PolyU signs MoUs with leading Jinjiang-based enterprises to drive cooperation between Hong Kong and Fujian

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with several leading enterprises in Jinjiang city to strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation between the two cities.

During a three-day visit to Hong Kong, a delegation led by Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, visited PolyU to have an in-depth exchange with the University’s senior management and researchers. The delegation included representatives from the Communist Party, and the Jinjiang Municipal Government including the Office of the Municipal Party Committee, United Front Work Department, Science and Technology Bureau and Commerce Bureau, as well as representatives from leading Jinjiang-based enterprises in the industries of textiles and clothing, sportswear and footwear, new materials, and microelectronics.

On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the delegation paid a visit to the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centres are co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative. On 27 June, PolyU participated in the Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference-cum-Signing Ceremony. Witnessed by local and Mainland government officials including Mr ZHOU Zuyi, Fujian Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Fujian Province; Mr CHAN Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, inked a cooperation framework agreement to establish the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute in Jinjiang outlining the future development plan of the research institute.

On June 28, during the last day of their visit, the delegation toured the PolyU campus and visited laboratories and research centres related to the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute. To take forward in-depth industry-academia-research collaboration, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, signed MoUs with representatives from three Jinjiang-based corporates, namely Mr YANG Jianxiang, Director of Research and Innovation of ANTA Group; Mr XU Jintai, Executive Director of SinceTech Group; and Mr SHI Junqiao, Executive President of Fujian Huaqing Electronic Material Technology Co., Ltd. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang, Mr HUANG Tiankai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jinjiang Communist Party Committee and Head of the Jinjiang United Front Work Department; and Mr ZHANG Qingchang, Director of the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau.

In his speech, Dr Lam Tai-fai stated, “With the staunch support of the Jinjiang Municipal Government, PolyU has signed MoUs with leading enterprises. We will collaborate deeply and effectively in various fields, such as new textile materials, fashion design, intelligent wearable systems and microelectronics. Through this collaboration, we hope to leverage the research strengths of Hong Kong and PolyU, further connect with enterprises in Mainland China, promote complementary advantages between Fujian and Hong Kong, and contribute to Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development."

Mr Zhang Wenxian said, “The visit to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was an exciting experience. Jinjiang, the birthplace of the 'Jinjiang Experience', is a vibrant city that nurtures entrepreneurs. The city's shoe and apparel industry is valued at over 300 billion yuan, while its textile industry is worth over 100 billion yuan. Additionally, there are thriving building material and food industries worth over 50 billion yuan, alongside cutting-edge sectors such as new generation information technology, advanced equipment manufacturing, and medical and healthcare industries that are worth over 10 billion yuan. PolyU's strengths can be effectively integrated with Jinjiang's industrial development, and there is enormous potential for cooperation between the two parties. We aim to take this opportunity to expand the scope and level of cooperation between PolyU and Jinjiang. Jinjiang will provide full and sincere support for collaboration between the two parties, ensuring that our joint projects thrive and prosper, creating a new model of cooperation between the universities of Hong Kong and Mainland cities.”

In the first half of 2023, PolyU and Jinjiang have engaged in various collaborations and exchanges. In February, PolyU and the Jinjiang Municipal People’s Government reached initial agreement and signed a cooperation framework agreement to drive the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute with the aim to strengthen research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations and foster development along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Meanwhile, PolyU’s PReCIT signed an agreement with the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to carry out research projects that leverage Hong Kong’s resources and strengths in innovation and technology in response to Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation needs. In April, PolyU was invited by the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to participate in the 24th Jinjiang Footwear and the 7th Sports Industry International Exhibition where the University showcased its latest research achievements, including bionic robotic hands, high-precision flexible pressure sensors and 3D printed insoles for diabetic patients. Lined up by Jinjiang City government, a PolyU delegation also paid visits to the major industries and institutions in Jinjiang to explore and discuss the potential collaborations. In mid-May, a PolyU delegation visited Jinjiang to discuss the implementation plan of the “PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute”. Subsequently, the relevant agreement was signed at an event held in the Quanzhou Nanyi National High-tech Zone in early June. The research institute will leverage PolyU’s research strengths and achievements to meet Jinjiang’s industrial needs and facilitate the city’s industrial transformation.

Through such collaboration, PolyU expects to unleash the strengths of its researchers and innovative technologies. The University also aims to draw more quality Hong Kong-based innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and talents to engage in research exchanges in Jinjiang, so as to promote complementary advantages and synergistic development between Fujian and Hong Kong in order to establish a leading I&T base and achieve mutual benefits.

Looking forward, PolyU will continue to strengthen collaboration with enterprises and maintain close connections with Mainland China to conduct impactful research and accelerate the commercialisation of research outputs. The University will strive to integrate into the country’s overall development and make contributions to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub.

On 26 June, Mr Zhang Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of Quanzhou Municipal Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang Committee (middle), led a delegation to visit the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.

On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the Jinjiang delegation visited the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.