Shanghai, June 23 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China, in collaboration with Tongji University and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), officially launched the RISE Lab today — a pioneering SDG Innovation Lab dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing cities in the 21st century.

ZHENG Qinghua, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji University, noted in his remarks:

“Throughout Tongji’s 118-year history, the university has upheld the spirit of rigour, pragmatism, solidarity, and innovation. At this critical stage of urban transformation in China, and in response to the 14th Five-Year Plan’s goals to build green, resilient, and smart cities, the RISE Lab — the first urban disaster resilience innovation demonstration project jointly developed by UNDP and a Chinese university — will draw upon Tongji’s academic strengths and UNDP’s global sustainable development expertise. 

The Lab will focus on disaster prevention and climate adaptation, promote technological innovation and knowledge sharing, and translate Chinese experience into global standards. In doing so, it will support the creation of safe, inclusive, and resilient cities, and help strengthen the foundation for a shared future for humanity.” 

Haoliang Xu, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Acting Administrator, delivered remarks, stating:

“As UNDP marks its 60th anniversary, the world continues to face numerous challenges, including the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Cities are home to over half of the global population, consume the majority of the world’s energy, and are responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, they must be placed at the centre of global action. The launch of the UNDP-Tongji SDG Innovation Lab on Climate and Disaster Resilience (RISE Lab) marks an exciting new chapter in our efforts to build climate-resilient cities. As a globally shared platform and incubator for innovative development solutions, the Lab will explore new approaches and foster knowledge exchange to support cities in China and around the world in addressing the growing challenges posed by climate-related disasters and rapid urbanization.” 

ZHOU Ying, Dean of the College of Civil Engineering at Tongji University, stated:

“RISE is an acronym for Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, and Empowerment. The RISE Lab will serve as an international collaboration platform. In the context of rapid urbanization, it will support the joint exploration and implementation of transformative solutions related to urban resilient infrastructure.” 

The Lab will focus on advancing lifecycle-based disaster prevention, multi-hazard mitigation, intelligent risk reduction, and resilience-oriented infrastructure systems for megacities. Its aim is to strengthen urban-level responses in Shanghai, across China, and in other climate-vulnerable developing countries, while sharing best practices, experiences, and insights.

 James George, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP China, stated:  

“Cities are at the heart of the climate crisis, but they are also key to the solution. RISE Lab will serve as a testbed for cutting-edge innovations and a platform for national and global knowledge exchange to accelerate sustainable, inclusive urban transformation.” 

Drawing on Tongji University’s expertise in urban disaster resilience and UNDP’s development experience and global network, RISE Lab will support city officials through capacity-building workshops, knowledge and experience exchange. It will also serve as a collaborative space that fosters interdisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships, effectively connecting government, academia, and the private sector.

The launch event brought together representatives and experts from international organisations including UNDP, UN-Habitat, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), and the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, representatives from CICETE, Shanghai Earthquake Administration, Emergency Management Bureau, Shanghai Typhoon Institute of the China Meteorological Administration, and scholars from Tongji University also participated. Together, they explored a wide range of topics, from low-carbon urban design and resilient infrastructure to the role of digital technology in climate adaptation.

Li Shuyin, Deputy Director General of CICETE stated:  

“The RISE Lab launched today aims to become a core platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and international cooperation. Moving forward, the Center will fully leverage its strengths in project execution and management to help the Lab become a leading research hub for disaster risk reduction in China, while also taking on the mission of advancing global cooperation and knowledge-sharing. It will contribute Tongji’s wisdom, Shanghai’s insights, and China’s solutions to the global sustainable development agenda.”

Following the Lab’s plaque unveiling ceremony, Dean ZHOU Ying initiated a Global Call for Solution Proposals, on behalf of the Lab, inviting innovators, city leaders, and researchers worldwide to collaborate with the Lab in developing practical and scalable solutions for a more resilient urban future. RISE Lab will also encourage youth to actively engage in social change through a problem-oriented approach, cultivating the next generation of global leaders in disaster risk reduction and urban resilience. Additionally, RISE Lab plans to host a flagship international conference and senior leadership training sessions in the second half of this year.

At the conclusion of the launch event, participants visited the National Key Laboratory for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Civil Engineering and the Smart Campus Decision-Making Cockpit at Tongji University.

During the afternoon, the RISE Lab Strategic Planning Workshop was held, bringing together the project partners, key stakeholders, and representatives from countries including Thailand and the Maldives to jointly outline the Lab’s future development and provide strategic recommendations. The meeting featured in-depth discussions around three core themes: first, setting the strategic direction for RISE Lab to ensure efficient allocation and use of resources; second, focusing on partnerships to build an effective and collaborative framework; third, offering input for an upcoming international conference and capacity-building workshop planned for later in the year.