Jointly established by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Xingguo County Government in Jiangxi province, the PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute) was officially inaugurated yesterday. This marks a significant milestone in their collaboration to promote research translation, talent development and industrial upgrading. The Institute will focus on driving joint innovation in fields such as textiles and clothing, advanced materials and smart manufacturing, supporting the high-quality development of the textile and fashion industry. Mr LIU Zhanghong, Deputy Secretary of the Xingguo County Party Committee, attached great importance to the collaboration and engaged in in-depth discussions with the PolyU delegation led by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, on the future development of the Institute.
The inauguration ceremony took place in Xingguo, officiated by Dr Lam Tai-fai; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of the Institute, together with Mr LI Jiangui, Secretary of the Xingguo County Party Committee; Mr LEI Ming, Vice Mayor of Ganzhou; and Miss YAN Yan, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council.
Dr Lam Tai-fai remarked, “This year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which encourages universities to fully utilise their roles in technological innovation, talent development and research translation to meet national strategic needs. As a key high-quality garment manufacturing base, Xingguo is considerably responsible for promoting regional industrial upgrading. The PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute will leverage the University’s research strengths to align with Xingguo’s textile and fashion industry needs, facilitating the translation of research outcomes into innovative techniques and products to support industrial transformation and stimulate economic growth.” He stated that PolyU would work closely with Xingguo and the various partners to deepen collaborative innovation across government, industry, academia, research and application fields, making significant contributions to the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan and promoting high-quality development.
Mr Li Jiangui remarked, “Xingguo is endeavouring to develop the textile and fashion industry as its primary industry, with an urgent need for technological innovation to lead this transformation. The official launch of the PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute is not only a concrete step in implementing policies for the revitalisation of the old revolutionary base areas and advancing industrial transfer, but also the pivot for Xingguo to connect with global innovation networks and seize new opportunities in the wave of industrial transformation.”
The Institute has established four major research centres focusing on textile and apparel innovation, intelligent manufacturing and green sustainability. Leveraging PolyU’s world-class research strengths in fashion and textiles, intelligent manufacturing and materials science, together with the robust textile and fashion industry cluster in Xingguo, these centres aim to create a high-level innovation hub integrating technological research and development, knowledge transfer, talent development and industry incubation.
During the ceremony, the Institute signed cooperation agreements with two renowned corporations and an academic institution — Jihua Group Corporation Limited, Changsheng Textile Technology Development (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, and Jiangxi Institute of Fashion Technology. These partnerships are aimed at advancing deep collaboration in functional materials development, intelligent manufacturing, textile technology innovation and talent nurturing, fostering a collaborative innovation ecosystem across industry, academic, research and application fields.
In addition, students and faculty members from the PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles staged a special fashion show, presenting a collection of innovative designs that seamlessly integrate technology and fashion. On the same day, the Frontier Fashion and Textile Technology Conference was held, attracting leading scholars and industry leaders from China and overseas. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as technological empowerment of the traditional textile industry, smart wearables, new material applications and sustainable development, sharing valuable insights and practical solutions for the industry’s transformation towards higher-end, smarter and greener development.
In March 2024, PolyU signed strategic collaborative framework agreements with the Ganzhou Municipal Government and Xingguo County Government. The unveiling of the Institute opens a new chapter in this tripartite collaboration, demonstrating PolyU’s commitment to harnessing its world‑class research and talent strengths to support technological breakthroughs, research translation and talent development across different sectors in the Nation. Looking ahead, the Institute will strive to become a key platform for upgrading the textile and fashion industries, acting as a regional innovation engine that serves the whole country while connecting with the world.
The delegation visited the PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute.
Students and faculty members from the PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles staged a special fashion show, presenting a collection of innovative designs that seamlessly integrate technology and fashion.
The Frontier Fashion and Textile Technology Conference attracted leading scholars and industry leaders from China and overseas, sharing valuable insights and practical solutions for the industry’s transformation towards higher-end, smarter and greener development.
