Wan Gang
Wan Gang (simplified Chinese: 万钢; traditional Chinese: 萬鋼; pinyin: Wàn Gāng, born August 1952 in Shanghai) is a Chinese expert on automobiles, former president of Tongji University (2002–2007) and the Minister of Science and Technology of PRC.
Biography
Wan graduated from Northeast Forestry University. In 1979, he did his postgraduate study on experimental mechanics in Structural Theories Research Institute of Tongji University and received his master degree in 1981.
During the same year, he stayed on campus and taught mathematics and mechanics. In 1985, he went to Germany as a visiting scholar and doctoral candidate of Department of Mechanical Engineering in Clausthal University of Technology and received Ph.D (Dr. Ing.) with good honor five years later. Mr. Wan is the first minister in at least three decades who is not a member of the Communist Party.
In 1991, Dr. Wan began to work in German Audi Corporation, in charge of computer virtualization of automobile in the R&D Department. Soon he originated a distinctive auto-developing system for the company. In 1996, he was promoted to technical manager in production and technology division, and took charge of informational manufacturing technology as well as management. His leadership and contribution in many technological innovations facilitated the production of Audi A4, car of a new generation, thus winning for the company huge economic profits. In 1994 and 1995, he was consecutively invited as guest professor and doctoral supervisor at Clausthal University of Technology and of Tongji University. Under his instruction, his German doctoral candidates successfully carried out a researching project on fuel cell and they filled the blank of this field then and there.