Tongji D&I set up a NEEDS Lab, which means laboratory of Next Economy & Ecology Design Studies, in Shenzhen. In December 2018, the NEEDS Lab of Tongji University opened in Shenzhen Block Sixteen which is a creativity park.

The College of Design and Innovation of Tongji University is also paying close attention to the future development of industry in the Big Bay area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. D&I is carrying out innovative research around the core issue of "design-driven industrial transformation, design-driven service industry transformation, and design-driven culture innovation”. D&I will carry out cutting edge interdisciplinary research and innovation transformation to promote the future development of the new industries in the Bay Area.

 A series of lectures themed as Hello, Design！was launched by Shenzhen NEEDS（Next Economy & Ecology Design Studies） Lab, Tongji University. The series of lectures will consist of about 40 lectures throughout the year.