PolyU and Ganzhou sign strategic collaborative framework agreements to deepen research collaboration between Hong Kong and Ganzhou

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has partnered with Ganzhou Municipal Government and Xingguo County Government in Jiangxi province to capitalise on their strengthens and promote the high-quality development of the textile industry in Ganzhou and Hong Kong.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), led a delegation to participate in the “1st China (Ganzhou) Graphene cum Textile and Apparel and New Materials Industry Forum” on 19 March in Xingguo County, Ganzhou. At the event, Prof. Chao signed strategic collaborative framework agreement separately with Mr DOU Liangtan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Ganzhou Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Ganzhou, and Mr LIU Zhanghong, Deputy Secretary of Xingguo County Party Committee and County Mayor of Xingguo, for the joint establishment of the PolyU-Xingguo Textiles Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute) to promote in-depth and effective industry-university-research collaboration. The Institute will support the innovative development of the textile industry in Ganzhou and its counties, while creating further opportunities for PolyU in terms of education, research and translation of research into innovative outcomes in the field of textiles.

Prof. Christopher Chao said, “By putting efforts into brand building, technology promotion, professional training and talent development, PolyU will make contributions to the advancement of the textile industry and market in Ganzhou and Xingguo County. The solicitation of business and projects will also facilitate investment and further collaborative opportunities. We will both fully leverage our respective strengths and join forces to create a new chapter in the textile industry.”

PolyU possesses strong educational and research capabilities in the textiles field, which align with the development needs of Ganzhou’s textile industry in the areas of talent cultivation, research, industrial transformation and upgrading. The collaboration between PolyU, Ganzhou and Xingguo County and the establishment of the Institute will leverage the University’s expertise in talent, technology and research platforms, to support the enduring growth of local textile enterprises.

The forum themed on “New Weave of New Graphene” gathered experts from universities, enterprises and industry in the fields of graphene and textiles from all over the country, to discuss research and industrial applications of graphene (also known as the King of New Materials). Dr Shou Dahua, Assistant Professor and Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies of PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles introduced his research achievements in textiles and new materials at the Forum. On the same day, the country’s first Graphene Technology Museum was inaugurated in Xingguo County, to serve as a national hub for graphene innovation to translate research outcomes into new productive forces.

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