Gunnar Henriksson, a senior professor of the Department of Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and a member of the International Academy of Wood Sciences, returned to the National Engineering Research Center of Papermaking and Pollution Control, referred to as the Center hereinafter, at South China University of Technology (SCUT) from November 7 to 16, 2025, following his first visit in August 2025 where he delivered lectures to graduate students. During the visit, the Center's research team and Professor Henriksson engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including bio-pulping, bamboo-based pulping, and plant fiber mapping, further deepening and broadening the collaborations in areas such as green production technology of bamboo pulp.

Professor Henriksson is giving a lecture

On November 12, 2025, an appointment ceremony was held on the Wushan Campus of SCUT to formally appoint Professor Henriksson as an adjunct professor of the Center. The ceremony was joined by Zhang Jiangong, Secretary of the Communist Party of the School of Light Industry and Engineering, Peng Xinwen, Dean of the School, Hu Jian, Director of the Center; and over a hundred faculty and students. The appointment ceremony symbolized a significant step forward for the Center in acquiring global high-end talents and building an international, collaborative innovation system.

Group photo at the appointment ceremony

Professor Henriksson is a globally-recognized expert in wood chemistry, lignin conversion, and bio-refinery. His appointment not only deepens the existing collaboration between the two universities but also represents a significant milestone in the Center's “Global High-end Talent Recruitment Program”. Moving forward, the Center will collaborate with Professor Henriksson to advance research on bamboo resource utilization and sustainable development, strengthen joint graduate training programs, and continue supporting China's Dual Carbon strategy and the green, high-quality development of the papermaking industry. These efforts will provide a robust foundation for SCUT's “Double First-class” initiative and improve the Center's innovation capabilities.

Image source: the official WeChat account of National Engineering Research Center of Papermaking and Pollution Control, SCUT