Nankai University

What Nankai University does

Nankai University is a public comprehensive research university founded in 1919 in Tianjin, China, operating under the Ministry of Education as a designated national university and Project 985 institution. The university serves tens of thousands of domestic and international students across undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and continuing education programs, and operates across three Tianjin campuses (Balitai, Jinnan, and Teda) plus a network of 104 rural workstations spanning 31 Chinese provinces. Its research portfolio is anchored in five priority areas: advanced battery technology (lithium-metal batteries exceeding 700 Wh/kg and semi-solid-state EV batteries at 500+ Wh/kg co-developed with FAW Group), perovskite optoelectronics (world-record 27.17% conversion efficiency), AI and computer vision (Huawei Mate70 deployment), nano-immunotherapy for cancer, and clean-energy catalysis (CO2 photoreduction, hydrogen production).

The university's underlying technology base is built around proprietary research outputs — including fluorinated hydrocarbon electrolytes, single-atom tungsten-doped cathodes, manganese-based electrocatalysts, and self-adaptive visual perception frameworks — rather than commercialized products. Revenue flows from government education allocations (the parent entity is the Ministry of Education), regulated tuition, research grants and contracts, affiliated entities (Nankai University Affiliated Hospital/Tianjin Fourth Hospital and Binhai College), and alumni donations. Strategic industry partnerships with FAW Group, Huawei, Shanghai Institute of Space Power-Sources, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Oxford anchor technology transfer and international academic exchange. Two CAS/CAE academicians (Chen Jun, Cao Xuetao), a 2026 Clay Research Award recipient (Joshua Zall), and a 13-paper Nature/Science publication record since the 14th Five-Year Plan evidence the university's research depth, while a 2026 research integrity investigation tied to the Geng Hongwei case represents an ongoing reputational risk.

Name

Nankai University

Legal name

Nankai University

Website

https://nankai.edu.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nankai University is a public Chinese research university founded in 1919, serving domestic and international students with multi-disciplinary education and producing breakthrough research in batteries, perovskite solar cells, AI/computer vision, and cancer immunotherapy through industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Academic research services
• Graduate degree programs
• Doctoral training programs
• Industry research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Tianjin

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nankai University is a public research university that delivers higher education across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels while conducting scientific research across multiple disciplines. The university operates academic colleges, research institutes, and an affiliated rural workstation network, and partners with industry on research collaboration contracts and international academic exchange programs.

Product overview

Nankai University operates as a research university with multiple scientific research outputs and technologies developed through its various departments and research institutes. The university's research portfolio spans advanced battery technologies (including high-energy lithium batteries exceeding 700 Wh/kg and semi-solid-state EV batteries enabling 1,000+ km range), renewable energy (perovskite solar cells achieving 27.17% efficiency), biomedical applications (nano-immunotherapy for cancer treatment), AI and visual perception systems, and various materials science innovations. These technologies are primarily research outcomes from university laboratories rather than commercial products in the traditional sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 27.17% perovskite solar cell efficiency - world record
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FAW Group (China FAW Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026FAW Group subsidiary China Automotive New Energy Battery (CANEB) collaborated with Nankai University researchers led by Academician Chen Jun to develop and install what FAW calls the 'industry's first' lithium-rich manganese semi-solid-state EV battery. The battery achieves 500+ Wh/kg energy density and enables 1,000+ km range.
• China Automotive New Energy Battery Technology Co., Ltd. (CANEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of FAW Group that collaborated with Nankai University on semi-solid-state battery development. The battery uses lithium-rich manganese cathode and hybrid solid-liquid electrolyte system.
• Shanghai Institute of Space Power-SourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Nankai University researchers to develop fluorinated hydrocarbon electrolyte technology achieving 700 Wh/kg energy density for lithium batteries, with applications for aerospace and robotics.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford University President Irene Tracey visited Nankai University in November 2025, indicating ongoing academic exchange and collaboration between the two institutions.
• University of GlasgowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNankai-Glasgow University Joint Graduate School offers dual-degree programs. 126 students have received Chinese-British 'dual degrees'. Joint management committee meetings are held regularly.
• Tianjin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Nankai University on research embedding metallosalen active sites in Zr-MOF for enhanced selective syngas production from CO2 photoreduction.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhile mentioned in context of China's biomanufacturing ecosystem, the Tianjin Institute is separately noted as a major research institution in the same sector as Nankai University's AI-accelerated protein design research.
• China Agricultural UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to establish China Modernization Rural Workstation in Quzhou, Hebei. This combines Nankai University's tourism and service management expertise with China Agricultural University's agricultural science and technology small院子 (科技小院) model.
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNankai University Computer Science Professor Cheng Mingming's team developed multi-scale salient object detection technology for Huawei's flagship smartphone Mate70 'Intelligent Focus' feature. Awarded '2024 Huawei Excellent Technical Cooperation Project'. Previous collaboration in 2017 developed 'Large Aperture Smart Photography' feature.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fudan University: Top-tier Chinese public comprehensive research university under MoE with multi-campus operations in Shanghai, broad science/engineering research portfolio, and active industry collaboration. Directly comparable to Nankai as a 985 university with national strategic research role.
• Wuhan University: Large Chinese public comprehensive research university with multi-campus operations and strong programs in sciences, engineering, and AI. Direct structural peer to Nankai as a 985 multi-campus research university.
• Sun Yat-sen University: Major Chinese public comprehensive research university with multi-campus structure in Guangdong and strengths in biomedical sciences, materials, and AI. Direct peer to Nankai; notably also named in the 'Student Geng' research integrity investigation, making it a uniquely comparable peer on that dimension.
• Zhejiang University: Leading Chinese public research university with strong engineering and technology commercialization record, particularly in AI, robotics, and advanced materials. Comparable to Nankai as a comprehensive multi-campus 985 research university with deep industry ties.
• Tianjin University: Tianjin-based MoE-administered public research university, Nankai's closest geographic peer and existing research collaborator (joint work on metallosalen Zr-MOF for CO2 photoreduction). Direct peer sharing both city and Project 985 status with Nankai.
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Tier-1 Chinese public research university with extensive engineering, AI, and biomedical research, plus major industry partnerships (including automotive). Direct structural peer to Nankai given multi-campus model, MoE oversight, and applied research emphasis.
• University of Science and Technology of China: MoE-administered public research university with elite STEM focus, particularly in physics, AI, and quantum technology. Comparable to Nankai as a science-and-engineering-anchored 985 research university with high-impact publication record.
• Tsinghua University: Premier Chinese public research university with multi-campus structure and one of the strongest technology transfer records in China, including EV battery and AI research. Closely comparable to Nankai in mission, MoE oversight, and industry partnership model.
• Nanjing University: Historically prestigious Chinese public comprehensive research university with strong chemistry, physics, and materials science traditions. Direct peer to Nankai in scope, age, prestige tier, and national strategic role.
• Peking University: China's top public comprehensive research university under the Ministry of Education. Operates multiple campuses, drives national strategic R&D in chemistry, physics, AI, and materials, and partners extensively with industry on technology transfer — the most direct structural and operational peer to Nankai.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nankai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nankai University