Officials of Excellence 9 sign a framework agreement for the think tank alliance. [Photo/js.news.cn]

A ceremony marking the establishment of the Excellence 9 Think Tank Alliance was held in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province on Jan 12.

Excellence 9 is a federation of nine science and technology universities that include Southeast University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Chongqing University, and Dalian University of Technology.

Huang Ru, principal of Southeast University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the think tank alliance will leverage its members' strengths to aid sci-tech innovation and national development.

Qu Futian, president of the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Philosophy and Social Sciences (JSFPSS) and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, said members of the think tank alliance all have first-class research teams and have conducted successful cooperation in innovative talent training. He added the JSFPSS will actively support the development of the alliance.

Tan Fangzheng, deputy director of the Department of Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, expressed hope that the think tank alliance can provide advice on improving the country's innovation system and conduct more international exchanges.

Representatives attend the ceremony. [Photo/js.news.cn]