During the Macquarie University - Jilin University Week in April 2018, Prof. Yu Jihong, Director of the International Center of Future Science (hereinafter referred to as the "ICFS"), introduced framework, research areas and construction goals of ICFS to  relevant persons in charge of Macquarie University and they expressed their strong desire to further promote the two universities to carry out more pragmatic and efficient cooperation in frontier fields.

In October 2018, Prof. Barbara Messerle, Minister of Science and Technology of Macquarie University, and Professor Dean Alison Rodger, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, had a discussion with Prof. Yu Jihong during the visit to Jilin University, and reached a preliminary consensus on the joint research center.

In order to further promote the substantial cooperation between JLU and Macquarie University in the fields of sustainable manufacturing and green processing technology, our university and Macquarie University signed Joint Centre Agreement to establish a centre called “Joint Research Centre for Green Catalysis”, focusing on the research work in the areas which include, but are not limited to, materials engineering, materials chemistry, chemical engineering, green manufacturing, renewable energy, sustainable engineering, environmental technologies. The Centre encourages the exchange of staff and students between the two universities, promotes joint student training, scholarships and student exchange within the Centre for Higher Degree Research and post-doctoral students, encourage to pursue and organize joint conferences and workshops through the Centre, pursue joint funding opportunities in the Centre areas and joint publications.