The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Qianhai Authority held an unveiling ceremony for the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy in Shenzhen Qianhai on May 8.

The establishment of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy marks an important milestone in the strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2022 between the two parties, covering areas such as Advanced Legal Research Institute, Fintech Research Institute of the Greater Bay Area, Entrepreneurship Academy of Hong Kong Youth, Carbon Neutrality Pilot Demonstration Zone, and Advanced Technology Industrial Parks.

The Academy aims to create a benchmark demonstration project for Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation in Qianhai, build a platform for empowering innovation and entrepreneurship among young people in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and promote extensive exchanges, comprehensive communication, and deep integration among young people in the region.

The unveiling ceremony was jointly hosted by Mr Wu Kunsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government; Mr Su Wuyuan, Deputy Director, of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG); Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of HKU; Professor Anderson Ho Cheung Shum, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU; Mr Huang Xiaopeng, Deputy Executive Director-general of the Qianhai Authority; Ms Liang Ke, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Qianhai Cooperation Zone; Ms Li Lirong, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen; Mr Cai Maozhou, Deputy Director-General of Education Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Mr Wu Kunsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, said in his speech that Qianhai proposed to "Establish an international and Hong Kong and Macao university innovation center" and strengthen cooperation with Hong Kong universities. The University of Hong Kong is a world-renowned top university with unique advantages in basic education, scientific and technological research and development, and talent cultivation, which highly aligns with the development of Qianhai. The establishment of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy in Qianhai will inject new vitality into Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation. Shenzhen will fully support the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy in building a Shenzhen-Hong Kong youth innovation and entrepreneurship platform, strengthening entrepreneurship incubation, and promoting the integration of industry chains, innovation chains, talent chains, and education chains in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and building an important platform for mainland and Hong Kong technology cooperation.

Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of HKU, said in his speech that the establishment of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy aims to stimulate the innovation potential of young people, cultivate innovative thinking and practical abilities, and create an important space and platform for the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong youth in the Greater Bay Area innovation and entrepreneurship and technology transformation. By providing high-quality resources and support, the young innovators and entrepreneurs will grow and develop here, becoming an important driving force for promoting technological innovation and social development, and further enhancing Qianhai's attractiveness and competitiveness in the global bay area, becoming a well-known bay area for global technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Professor Anderson Ho Cheung Shum, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU, introduced the construction goals and content of the Academy, while representatives of the first selected innovation and entrepreneurship enterprises introduced their projects and technologies.

The HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy, located in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub (E-Hub), is expected to be ready for occupancy by early July. In the future, the Academy will rely on HKU to establish an innovation and entrepreneurship base centered around education and practice, providing relevant services for young technology talent and scientists. Resident projects will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, life and health, new energy, and new materials, creating differentiated and distinctive science and technology training programs, and striving to become a new benchmark for the integration and development of innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: ngjaymee@hku.hk)
Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 3917 2607 / Email: khkchoi@hku.hk)