The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Nanhai District Government of Foshan City jointly opened the HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan today. The Center, which covers industry, education and research, focuses on innovative research regarding light-emitting diode (LED) and flat panel display (FPD) as well as intellectual property and technology transfer. Its objective is to enhance research and characterization standards and provide consultancy services to benefit Mainland industries. The two parties also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on collaborations, technology transfer and talent development in Foshan and Hong Kong.
The Center is a joint initiative in which the Nanhai Government provides a start-up funding of RMB 25 million and 1,800 square meters of space in Nanhai complete with infrastructure and laboratory equipment, whereas HKUST provides technology and management resources. It will leverage the energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly aspects of LED technologies and focus on applied research, developing LED packaging as its core technology. According to the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, the Center’s positioning involves ‘maintaining a foothold at Foshan, spreading its influence across Guangdong and South China and linking up with Hong Kong and Macau’.
Among the guests at the Opening Ceremony were Mr Zhang Ming, Deputy Director-General of Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Ms Wu Ling, Director of the China Solid State Lighting Alliance, Mr Deng Weigen, Party Secretary of Nanhai District Communist Party, Mr Xu Haixiang, Deputy Director-General of Foshan City People’s Congress, Mr Zheng Canru, District Mayor of Nanhai District Municipal Government of Foshan, Mr Feng Zhengxiang, Member of the Political Affairs Committee, Nanhai District Municipal Government of Foshan, Mr Liang Xinwen, First Deputy Director of Trade and Industry Bureau of Nanhai District; and from HKUST: Prof Tony F Chan, President, Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies cum Chairman of the Board of the Center, Prof Ricky Shi-wei Lee from the Mechanical Engineering Department cum Director of HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan, Dr Claudia Xu, Director of Technology Transfer Center and Prof Matthew Yuen, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department.
Mr Zhang Ming, Deputy Director-General of Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology said, “The Provincial Department of Science and Technology has been fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong collaborations to enhance Guangdong’s scientific strengths, transformation and rise of new industries. The HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan will foster HKUST’s rapid technology transfer to industries in Nanhai and neighboring areas, thereby significantly contributing to the strengthening of optical and electrical industries in the region.”
Mr Zheng Canru, District Mayor of Nanhai District Municipal Government of Foshan, also said that the Center will fully leverage HKUST’s expertise in integrated circuit and basic research in LED to support the industries in the Pearl River Delta region in general and Foshan in particular.
Officiating at the Opening Ceremony, HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan said, “HKUST is honored to join hands with the Nanhai District Government of Foshan City to launch the HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan, an advanced and well-equipped LED and FPD R&D platform in the Pearl River Delta region to take the standard of optical and electrical industries to the next level. With approximately 50% of Mainland’s LED packaging being completed in Guangdong currently, the Nanhai Government has been keen on encouraging technology transfer. To foster scientific research, HKUST has been paying particular attention to the industry-education-research development in both Hong Kong and the Mainland according to China’s Twelfth Five-year Plan. By building closer ties with the Mainland government, research and education institutions and the industry, we will help foster further growth and development.”
Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies cum Chairman of the Board of the Center stated, “HKUST has strong commitment to promoting Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration in industry, education and research, and the Center is yet another successful demonstration of the University’s determination. The Center leverages HKUST’s strengths and talents in technology and management. By teaming up with expanding enterprises in the Pearl River Delta region and supporting low-carbon economy to raise R&D and characterization standards, it will bring benefits to both parties.”
Prof Ricky Shi-wei Lee, Director of HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan cum Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department noted, “The Pearl River Delta region, housing a cluster of upstream, midstream and downstream LED enterprises, is a hub with a high concentration of LED packaging industries and investment. The Center’s expertise in R&D and technology transfer will help enhance competitiveness of Mainland industries, creating favorable conditions for their long-term development.”
The Center provides an impressive range of services including material preparation and characterization, simulation and modeling, chip level packaging prototyping, board level assembly prototyping, optical, electrical and thermal characterization, reliability testing, failure analysis and technical training. Its state-of-the-art equipment encompasses phosphor and silicone dispenser, high precision integrating sphere, source imaging goniometer, thermal characterization system, electrical probe station, HAST chamber and class 5000 clean booth.
Further to the Center opening, the Nanhai Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HKUST to strengthen mutual cooperation. The two parties are keen to widen the scope for further collaborations regarding LED, optical and electrical industries, and industries concerning the environment, advanced and new materials and other areas. For developing technology management talents, they will jointly set up a training base in Nanhai to provide professional training and exchange regarding technology management, intellectual property and technology transfer.
The Center’s logo features a distinctive design. Red, green and blue are the primary colors of light. The red and green triangles stand for the Foshan City and the blue inverted triangle stands for the Nanhai District. The yellow top envisions a bright future. HKUST stands ready to strategically create synergy, using the Center as a base.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Kit Yip
Tel: 2358 6313
Email: kityip@ust.hk
