Hubei Provincial Government delegation visits PolyU and signs agreements to forge new opportunities for Hubei–Hong Kong cooperation
A high-level delegation led by Mr LI Dianxun, Governor of Hubei Province, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 27 April. The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, Vice President (Education) Prof. CAO Jiannong and other senior members of the University. Several cooperation agreements were signed during the visit, marking a significant new chapter of collaboration between Hubei and Hong Kong in the areas of higher education, research translation, industrial investment and talent development.
The delegation included representatives from the Hubei Provincial People’s Government, the Wuhan Municipal People’s Government, the Provincial Department of Commerce, Science and Technology, and Education, as well as Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), Hubei Technology Exchange, and Changjiang Industrial Investment Group Co., Ltd.
Prof. Jin-Guang Teng welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of PolyU’s history and its distinctive educational approach, highlighting the importance the University attaches to the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. He noted that PolyU not only pursues world-class basic research but also focuses on the translation and application of research outcomes, aiming to empower industrial development and benefit society through innovation. To date, PolyU has established 12 Translational Research Institutes across Chinese Mainland, including the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute. He expressed his hope that PolyU and Hubei Province would engage in deeper collaboration to jointly promote regional scientific and technological innovation and high-quality industrial growth.
Mr Li Dianxun highly commended PolyU’s educational philosophy and its robust research capabilities. During the meeting, the two sides reached a broad consensus on several key initiatives, including the alignment of platforms for research translation, the joint establishment of innovation and technology funds, and the collaborative cultivation of interdisciplinary talent.
A signing ceremony was also held during the visit. Witnessed by Mr Li Dianxun; Prof. Jin-Guang Teng; Ms CHEN Ping, Vice Governor of Hubei Province; and Mr XIONG Zhengyu, Mayor of Wuhan, Prof. CAO Jiannong signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on behalf of PolyU with Prof. Yonghui ZHANG, Vice President of HUST and Prof. Liqiang MAI, Vice President of WUT respectively. A strategic cooperation agreement was also signed with Mr LI Yuanchu, Chairman of Yangtze River Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd.
Subsequently, Prof. Cao Jiannong; Mr SHENG Jianxin, Director of the Hubei Technology Exchange; and Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute, signed a tripartite strategic cooperation agreement. This agreement covers institutional collaboration, technology transfer and industrial investment, forging a long-term and robust strategic synergy between Hubei and Hong Kong.
On the same day, Prof. CAO Jiannong hosted a meeting between representatives from PolyU, the Hubei Provincial Department of Education, HUST and WUT to discuss further cooperation in education and research. Participants included Mr DAI Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Hubei Provincial Department of Education; Prof. Yonghui Zhang; Prof. Liqiang Mai; Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment of PolyU; and Mr ZHU Qingfeng, Chairman of the Shenzhen Aviation Association.
Witnessed by Mr Dai Wei; Prof. Cao Jiannong and Prof. Yonghui Zhang, a “Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Low-Altitude Economy” was signed by Prof. Xiang-dong Li; Prof. TAN Gangyi, Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at HUST; and Mr Zhu Qingfeng. The three parties will integrate their respective strengths in research, industry and policy resources to engage in comprehensive cooperation, focusing on platform co-construction, talent cultivation, standards alignment and technology commercialisation in the low-altitude economy.
The visit of the Hubei delegation and the signing of these strategic agreements mark another significant milestone in PolyU’s efforts to deepen its presence in Chinese Mainland and serve National strategies These initiatives inject new momentum into Hubei-Hong Kong collaboration in higher education, technological innovation and industrial partnerships. PolyU will continue to leverage its disciplinary strengths and research excellence, combining these with Hubei’s robust educational resources, industrial foundations and innovation capacity to establish a new paradigm for industry-academia-research cooperation.
Guests attending the discussion and signing ceremony included: Mr Dai Wei (front row, centre); Prof. Cao Jiannong (front row, 5th from right); Prof. Yonghui Zhang (front row, 5th from left); Prof. Liqiang Mai (front row, 4th from right); Ms Liang Wei, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs), the Department of Education of Hubei Province (front row, 2nd from right); Ms Chen Jie, Director of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (front row, 4th from left); Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, PolyU (front row, 3rd from right); Prof. Tan Gangyi, Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (front row, 3rd from left); and Mr Zhu Qingfeng, Chairman of the Shenzhen Aviation Association (front row, 2nd from left).
Witnessed by Mr Dai Wei (back row, right); Prof. Cao Jiannong (back row, centre); and Prof. Yonghui Zhang (back row, left), the “Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Low-altitude Economy” was signed by Prof. Xiang-dong Li (front row, centre); Prof. Tan Gangyi (front row, left); and Mr Zhu Qingfeng (front row, right).
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