PolyU collaborates with two technology innovation investment companies to promote research commercialisation in the Greater Bay Area

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two renowned investment companies to support the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+ Scheme) launched by the HKSAR Government. The collaboration aims to promote commercialisation of PolyU research and incubate innovation startups capable of establishing a presence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

A delegation led by Dr CHEN Jie, Standing Member of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Secretary of the CPC Huangpu District Committee and of the CPC Guangzhou Development District Working Committee, Director of Guangzhou Development District Administrative Committee, visited PolyU yesterday (14 September). They exchanged insights with the University’s senior management and researchers on establishing an innovation platform, nurturing talent and research commercialisation. The delegation included representatives from the Government of Huangpu District in Guangzhou and executives from companies.

The signing ceremony was held on the PolyU campus yesterday (14 September). The collaboration strives to further realise PolyU’s potential in basic research to advance commercialisation of scientific discoveries and apply innovative solutions for societal benefits. Witnessed by Dr Chen Jie, Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, Mr LIANG Jun, Chief Executive Officer, Shenwan Hongyuan (H.K.) Limited, and Mr XUE Bo Ran, Chairman, Joincap Capital Group, the MoU was signed by Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU, Mr Victor WANG, Managing Director of Shenwan Hongyuan, and Mr Avan FUNG, licensed representative of Joincap Capital.

Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of Poly, said, “Driven by our motto, ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind’, PolyU strives to nurture future leaders with an innovative, entrepreneurial mindset and actively promote commercialisation of research for societal impact. This collaboration with Shenwan Hongyuan and Joincap Capital leverages our combined strengths in research, funding, market networks and project information to accelerate commercialisation of PolyU technologies and incubate scalable ventures to take root in the GBA.”

Mr Liang Jun, Chief Executive Officer, Shenwan Hongyuan (H.K.) Limited, said, “As a leading Chinese securities firm serving Hong Kong for 30 years, Shenwan Hongyuan is committed to creating value through our comprehensive investment, banking and management services. With a comprehensive business focus on investment, investment banking and wealth management, Shenwan is committed to creating value for Hong Kong’s capital market and innovation and technology companies. Propelled by Hong Kong’s innovation policies and PolyU’s industry-academia-research expertise, this cooperation will empower us to jointly cultivate a thriving ecosystem for technology companies.”

Mr Xue Bo Ran, Chairman, Joincap Capital Group, said, “The Guangzhou Development Zone has always adhered to an innovation-driven development strategy to promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading. PolyU is a university with global impact at the frontier of commercialising research, while Shenwan Hongyuan is a leading industrial investment enterprise in China. With roots in the GBA, Joincap Capital Group has focused on integrating Hong Kong with GBA cities in terms of technological innovation, education and finance. Through this strategic collaboration, we aim to accelerate commercialisation of PolyU’s advanced research, particularly in Guangzhou, to catalyse high-quality development in the GBA.

The HKSAR Government has launched the HK$10 billion RAISe+ Scheme that provides funds on a matching basis to university research teams with good potential to commercialise research projects and develop start‑ups. Under the MoU, the joint Shenwan Hongyuan and Joincap Capital funding will set aside HK$150 million to invest in PolyU research projects. Eligible projects will be jointly nominated for government support.

PolyU is the first local university to build a partnership with Shenwan and Joincap, and the collaboration seeks to facilitate PolyU technologies landing in the GBA through networking, incubation support and setting up joint labs. This will stimulate industry-academia-research collaborations, development of downstream sectors, and elevate innovation and technology in Hong Kong.

The delegation visited PolyU research facilities on campus, including the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Industrial Centre and the Aviation Services Research Centre, to learn about PolyU’s world-class research technologies in multiple research fields.

Moving forward, PolyU will continue to closely connect with the Mainland and carry out impactful research and knowledge transfer projects, so as to integrate with national development and fully support building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre.

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