PolyU delegation visits Nanjing to unveil PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing and deepen Jiangsu–Hong Kong I&T collaboration
To support implementation of the national innovation-driven development strategy, further deepen Jiangsu–Hong Kong cooperation in technology and innovation, and promote cross-regional integration of industry, academia and research, a delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), led by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman and Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, visited Nanjing from 7 to 9 September. During the visit, they met with provincial and municipal leaders, including Mr LIU Xiaotao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Governor of Jiangsu Province; Mr LI Zhongjun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Nanjing; and Mr ZHAO Jianjun, Secretary-General of the Jiangsu Provincial Government. The delegation also visited the Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center (NICE) and attended the unveiling ceremony of the PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing.
The visit leveraged Hong Kong’s unique advantage of “being backed by the Motherland and connected with the world”, as well as PolyU’s strengths in applied research. Building on two flagship platforms, the PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute (NJRI) and the PolyU-Wuxi Technology and Innovation Research Institute (WXRI), the visit focused on breakthroughs in technologies, the commercialisation of high-value research outcomes, and on fostering an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The visit further promoted the deep integration of the innovation, industry, capital and talent chains connecting Jiangsu and Hong Kong, injecting new impetus into high-quality regional development.
The PolyU delegation also included Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer); Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer); Prof. ZHANG Dan, Director of the PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute; Prof. George HUANG, Director of the PolyU-Wuxi Technology and Innovation Research Institute; and directors and representatives of various PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes. During the meetings, the two sides reviewed the history of cooperation between PolyU and Jiangsu Province, and exchanged views on topics including the development of new-type research and development institutions, breakthroughs in key core technologies, joint cultivation of high-level talent and the commercialisation of research outcomes.
Dr Lam Tai-fai introduced PolyU’s overall strategy for industry-academia-research cooperation in the Chinese Mainland in recent years, as well as the progress made towards establishing Mainland Translational Research Institutes in Jinjiang, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Nanjing, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Wuhan, Shaoxing, Hefei, Ganzhou and Zibo. He also expressed gratitude for Jiangsu Province’s long-standing support for PolyU’s development in the province.
He stated that PolyU attached great importance to its strategic synergy with Jiangsu. The NJRI and WXRI are key to the University’s deployment in the Yangtze River Delta. PolyU will continue to bring its quality research capabilities to the region, connect innovation resources at home and abroad, deepen university-local government and university-enterprise cooperation, and promote the deep integration of technology, talent and industry between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, thereby serving the region’s innovation-driven development.
Both sides expressed their commitment to aligning with major national strategic needs, focusing on key regional innovation tasks and promoting the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. They will jointly advance key core technology breakthroughs and the commercialisation of research outcomes, strengthen the technology and innovation research institute platforms established by PolyU in Nanjing and Wuxi, support enterprises in co-building joint laboratories, accelerate the incubation and implementation of high-quality innovation and technology projects, and jointly establish a benchmark for university-local government collaboration between Jiangsu and Hong Kong.
The PolyU delegation also paid an in-depth study visit to NICE, where they were warmly received by Prof. LIU Qing, Director of NICE and President of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, and Prof. Yuandong GU, Member of the NICE Management Committee and Vice President of the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Technology Innovation Institute.
The delegation toured the Innovation Center’s exhibition hall, gaining an in-depth understanding of its achievements in tackling key core technologies, industry–academia–research collaboration, commercialising research outcomes and developing joint innovation centres. The delegation held a discussion with Prof. Liu Qing and his management team. The two sides exchanged views on the industrial technology needs of the Yangtze River Delta, the alignment of PolyU disciplinary strengths with those needs, joint efforts to undertake cross-regional projects, two-way talent exchange, proof-of-concept development and industry incubation. They look forward to establishing a regular communication and collaboration mechanism to jointly support the development of the Yangtze River Delta sci-tech innovation community.
The PolyU delegation also visited Gulou Innovation Plaza, where they inspected NJRI, toured the Institute’s technology exhibition hall and attended the unveiling ceremony of the PolyU InnoHUB @Nanjing. Municipal and district leaders who also attended the event included Mr LU Ruifeng, Director of the Nanjing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; Mr WANG Anwei, Secretary of the CPC Gulou District Committee; Mr DONG Han, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Gulou District Committee and District Mayor of Gulou District; Mr XU Cheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Gulou District Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Gulou District; and Ms WANG Yuan, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Gulou High-tech Zone.
In his address, Prof. Zijian Zheng said the establishment of the PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing marked an important step in the Institute’s efforts to advance commercialisation of research outcomes and industry incubation. PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing will provide comprehensive support for PolyU students, staff and alumni pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship in Nanjing.
Mr Dong Han congratulated the PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing on its official launch and stated that Gulou District would continue to provide quality services and policy support to the Institute and the entrepreneurial teams based there, working together to build a demonstration benchmark for Nanjing–Hong Kong collaborative innovation.
Subsequently, Prof. Zhang Dan and Mr Xu Cheng unveiled the PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing. During the event, NJRI also held an electronic signing ceremony with several leading and innovative enterprises. The agreements cover PolyU areas of strength, including intelligent robotics, artificial intelligence of things, smart construction and vision health, demonstrating the strong momentum behind the commercialisation of the University’s research outcomes.
The official launch of the PolyU InnoHUB@Nanjing marks a new stage in the innovation ecosystem of NJRI, further strengthening its key functions in technology research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, talent cultivation, and collaboration and exchange. It also injects new impetus into deeper technology and innovation collaboration between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, promoting mutually beneficial development.
Group photo of the PolyU delegation and representatives of the Yangtze River Delta National Innovation Center.
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