Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education announced that the School of Microelectronics (SME) at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) had received approval for the establishment of the Future Communication Integrated Circuit (IC) Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, along with other new engineering research centers around China. The SUSTech Future Communication IC Engineering Research Center will focus on building an important base for the cultivation of innovative talents.

Receiving approval for an Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education is a critical component of SUSTech’s scientific and technological innovation, and represents our work at the cutting edge of science and technology. These Engineering Research Centers work on enhancing the major strategic needs of the country by promoting the R&D achievements into scientific and technological outcomes. In line with SUSTech’s broader talent development goals, the Engineering Research Centers promote disciplinary development and foster innovative and globalized outlooks among those trained in those Centers.

The Future Communication IC Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education will rely on SUSTech’s School of Microelectronics, who will collaborate with the Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (AAIS), Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Department of Physics, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).

The Future Communication IC Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education will focus on the key generic technologies of integrated circuits suitable for current 5G and future communication applications. It will also carry out basic and key technology research in four key areas of future communication integrated circuit design, intelligent storage and computing integration, wide band gap semiconductor materials and devices, advanced integrated circuit manufacturing process and sensors, so as to promote the transformation of achievements and be practical. The Center is committed to in-depth cooperation and resource sharing among all SUSTech departments to promote the enhanced development of disciplines across campus. It will seek to cultivate high-level innovative talents to support the development of 5G and future communications applications.

This year, 61 universities across 22 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities received approval for Engineering Research Centers of the Ministry of Education, with Guangdong Province receiving three Centers. The Engineering Research Centers have been approved in fields such as intelligent manufacturing, big data and chip technology – all fields that highlight major strategic research areas.