Water Conservancy, Research Center of Interconnected Chemical Engineering, Research Center of Ubiquitous Power Internet of Things, and Center for Engineering Scientific Calculation and Data Analysis.

Weimin Li, Dean of West China School of Medicine ( West China Hospital ), indicated that he would intensify the integration of West China Medicine and engineering in accordance with the university development strategy, and strive to achieve the grand goal of making West China medicine a world leading medicine as soon as possible. In addition, Zhaosong Chen, chairman of Juli Investment Management Co. Ltd., State Development and Investment Corp., and Zhen Zhou, deputy general manager of China Electronics Corporation( CEC ), respectively introduced about their company and expressed the intention to have in-depth cooperation with SCU in the fields of "medicine +" and "information +".

In his speech, President Yanrong Li pointed out that "medicine +" and "information +" are the new driving force for the development of Sichuan University, as well as the new locomotive of liberal arts, science, engineering and medicine, which is the absolute choice of the university in the development of new medicine and new engineering at this stage. The integration of medicine and engineering is the key measure to make West China Medicine more well-known. The integration with the new generation of information technology is the main path for SCU engineering disciplines to carry out the "reform of engineering". When talking about the next step, President Li stressed that each center must aim at the first place, focus on the important things and the elements of Sichuan University in order to become more unique and competitive. Lastly, we must tie the construction of the centers in with the development of academic subjects and the cultivation of talents. A scientific research platform constructed this way will be more vital and long lasting. He said that each center should build, operate and manage according to the standards for a state level platform. "Medicine +" should be constructed according to the idea of demand guidance and application orientation. As far as “information +” is concerned, he indicated that the first step is to start with the engineering reform based on the internet of things, and the second step is to build a new engineering with the goal of AI + internet of things. Finally, he stressed that the key to "medicine +" and "information +" lies in talents. SCU must bring in more talents in computer software, network communication, artificial intelligence, data mining, information statistics, mathematical algorithms and other new generation information technologies, and augment the efforts to increase the number of outstanding young teachers.

In his speech, Chairman Jianguo Wang of the university council pointed out that the university administration has a clear idea of building "medicine +" and "information +" platforms, and the key is to further accelerate the implementation. First of all, the whole university should uphold high standards in the construction of "medicine +" and "information +" platforms. The core is to stick to the "three orientations" of the international academic front, the major needs of the country and the main battlefield of the national economy. We need to work more on things that lead the world and things crucial to the social and economic development of the state and regions. Second, we should adhere to the principle of "one uniform game plan" for the whole university. All relevant colleges should actively participate in it and carry out scientific research in an orderly fashion. We must handle this with the utmost seriousness, seize opportunities, further strengthen in-depth exchanges and cooperation between colleges and between academic subjects, and vigorously promote interdisciplinary integration, striving to nurture high-level interdisciplinary talents. Third, we need to further improve the system and mechanism. The construction of "medicine +" and "information +" platforms should closely rely on each responsible college which needs to further boost efforts of the construction. The university will give greater support with a more open attitude. Fourth, we should further strengthen overall planning and coordination. The university will further intensify its support in terms of people, finance, materials, etc. It will offer comprehensive support for the promotion and construction of "medicine +" and "information +" platforms, further accelerating the “double first class” construction by means of the two engines of "medicine +" and "information +".

President Yanrong Li met with Zhaosong Chen, chairman of Juli Investment Management Co. Ltd., State Development and Investment Corp and Zhen Zhou, deputy general manager of CEC after the conference. Both sides had an in-depth exchange and discussion of the specific cooperation in the fields of medicine and information technology.