Masks and surgical masks donated to Unipd by the ShanghaiTech University.

23.04.2020

1,100 N95 masks and 10,000 surgical masks arrived at the University of Padova from Shanghai, P.R. China, donated by ShanghaiTech University.

At beginning of February 2020, when China was in its most difficult period combating the Covid-19, Alessandro Paccagnella, Vice Rector for International Relations of University of Padua, sent an official letter to ShanghaiTech University, expressing support and solidarity to Chinese colleagues, and expressing the willingness of the University of Padua to strengthen international cooperation and contribute to the scientific research on Covid-19.

From the end of February 2020, Covid-19 began to spread in Europe and Italy became one of the most affected countries. In early March, an official letter from ShanghaiTech was sent to University of Padua, expressing their closeness to the Italian colleagues and communicating their willingness to donate protective materials to University of Padua to help the University get through the difficult time. The faculty, students and alumni who participated in the ShanghaiTech-UniPD Summer Camp also joined the initiative.

Rosario Rizzuto, Rector of the University of Padua, expressed his profound thanks to ShanghaiTech University for their support and the donation. All the materials will be provided, as soon as possible, to the academic and medical staff.

The University of Padua has established a close collaboration with ShanghaiTech University and regards it as one of its strategic partners. In 2015, the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen scientific and academic collaboration. Every year, around 35 students from the ShanghaiTech University attend the ShanghaiTech-UniPD Summer School in Italy, spending three weeks learning about culture and science.

Moreover, each November, ShanghaiTech University hosts the ShanghaiTech Bioforum. Professor Ernesto Carafoli from the University of Padua is the Chairman of the Bioforum.
Furthermore, the two universities have teaching cooperation in the fields of metallurgy, bioengineering and energy economy and technology.

Rector Rosario Rizzuto