Prof. Ruan Xue-yu was born in 1933, in Shanghai . He was graduated from mechanical engineering department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University . He is now a professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of National Die & Mold CAD Engineering Research Center, President of Shanghai Research Institute of Tool & Die Technology Co., Ltd, Director of C3P Joint Research Lab of Ford Motor Company and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Senior Advisor of Feintool AG, Switzerland, Member of the Editor Committee of <International Journal of Automotive Technology>, Korea, Member of the Editor Committee of <Research in Engineering Design>, Germany and the member of advisory board of International Committee on Environment and Manufacturing ( ICEM ) .

Prof. Ruan Xue-yu is an expert in plasticity engineering and die & mold manufacturing who established the theory and technology of cold forging in China and put forward the criterion of forming limitation in cold extrusion. He is one of the researcher to successfully research the cold extrusion technology of ferrous metal. He is the author of 4 books about cold extrusion technology, which has promoted the theory and technology of cold extrusion in China . At the same time, several important projects have been successively accomplished in the charge of Prof. Ruan, such as National key project, the key projects of Shanghai Science & Technology Committee, 2 projects from National Nature Science Fund Committee and 1 project from Ford-China Research and Development Fund etc. Prof. Ruan has been awarded high-honored national-level, ministries/commissions-level and Shanghai city-level awards.

Prof. Ruan firstly applied CAD/CAM, numerical simulation and artificial intelligence technology into the field of plasticity engineering and die & mold manufacturing. In 1983, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Second Light Industry Bureau jointly established Shanghai Research Institute of Tool and Die Technology which integrated with scientific research, teaching and manufacturing under Prof. Ruan's effort. Till now, more than 400 research projects have been accomplished in the institute, and the technology of the institute have been transferred throughout 21 provinces domestic and also for international corporations including America, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and covered about 10 industry fields such as light industry, electronic, mechanical, aerospace, automobile and instruments. In 1994, the National Die & Mold CAD Engineering Research Center was established based on the Institute under National Planning Commission for the reason of the achievements fulfilled by the Institute.  

Based on the characteristics of high-tech, the scientific research team led by Prof. Ruan implemented the strategy of Research & Development , Technology Transfer and Engineering Support into the field of Advanced Manufacturing Technology effectively with the carrier of its application in die & mold technology. Prof. Ruan firstly proposed a new pattern —— establish joint research lab with multi-national enterprises. In this pattern, on one hand, the new style lab can cooperate with related enterprise and work together and find solutions to some specific problems on high-tech research, development and application; on the other hand, some advanced management methods of multi-national enterprises, up-to-date strategy and technology can also be exchanged within the cooperation. Till now, more than 30 joint research laboratories and application centers have been established by Prof. Ruan, such as EDS PLM Solutions Joint Research Lab, Ford-Shanghai Jiao Tong University C3P Joint Research Lab, Feintool ( Switzerland ) Joint Research Lab and ETA (USA) Joint Research Lab, etc.

The UNESCO gives a high evaluation to the high technology development new strategy implemented by Prof. Ruan. Authorized by the UNESCO, the Cold Forging Chair integrated with University-Industry-Science Partnership was established at Shanghai Jiao Tong University . The National Die & Mold CAD Engineering Research Center is regarded as strong technology innovation, development and integrated ability and praised highly by National Development & Renovation Committee.

Furthermore, Prof. Ruan has supervised 40 Ph. D candidates, 8 post-doctors, with more than 200 academic papers published.