PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute officially unveiled, deepening industry-academia-research collaboration

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hangzhou Gongshu People’s Government held a signing cum unveiling ceremony on 7 November in Hangzhou, marking the official establishment of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute). In order to promote Hangzhou’s innovation and technology development, the Institute will conduct collaborative in-depth industry-academia-research, leveraging the advantages of Hangzhou and Hong Kong in research innovation, smart cities, as well as industrial and international cooperation and innovation.

The Institute will focus on key areas including Grand Canal culture and tourism, intelligent transportation and medical aesthetics, and will initially establish three research centres, namely the Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Research Center”, Intelligent Rail Transit Center, and Digital Medical Aesthetics Research Center. These centres will collaborate with Hangzhou’s key industries and university research institutes in the areas of information and internet technology, cultural tourism, smart cities, biomedicine and high-end equipment manufacturing, providing enterprises with a technological research and development service, striving to make Hangzhou a world-class smart digital and innovative city, and the world’s best city to visit.

Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President; Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement); Prof. NI Yiqing, Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as Mr ZHOU Hong, Zhejiang Representative of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Mr FANG Yi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, Member of the Leading Party Members' Group of Hangzhou Municipal Government, Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou; Mr LI Zhilong, Communist Party Secretary of Gongshu District; Mr LU Wenge, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province; Mr LOU Xiuhua, Director of the Hangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, and Mr HUANG Fei, Member of the Standing Committee and Executive Deputy District Mayor of the Gongshu District, the agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr SHEN Jianli, Vice District Mayor of Gongshu District.

Dr Lam Tai-fai stated in his speech that Hangzhou is a city that integrates tradition with innovation. As a globally top-ranked institution with 86 years of history, PolyU will fully leverage its strengths in research, education and talent development to accelerate the industrial development of Hangzhou in the fields of Grand Canal culture and tourism, intelligent transportation and medical aesthetics, with a view to promoting technological innovation and facilitating the transformation of research outcomes to make greater contributions to the high-quality development of Gongshu district, Hangzhou and the Nation.

In his speech, Mr Li Zhilong said that Hangzhou strives to capitalise on its advantages in technological innovation to promote urban development. The city is actively developing itself as a global innovation hub, talent pool and prioritised destination for technology transfer and commercialisation. Gongshu District will fully utilise its geographical location and resources, and environmental benefits to create a favourable environment for technological innovation. The government-academia collaboration with PolyU will definitely increase synergies between Hangzhou and Hong Kong to enhance the competitiveness of technological innovation and pave a new way for advancement.

With its solid industrial foundation, Hangzhou has a sound innovation and entrepreneurship environment in the areas of internet technology, the digital economy and artificial intelligence. Going forward, PolyU will leverage its strengths in interdisciplinary studies, talent cultivation, research and innovation, and international cooperation to accelerate the sustainable development of Hangzhou and facilitate talent exchange between the two regions through the Institute’s innovation and technology platform.