The Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance (JHMUA) jointly established by Nanjing University, PolyU and the University of Macau was officially inaugurated at a ceremony held simultaneously in Nanjing and Hong Kong on 16 December 2021. The JHMUA aims to leverage the advantages of institutions in Jiangsu Province, Hong Kong and Macau to strengthen exchange and collaboration in areas such as talent cultivation and research in innovation and technology.

With the full support of the governments of the three regions, the JHMUA now consists of 33 member institutions, including 21 from Jiangsu Province, nine from Hong Kong and three from Macau. The first term of the JHMUA is chaired by Nanjing University while PolyU, the University of Macau and Nanjing Normal University will act as Vice Chairmen.

PolyU has in the past years partnered with more than 30 institutions and organisations in Jiangsu Province to kick start over 100 teaching and research projects. Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, said, “The economic and educational development of Jiangsu Province is highly acclaimed in our Nation. In addition, Jiangsu Province has witnessed the rapid development of a number of strategic emerging industries in recent years, such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, new energy technology and more. Such progress brings about tremendous opportunities in innovation and technology, research and even entrepreneurship for institutions and talents in the three regions.”

Benefitting from the staunch support provided by the governments in the three regions, it is expected that the JHMUA will bring the institutions in those regions together, enabling them to complement each other with their respective strengths to facilitate collaboration in research and enhance talent development, with the ultimate goal of “collaborating and sharing achievements together”.

Back in November 2019, Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, visited Jiangsu Province and initiated the establishment of the “Jiangsu-Hong Kong University Alliance”. In early 2020, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education recommended to include institutions from Macau in the Alliance, to increase the strength and resources of the Alliance and enhance the effectiveness of collaboration among the institutions in Jiangsu Province, Hong Kong and Macau.