On April 8, 2026, Professor Michael Lederer, former Executive Vice President of Hochschule Furtwangen University(HFU), led a delegation to visit Xiangtan. The group held a symposium with Xiangtan Institute of Technology(XIT) and conducted an on-site inspection of key enterprises in Hunan Medical Device Industry Park(HMDIP).

This exchange not only continues the friendship between the two universities, but also serves as a practical initiative to deepen the integration between the Xiangtan region and Germany's Tuttlingen region in areas of industry, technology, and talent, with higher education cooperation.

At the symposium, President Yuan of XIT extended a warm welcome to the German delegation. He reviewed the thirty-year history of friendly exchanges between the two sides—back three decades ago, President Yuan had studied in Germany as a visiting scholar and established profound ties with HFU.

Ten years ago, German representatives made their first visit to the campus, which was still under planning and construction at that time. When they reunited after a decade, the newly risen teaching buildings, dormitories, and sports facilities left them deeply moved.

"I really congratulate you with the highest respect. I cannot imagine how you managed to achieve all of this under such conditions over the past decade." Professor Michel Lederer said emotionally during the symposium.

Hochschule Furtwangen University is a prestigious German  university of applied sciences with over 150 years of history, ranking among the top tier of German higher education institutions. The university operates five campuses, among which the Tuttlingen campus is located in the global medical device industry hub, with six of the world's top ten medical device companies headquartered there.

HFU attaches great importance to cooperation with Chinese universities and has established close partnerships with institutions such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xiamen University,Soochow University,Southern University of Science and Technology,University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and Xiangtan Institute of Technology.

Before the symposium, the German delegation conducted an on-site inspection of key enterprises in the Hunan Medical Device Industrial Park. At Shantong Medical Technology (Hunan) Co., Ltd., the delegation viewed the company's R&D and production activities in minimally invasive surgical suturing, active ultrasound platforms, and endoscopic product series. At Hunan Huaxin Medical Instrument Co., Ltd., the delegation visited the company's disposable electronic endoscope product line.

During the symposium, the German side highlighted the collaboration between HFU and Tuttlingen, the World Capital of Medical Devices, as well as their industry-academia partnership in the Health Management EMBA program focused on medical devices and health management. This program, with a specialization in medical device management, is the only MBA program in Europe and Asia with a dedicated focus on the medical device sector.

HFU will collaborate with XIT, using the EMBA program as a starting point.The program aims to select the management personnel from HMDIP and relevant government officials for advanced study in Germany,gradually promoting comprehensive alignment and cooperation between the two major industrial parks in Xiangtan and Tuttlingen, thereby fostering high-quality innovative development of the Hunan Medical Device Industrial Park.

"Tuttlingen represents the pinnacle of the global medical device industry. We aim to connect the Xiangtan Industrial Park with the Tuttlingen Industrial Park through educational collaboration as a bridge, achieving resource sharing and complementary advantages," stated President Yuan.

During the exchange session, student representatives from XIT engaged in in-depth discussions with German professors on topics such as exchange programs, major selection, and dual-degree programs. The German professors introduced that the Business School of HFU has a high proportion of international students, accounting for 35%, with participants coming from Europe, Asia, North America, and other regions, bringing extensive experience in cross-cultural integration and management. HFU regularly organizes exchange activities like "International Week" and "Culture Day." Chinese students have participated in campus cultural displays wearing traditional costumes such as Han Fu and Horse Face Skirt, which were warmly welcomed by German faculty and students.

The German professors expressed strong welcome to students from XIT for exchange programs in Germany, particularly in disciplines such as Mechanical Engineering, Automation, and International Business Management. For those intending to pursue master's degrees, the university can provide application guidance and assistance. Additionally, HFU looks forward to hosting faculty members from XIT for academic exchanges in Germany.

"We hope this initiative will not only facilitate student exchanges but also enable faculty visits, joint curriculum development, and joint research projects," stated Professor Michel Lederer.

The significance of this exchange extends far beyond the university level. Xiangtan, as a key hub for the medical device industry in Hunan Province, is accelerating the construction of a full industrial ecosystem encompassing "R&D—Production—Application." Meanwhile, Tuttlingen, recognized as the "heart" of the global medical device industry, possesses unparalleled advantages in technological accumulation, talent cultivation and industrial ecosystem development.

Through universities as a hub, the channels for industrial park collaboration, talent cultivation, and technological cooperation between the two regions are being accelerated. As stated during the symposium: "The friendly cooperation between China and Germany should develop rapidly, not only today but every day in the future."

The visit by the delegation from HFU is not only a reunion of old friends but also a strategic handshake oriented towards the future. Starting with education and ending with industry, the cross-regional international exchanges between Xiangtan and Tuttlingenn are writing a new chapter.