The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the city government of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, have signed an agreement on 29 September to jointly set up the PolyU-Wuxi Technology and Innovation Research Institute – a pioneering move among Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions to establish a scientific research institute in Wuxi and participate in the Yangtze River Delta’s innovation and technology (I&T) drive.

The new institute will foster I&T collaboration between government, industry, academia, and research institutions through the provision of an advanced research platform, a unique engineering doctorate programme, and incubation support backed by a robust local manufacturing sector. The PolyU-Wuxi collaboration will also contribute to the Nation’s I&T development.

The partnership underscores a synergy between Wuxi’s economic strength and PolyU’s world-leading education and research excellence. It also reinforces collaboration among Jiangsu province, Hong Kong and Macao encouraged by national policies.

The five-year cooperation agreement will come into effect from January 2023. The Faculty of Engineering of PolyU and the Wuxi National Hi-tech District will join forces to set up the Institute in phases. The Institute, located at the Wuxi Airport Economic Development Zone, comprises a teaching and research facility for the engineering doctorate programme, an advanced research platform for cutting-edge technologies, and an innovation hub for translational research and incubation of start-ups.