On 18th July 2003, Chongqing University awarded honorary professorship to Prof. Dr. Thomas Gessner, head of the Department of Micro Devices and Equipment of Fraunhofer IZM and director of the Center for Microtechnologies at the Technical University Chemnitz.

The title recognised Prof. Gessner's achievements in his research in micotechnologies as well as his work on the development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Being counted among the so-called 'National Key Universities' makes Chongqing University one of the most important educational institutions, and with 50,000 alumni currently studying there, it is one the biggest universities in China.