The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today (22 September) held an opening ceremony of the HKUST Shenzhen Industry, Education and Research (IER) Building. The Building will serve as HKUST's platform for innovative science and technology and mark another milestone in HKUST's Mainland development.
HKUST has been committed to fostering academic and research collaborations with Mainland universities and institutes in Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta. The HKUST Shenzhen IER Building is a hub through which the University drives its long-term development plans and contributes to the economy, research and scientific development in Hong Kong and the region.
President Tony F Chan expressed his gratitude to the enduring support of various parties including the Shenzhen Municipal Government, leaders from different sectors, HKUST's Council and staff members who have made the completion of the HKUST Shenzhen IER Building possible. He highlighted that Shenzhen has been playing a pioneering role since the economic reform on the Mainland. It is innovative and strategic in strengthening the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle and in nurturing talents. HKUST has been participating in Shenzhen's innovative efforts since the 1990s as Shenzhen launches a wide array of research and innovative initiatives. HKUST faculty, students and alumni have launched close to 10 technology enterprises in the IER Building to promote innovative technologies in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
President Chan continued to state that HKUST is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with the slogan 'Our Miracle Continues' which embodies the University's determination to strive for the best. He sincerely wished that HKUST would make even greater contributions to Shenzhen and Hong Kong's development.
Officiating guests at the Opening Ceremony included Mr Yuan Baocheng, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government; Mr Pan Yonghua, Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr Lu Jian, Deputy Director-General of Science, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality; Dr the Honorable Marvin Cheung, HKUST's Council Chairman; Mr Song Qiang, Deputy Head of Nanshan District, Shenzhen; Prof Tony F Chan, HKUST's President; and Prof Liu Yingli, Senior Advisor to the President. Other guests who attended were leaders from Shenzhen's education and health authorities, HKUST's Provost Wei Shyy, Vice-Presidents Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Dr Eden Y Woon and Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee.
HKUST hosted the HKUST Electronic and Computer Engineering Industrial Day in the afternoon. A series of seminars, group meetings, tours to the industries and exhibitions were held to enable Shenzhen industries and institutes to learn more about HKUST's Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and to facilitate cross-border collaborations.
HKUST Shenzhen IER Building is located in the Shenzhen Virtual University, National University Park for Science and Technology. HKUST is among the first eight local and Mainland universities approved by the Shenzhen Municipal Government to establish bases in the Park. With a constructible area of 15,000 sq m, the seven-storey building is equipped with state-of-the-art research laboratories, lecture theaters, classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, lounges and landscaping gardens. Many research institutes and corporations have been operating in the Building. They include the HKUST Shenzhen Mechanical Engineering Laboratory which conducts research on construction energy and environment, LED packaging and module technology, and material testing; the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience which explores mechanisms of the brain and applications of research results to clinical treatment.
Some of the enterprises in the Building are Googol Technology Ltd, the first high-tech company in Asia-Pacific region specializing in R&D, production, marketing, and support of motion controllers and controller based systems; Perception Digital, a consumer electronics, product development and productions solutions provider; and Dajiang Innovation Technology Co Ltd, which specializes in UAV robotic control.
HKUST has been collaborating with Shenzhen in the areas of education, corporate collaborations, training and research over the years. In 1999, the Shenzhen IER Base was jointly established by HKUST, Peking University and the Shenzhen Municipal Government. In 2000, it started recruiting undergraduate students in Shenzhen. The year after, the Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center was jointly established by HKUST, Peking University and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.
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