Professor Liu Yingli graduated from Jilin University of Engineering with a Master’s degree in Computational Mechanics. After graduation, he joined the Shenzhen Electronics Research Institute and a renowned computer firm in Ottawa, Canada, engaging in software development. In 1992, he joined the Science and Technology Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. In 1996, he became the Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and, while assuming the role of its Director, was responsible for the planning and construction of the Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Park. From 2002 to 2008, he was Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, a member of the Government’s Standing Committee and later Executive Vice Mayor.

Professor Liu is currently Science and Technology Advisor to the Mayor of Shenzhen and Chairman of the Shenzhen side of the Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Cooperation in Innovation and Technology. He is the only Asian Executive Member of the Board of International Association of Science Parks and Vice President of the China National Association of High-tech Parks. He is also an Adjunct Professor at a number of tertiary institutions in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

With approximately 20 years of experience in technology management and close to 10 years in technology development, Professor Liu has kept abreast of and witnessed the evolution of the hi-technology industry in Shenzhen. He has also played an important part in enhancing the development of the technology industry and regional innovation infrastructure. Professor Liu has also contributed significantly to the technology collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong through actively promoting the establishment of Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle. In addition, Professor Liu has been very instrumental in helping PolyU increase its presence in Shenzhen over the past decade. He has facilitated PolyU’s admission to the Shenzhen Virtual University Park, making PolyU the first local tertiary institution to start the project of constructing there a base on commercialization, training and research, as well as to set up facilities for the development of a state key laboratory.

Chairman Yang, University Council Members, President Tong and Honoured Guests,

I would like to wholeheartedly thank PolyU for displaying its trust in me by conferring this University Fellowship upon me. May I also thank all the guests, as well as my friends and relatives for joining today’s Ceremony.

My connection with PolyU was initiated soon after I started my career in Shenzhen 26 years ago. Since then I have witnessed the impressive growth of PolyU. The Institution has not only nurtured a vast pool of talents for Hong Kong, but also made remarkable contributions to the reform and opening-up of the Chinese mainland. I am most pleased to continue contributing to the development of PolyU in the future.

I have been serving the Shenzhen Municipal Government for many years, responsible for hi-technology development. The planning and construction of the Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Park 15 years ago brought about the emergence of a large number of enterprises engaging in autonomous innovation. The establishment of the Shenzhen Virtual University Park 12 years ago gathered together 54 mainland and overseas tertiary institutions. Over the past three decades, hi-technology has become Shenzhen’s pillar industry, while our achievement in autonomous innovation has become a showcase for the country. I am most grateful for being able to play a part in the process.

In the last three years, with the support of the Central Government, the governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, together with the technology, education and business sectors of both cities, have worked very hard to facilitate the establishment of the Innovation Circle. The robust progress the Circle has made owes much to the significant contribution of PolyU, which has set up facilities for the development of a state key laboratory and a base on commercialization, training and research in Shenzhen. As Chairman of the Shenzhen side of the Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Cooperation in Innovation and Technology, I have every confidence that the Circle will continue to flourish in the days ahead. Thank you.