PolyU and Jinjiang city to drive the development of joint research institute and commence research projects on industrial modernisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the city government of Jinjiang signed a framework agreement to drive the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Research Institute with the aim to strengthen research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations and foster development along the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road.

PolyU’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) will collaborate with the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to carry out research projects on leveraging Hong Kong’s resources and advantages in innovation and technology in response to Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation needs. The Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau will provide funding support for the research. It is expected that the research findings will promote research collaboration between Hong Kong and Jinjiang and facilitate Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation.

The signing ceremony of the agreement was held today at the PolyU campus. Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU and Mr WANG Mingyuan, Mayor of Jinjiang, the five-year cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Mr HUANG Tiankai, Member of the Standing Committee of Jinjiang Communist Party Committee and Head of Jinjiang United Front Work Department. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, and Mr CAI Wensi, Director of the Jinjiang Municipal People’s Government General Office, signed an agreement on research projects.

Dr Lam Tai-fai delivered a speech at the ceremony, saying, “The Central Government strongly emphasises and offers staunch support to the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong, providing tremendous opportunities for collaboration among the government, industry, academia and research organisations. I am confident that PolyU and Jinjiang will leverage their complementary strengths and forge an effective collaborative platform for the government, industry, academia and researchers, promoting technology and knowledge exchange, especially in the areas of textiles, smart manufacturing, integrated circuits, and green technology. The partnership will also foster Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation by utilising Hong Kong and PolyU’s I&T resources.”

Mayor Wang said, “Jinjiang is in the midst of industrial transformation and modernisation. PolyU's strengths in talent development and research can be deeply integrated with Jinjiang's industry power and market advantages. We hope to leverage PolyU's research capability and educational excellence to cultivate Jinjiang’s talents in business management, manufacturing and administration. We will also draw upon PolyU’s support in innovation and technology to aid traditional industries such as shoe production, clothing, textiles, and equipment manufacturing. Lastly, PolyU's expertise in innovation and new technologies will support Jinjiang to develop high-tech sectors such as the integrated circuit industry.”

The two parties will explore the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Research Institute, which will be planned and managed by PolyU, and Jinjiang city will provide venues, funding, subsidies on research projects and industry-research collaboration, as well as support for talent attraction measures. In addition, PolyU scholars and experts will visit Jinjiang for academic exchange, participate in expert panels for entrepreneurial teams, and attend major planning meetings. Jinjiang city will actively promote the establishment of laboratories for joint projects between enterprises and PolyU, and deepen cooperation in talent nurturing, innovation and entrepreneurship, technological innovation, knowledge transfer, and more.

Mayor Wang was accompanied by representatives from the Jinjiang government and executives from companies specialising in textiles and clothing, sports shoes and apparel, food, new materials and household products. They visited PolyU’s Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, and Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things to learn about the University’s achievements and developments in interdisciplinary research and industry-academia-research collaboration.

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