At a time of deepening regional integration and strategic national planning, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) continues to be a key focus of attention. In early April, Mr Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council, conducted research visits to several cities in the region, including Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou. The tour centred on supporting Hong Kong and Macau in aligning more closely with the objectives of the Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, strengthening their engagement in GBA development, and better integrating into and serving the country’s overall development strategy.

National leader toured PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute

During his visit to Huizhou, Mr Xia toured the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute), where he was received by members of the PolyU leadership, including Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai; President Professor Jin-Guang Teng; Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); and Professor Zheng Zijian, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) and Director of the Institute.

The visit came as the country enters the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan, which underscores technological self-reliance and high-quality development as strategic priorities. In response to the Plan, PolyU is stepping up its efforts to strengthen innovation across the GBA, with the Institute serving as a key platform for translating research into impact and supporting the growth of new quality productive forces nationwide.

Accompanied by Dr Lam (2nd right) and Prof. Teng (1st left), Mr Xia Baolong (centre) visited PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute during his research tour in a few cities within GBA.

From vision to reality at speed

A flagship example of collaboration between local government and a university in the GBA, the Institute, one of PolyU’s Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRI), reflects a shared commitment to advancing new quality productive forces. Located within the Huizhou Daya Bay Science and Technology Innovation Park, the Institute was established through close partnership between PolyU, the Huizhou Municipal Government and the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone. From agreement to inauguration in just over four months back in 2024, its rapid development stands as a testament to the strong determination and efficiency underpinning this cross-boundary collaboration.

PolyU and Huizhou are working in close partnership to meet major national strategic priorities while capitalising on Daya Bay’s strong modern industrial base. With a focus on cutting-edge research and industry–academia integration, the collaboration aims to build a vibrant GBA innovation community, accelerate the development of a regional innovation hub and cultivate a leading centre for talent attraction.

The Institute focuses on five core cutting-edge fields to comprehensively empower the future of the technological advancement. They are new materials and new energy, green chemistry and sustainable catalysis, green and smart manufacturing, spatial computing and imaging, and artificial intelligence.

True to its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”, Poly has pioneered a MTRI model: PolyU research + Chinese Mainland industrial chain + Chinese Mainland market = societal benefit. With a comprehensive research institute network across Chinese Mainland, the University leverages its strengths in research and knowledge transfer to deepen industry-academia collaboration and support industrial upgrading.

Embedded in Daya Bay’s industrial ecosystem, the Institute has already incubated seven enterprises and established joint innovation laboratories with leading companies, alongside multiple collaborative projects that accelerate the real-world application of advanced technologies.

Looking ahead, the Institute will step up its efforts in commercialisation and talent incubation, further strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and Huizhou in green and advanced technologies. As the 15th Five-Year Plan unfolds, PolyU will continue to leverage its strengths in research and innovation, deepen cooperation across the GBA and contribute to the Nation’s drive for technological advancement.