PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre and PolyU Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (Qianhai) officially unveiled, catalysing industry-academia-research collaboration for Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology hub
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre (QHRC) and the PolyU Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (Qianhai) (PReCIT-QH), with support from the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality (Qianhai Authority). These Centres aim to establish a Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology hub to advance the industrial development of both regions. At the joint unveiling ceremony held in Qianhai, Shenzhen today, memorandums of understanding (MoU) with industry partners were signed, testifying to the parties’ commitment to fostering industry-academia-research collaborations. The event also marked the launch of the PolyU International Future Challenge (IFC) Qianhai Region, which aims to attract top-tier technology talents, accelerating the commercialisation of technologies.
Officiating guests Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Mr WANG Shourui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Director-General of Qianhai Authority and Secretary of the Bao’an District Committee; Ms WEN Ping, Member of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone Work Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Deputy Director General of Qianhai Authority; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, along with other distinguished guests, to unveil the two new centres, marking their official establishment in Qianhai.
Prof. Jin-Guang Teng remarked, “PolyU is committed to advancing research and innovation grounded in knowledge transfer and the cultivation of an innovation ecosystem to drive high-quality socio-economic development. To date, PolyU has nurtured over 600 start-ups. The establishment of the two centres in Qianhai marks a pivotal milestone in the University’s collaboration with the Qianhai Authority to propel industrial innovation. By leveraging the resources and strengths of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), these centres will accelerate the development of cutting-edge interdisciplinary technologies, deepen industry-academia-research collaborations and serve as strategic platforms connecting technology enterprises and innovation teams from across the GBA, thereby fostering high-level expertise in technology policy and reinforcing regional and national development.”
Ms Wen Ping stated, “As a world-leading university, PolyU is a pioneer in artificial intelligence, sustainable architecture and medical technology. The collaboration between Qianhai and PolyU is both timely and strategically aligned. The establishment of the PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre and PolyU Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (Qianhai) underscore the joint commitment of Shenzhen and Hong Kong to advancing technology innovation. Qianhai will prioritise the Nation’s strategic goals, the development direction of GBA, the needs of Hong Kong and the capabilities of Qianhai, to deepen collaboration with PolyU in cross-border technology transfer, transformation of research outcomes and entrepreneurship incubation of the regions, contributing to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub.”
Leveraging PolyU’s robust research capabilities, QHRC will focus on advancing technology in the fields of AI sensors and smart manufacturing, intelligent medicine and healthcare, and innovative design. Through industry-academia-research collaboration, the Centre will integrate premier resources to incubate technology start-ups within its new incubation platform, PolyU InnoHub@Qianhai, driving industry upgrades with state-of-the-art technologies. Meanwhile, PReCIT-QH is committed to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and impactful research, and serves as a platform for regional policy experts to propose strategies for technological development in the GBA. The two centres will create synergies by exploring cutting-edge technologies, nurturing talents and accelerating the commercialisation of research outcome to advance the industrial development in the regions.
To foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem in Qianhai, QHRC entered into MoUs with the China Construction Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CSCEC) and three venture capital firms, including Shenzhen Angel Capital Guiding Fund, Hony Capital and Hina Investment. Separately, PolyU signed MoUs with Shenzhen Reform and Opening Up Executive Leadership Academy, and HKCPPCC (Provincial) Members Association.
The PolyU International Future Challenge Qianhai Region supported by strategic partner CSCEC, launched at the ceremony, provides a holistic platform for technology talents, project teams and startups to propose innovative solutions in areas such as AI-powered smart construction, metaverse, augmented reality/virtual reality, intelligent wearables and big health to address industry challenges.
Mr Shuhua YANG, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of CSCEC, emphasised that the competition will drive new momentum into the transformation and upgrading of construction industry by providing resources such as real-world scenarios and industrial support for integrating cutting-edge innovations such as AI and the metaverse into construction contexts. This initiative also serves as a bridge to strengthen collaboration with PolyU in advancing research projects and fostering joint talent cultivation, thereby establishing a long-term mechanism to nurture an innovation ecosystem driven by industry-academia-research synergy.
During the keynote speeches, PReCIT Advisory Committee member Dr CAI Jin, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Sing Tao News Corporation Limited and PReCIT core member Prof. Haitian LU, Director of the PolyU Mainland Development Office, shared insights on how joint talent cultivation and the transformation of research achievements can help Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation reach new heights, and on the application and practice of PolyU research innovations in Qianhai, respectively.
In his vote of thanks, Prof. Christopher Chao emphasised that the unveiling of the two centres represents the culmination of multi-dimensional collaboration among key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors, establishing an end-to-end transformation ecosystem that bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and market application. WiseLaw Digital Technology Limited, which was visited today, is one of the PolyU-nurtured start-ups that has successfully established itself in Qianhai, exemplifying how these centres can provide comprehensive support including research and development, commercialisation, expansion and financing, to PolyU’s innovation teams in Qianhai.
Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (2nd from left, back row); Prof. Christopher Chao (1st from left, back row); Mr Shuhua Yang (2nd from right, back row); and Mr Li JIANG, Deputy General Manager of CSCEC, the MoU between QHRC and CSCEC was signed by Prof. Tommy Wei (left, front row) and Mr Renge LI, Director of CSCEC Innovation Research Institute (right, front row).
PolyU QHRC entered into MoUs with three capital ventures firms. The agreements were signed by Prof. Tommy Wei (1st from left), along with Mr LIU Xiang, General Manager of Risk Management Department of Shenzhen Angel Capital Guiding Fund (2nd from left); Mr Xinyu YANG, Director and General Manager of Hony Capital (2nd from right); and Mr ZHANG Wei, Managing Director of Hina Investment (1st from right), respectively.
PolyU entered into MoUs with Shenzhen Reform and Opening Up Executive Leadership Academy and HKCPPCC (Provincial) Members Association. The agreements were signed by Prof. Christopher Chao (centre); Mr CHEN Min, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shenzhen Reform and Opening Up Executive Leadership Academy (left); and Mr WANG Ming Fan, Executive Vice President of the HKCPPCC (Provincial) Members Association and CPPCC National Committee Member (right).
The unveiling ceremony for the QHRC and PolyU InnoHub@Qianhai was officiated by Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (6th from right), Prof. Christopher Chao (6th from left), and PolyU representatives.
Dr Cai Jin shared insights on how joint talent cultivation and the transformation of research achievements can help Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation reach new heights.
Prof. Haitian Lu introduced examples of the application and practice of PolyU’s research innovations in Qianhai.
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Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office & Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology