PolyU and The Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality (SZ-HRSSB) formalised their ongoing collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and unveiling a plaque marking the opening of Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base (PolyU) at a ceremony on 14 July 2023.

The MoU signing and plaque unveiling signify the start of joint efforts between the two parties in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, employment promotion, and the cultivation of high-quality I&T talents. The partnership also aims to synergise resources and facilitate translation of research outcomes between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and to promote exchanges and cooperation among young people from the two cities.

Dr Miranda Lou, PolyU Executive Vice President, thanked SZ-HRSSB for its strong support of PolyU’s development in Shenzhen. She said, “With the support of SZ-HRSSB, PolyU took the lead in establishing the GBA Startup Postdoc Programme to promote research-based entrepreneurship. By focusing on the GBA and providing dual mentorship from academics and industry professionals, this has become a signature programme for PolyU and SZ-HRSSB in jointly nurturing young talents in innovation and technology.”

Mr Zhao Zhongliang, Director of SZ-HRSSB, said, PolyU is a world-class innovative university which not only provides a sound academic environment and excellent research capabilities, but also focuses effort on transforming its research outcomes into practical applications, supporting students, alumni and researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr Zhao added, “The cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has entered a new golden period of development. SZ-HRSBB, as the primary government bureau responsible for supporting young people from Hong Kong and Macao in employment and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen, has the mission and objective of transforming innovative projects into entrepreneurial endeavours and promoting employment. As reflected by this ceremony, we hope to strengthen the breadth and depth of cooperation with PolyU, and jointly explore further collaboration on nurturing postdoctoral fellows between academia and industry.”

The role of the Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base (PolyU) is to provide PolyU students with full-fledged support in Shenzhen including incubation, funding support, talent development, and translation of research outcomes. It will also help entrepreneurial teams go global and seize broader development opportunities.