On March 10, the Southeast University—Hong Kong Technology Innovation and Development Forum was convened at Cyberport in Hong Kong, where the Southeast University Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center was officially inaugurated. Mr. Li Zhongjun, Mayor of Nanjing; Mr. Wu Xiaocheng, Secretary of the CPC SEU Committee; Mr.Ivan LEE, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of Hong Kong; and Mr. Cheng Kwok Ting, Acting President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches respectively. Other attendees included Mr.Yu Hang Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; relevant heads of municipal government departments in Nanjing; representatives from Hong Kong universities; representatives from the Hong Kong Jiangsu Science and Technology Innovation Center; SEU alumni representatives in Hong Kong; and representatives from enterprises in both regions. During the event, the university signed several cooperation agreements in related fields with Hong Kong universities, marking a new chapter inSEU's collaborative efforts with Hong Kong.

Mr. Li Zhongjun stated that Nanjing, as a major hub for science and education in China, gathers high-quality universities, research institutes, and top-tier talent, and possesses high-level scientific innovation platforms. SEU serves as a crucial pillar supporting the integrated development of the university and the local area, providing solid support for Nanjing's technological innovation and modernization. Standing at a new starting point ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Nanjing is committed to building itself into a globally influential hub for industrial technology innovation and striving to become a key base for new quality productive forces. He sincerely looks forward to joining hands with various sectors in Hong Kong to embark on a new chapter of innovation cooperation between Nanjing and Hong Kong. He proposed three major directions for cooperation: jointly scaling new heights in original innovation, collaboratively tackling key “bottleneck” technologies in fields such as integrated circuit design automation; jointly promoting the transformation of scientific achievements and building full-chain transformation platforms, establishing a collaborative “government-industry-academia-research-finance” transformation system; and jointly strengthening strategic talent support, deepening multi-field cooperation between universities in both regions, attracting young talent from home and abroad, and creating a high-quality talent ecosystem.

Mr. Wu Xiaocheng expressed gratitude to individuals from various sectors who have long cared for and supported SEU's development. He noted that Hong Kong, Jiangsu, and Nanjing are all currently facing significant opportunities for technological innovation, making the construction of cross-regional international science and technology innovation platforms urgently needed. As a key member of China's higher education system, SEU's academic strength ranks among the top in mainland universities. It has made significant contributions to numerous major national strategic projects and has a long history of cooperation with Hong Kong. Over the past 30-plus years, the university has achieved fruitful cooperation results with multiple Hong Kong universities across various fields, establishing itself as one of the earliest mainland universities to practice the integrated development of “education, technology, and talent” in Hong Kong. He extended an invitation for cooperation to all sectors in Hong Kong, proposing four major directions: jointly building a “new engine” for regional innovation, focusing on cutting-edge technologies and core challenges to create a vital innovation hub in the Asia-Pacific region; jointly creating a “reservoir” for top global talent, establishing a “talent enclave” to facilitate two-way talent flow; jointly setting a “new benchmark” for high-level cooperative education, deepening multi-level joint talent cultivation and exploring the establishment of a Hong Kong Excellence Engineer Institute; and jointly strengthening the “connection network” for the international education hub, contributingSEU's strength to the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area international science and technology innovation center, thenation's quest for high-level technological self-reliance, and HongKong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Mr. Ivan LEE, on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, congratulated SEU on the establishment of its Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center and highlighted the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong universities in technology innovation over recent years. He pointed out the close cooperation between SEU and Hong Kong in scientific research and talent cultivation, stating that Hong Kong will fully align with thenation's technological innovation development strategy and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with SEU to contribute to thenation's high-quality development.

In his speech, Mr. Cheng Kwok Ting expressed that both universities are committed to scientific research innovation, talent cultivation, and achievement transformation. The establishment of the Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center not only provides strong support for the transformation of SEU's research achievements in Hong Kong but also injects industrial momentum from the Yangtze River Delta into Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem, accelerating the cross-border flow of talent, technology, and industry between the two regions.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Li Zhongjun, Mr. Wu Xiaocheng,Mr. Ivan LEE, Mr. Cheng Kwok Ting, Mr.Yu Hang Christopher Chao, and Mr. Shi Xianzhao, Chairman of Jiangsu Soho Holdings Group Zhongshan Company, jointly unveiled the Southeast University Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center.

During the exchange session with SEU alumni representatives in Hong Kong, Mr. Wu Xiaocheng thanked the alumni present for their long-term concern and support for theuniversity's development. He elaborated on the foundation for cooperation and development prospects between the Southeast University Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center and the Hong Kong Northern Metropolis development plan. He stated that the Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center is a crucial part of the university's internationalization strategy, and SEU's journey to become a world-class university with Chinese characteristics cannot succeed without the joint support of its alumni, faculty, staff, and students. He expressed hope that the center would further take root in Hong Kong and face the world by adhering to theuniversity's strategic deployment. Alumni representatives actively offered suggestions and engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as Nanjing-Hong Kong technology innovation cooperation and development, the construction of the Southeast University Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center, and university operations in Hong Kong, exploring new ideas and pathways for collaborative innovation between Nanjing and Hong Kong.

The forum also featured an exhibition showcasing SEU's scientific and technological innovation achievements with Hong Kong, highlighting the collaborative research outcomes between SEU and Hong Kong universities. It is reported that the Southeast University Hong Kong Tech Innovation Center will be rooted in Hong Kong's development needs, leverage SEU's academic and research strengths, and focus on building a new model of full-chain innovation cooperation encompassing “basic research—technology development—achievement transformation—industrial incubation.” It aims to become a model platform for scientific and technological cooperation between mainland universities and Hong Kong.

Source: Office of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan

Translated by: Melody Zhang

Proofread by: Gao Min

Edited by: Leah LI