The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) continues to integrate into national development strategies, signing two major scientific research cooperation agreements at the 5th Fujian-Hong Kong Cooperation Conference held recently in Fuzhou on 22 June.
Witnessed by Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China; Mr ZHOU Zuyi, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Fujian Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Fujian Provincial People's Congress; Mr ZOU Jinsong, Director of Bureau III of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; and Mr ZHAO Long, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Governor of Fujian Province, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, signed a cooperation agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the University with Mr CHEN Dengfeng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fuqing Municipal Committee, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Mayor of Fuqing Municipal People's Government, and Prof. WANG Shuguo, President of the Fuyao University of Science and Technology (FYUST). This milestone marks a significant step forward for PolyU in deepening Fujian-Hong Kong innovation and technology (I&T) collaboration and research commercialisation.
The agreements include a cooperation pact with the Fuqing Municipal People's Government to jointly establish a key provincial-level novel research and development centre, the PolyU Fuzhou Centre for Knowledge Transfer. Initiated and driven by the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Fujian Provincial People's Government, the Centre is located in the Fuqing Rongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone and aims to establish a direct pathway for industrialising cutting-edge technologies from Hong Kong universities in Fujian.
PolyU also signed an MoU with FYUST to establish a long-term, stable strategic inter-university partnership. The institutions will leverage PolyU's international research vision alongside Fujian's robust industrial foundation to achieve complementary academic strengths and resource sharing, and set a benchmark for collaborative higher education initiatives between Fujian and Hong Kong.
Marking a breakthrough in turning Fujian-Hong Kong cooperation into tangible outcomes, the PolyU Fuzhou Centre for Knowledge Transfer successfully obtained its business licence on 20 July. Having completed all industrial and commercial registration procedures, the Centre now has independent, market-oriented operational status.
Working in close synergy with the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute, the Centre will align with the provincial government's overarching plan to serve the entire Fujian province. It will focus on strategic emerging industries such as optoelectronic chips, semiconductors and the low-altitude economy, while supporting diverse sectors including microelectronics, textile innovation, healthcare and elderly care, and cultural tourism innovation sector spanning Fujian Province. Moving forward, PolyU will continue to deepen joint university-enterprise research and development, technology transfer and talent cultivation, leveraging the complementary strengths of Fujian and Hong Kong to jointly drive high-quality regionally integrated development.
