One is a young, world-class university with international renown, nestled on the shores of Clear Water Bay; the other is a new type of research university rising along the Yong River in Ningbo and aspiring to excellence. These two young, innovative institutions have joined hands to explore a new path for the integrated development of young talent cultivation and cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation.
Event Scene
On May 30, a delegation led by Professor Nancy Y. Ip, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) and attended the inter-institutional cooperation symposium and the signing ceremony of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement.
Under this strategic partnership, HKUST and EIT will engage in regular, in-depth, and substantive collaboration across four core areas: talent cultivation, research breakthroughs, academic co-development, and industry-research integration. Leveraging Hong Kong's international platform and Ningbo's advanced manufacturing base, the two universities will break down barriers in technology, talent, and industrial resources between the two regions, establishing a cross-regional, cross-institutional synergistic innovation framework.
Signing Ceremony
In the presence of the attending guests, Professor Charles Wang-Wai NG, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of HKUST, and Professor Chunmiao Zheng, Vice President of EIT, officially signed the Strategic Framework Agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Jian Lin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Cixi Municipal Committee; Professor Nancy Y. Ip, President of HKUST; Professor Yike Guo, Provost of HKUST; Professor Shiyi Chen, President of EIT and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Professor Dongxiao Zhang, Executive Vice President of EIT. Representatives of the HKUST Shenzhen Alumni Chapter and the Ning Po Residents Association, leaders from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, as well as core management teams and faculty members from both universities, attended the ceremony.
Address by President Nancy Y. Ip
President Nancy Y. Ip remarked that young universities represent a vital new force for innovation in global higher education. HKUST is committed to open education and collaborative talent cultivation, actively building bridges for educational and technological exchange among Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the wider world. Ningbo boasts a strong industrial foundation in manufacturing and abundant technological resources. EIT's future‑oriented, regionally anchored mission aligns closely with HKUST's focus on pioneering innovation and industry‑driven development. She expressed anticipation of wide‑ranging cooperation between the two universities in talent cultivation, academic exchange, research breakthroughs, and university governance, thereby contributing to high‑quality higher education development and industrial transformation and upgrade in the region.
Address by President Shiyi Chen
President Shiyi Chen pointed out that high-quality inter-institutional collaboration is an important catalyst for the rapid growth of new-type research universities. HKUST, having achieved a world-class standing in just over three decades, serves as a model for young universities striving for global excellence. Its internationalized operational model, research innovation system, and talent cultivation philosophy offer valuable lessons for EIT. As a new type of research university, EIT is committed to breaking away from conventional pathways, deepening institutional innovation, and focusing on authentic research and engineering challenges to advance its disciplinary development. The two universities have extensive common ground for cooperation in talent cultivation, research breakthroughs, industry–research integration, and related areas.
Professor Dongxiao Zhang presided over the symposium
Professor Yike Guo presented an overview of HKUST's development and educational approach
The signing ceremony was moderated by Professor Dongxiao Zhang, Executive Vice President of EIT and Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. Professor Dongxiao Zhang and Professor Yike Guo, Provost of HKUST, respectively presented an overview of each university's development history, distinctive features, discipline building outcomes, and future plans.
During the symposium, the two sides also held in‑depth discussions on implementation details, project advancement mechanisms, and the sharing of academic resources, laying a solid foundation for regular and systematic collaboration in the future.
Delegation visits EIT research platforms
In the afternoon, the HKUST delegation, accompanied by President Shiyi Chen and others, toured key landmarks and research platforms on campus.
This signing marks a major milestone in the strong partnership between the two universities as they jointly pursue high-quality development. In the future, guided by the principles of open collaboration and innovation-driven synergy, the two institutions will steadily advance various cooperation projects to achieve tangible results. They aim to establish a benchmark model for cross-regional talent cultivation and technology transfer between Mainland and Hong Kong universities, facilitate the two-way flow of technology and innovation resources between the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta region, and contribute to China's pursuit of high-level technological self-reliance and high-quality higher education development.
Group Photo
