On April 24, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) welcomed two alumni who have gone on to start successful businesses off the back of their undergraduate research. Tianzi GUO (’18, Materials Science and Engineering) and Zhi ZHANG (’15, Materials Science and Engineering) came to their alma mater to donate personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, and other anti-epidemic materials to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Tianzi GUO is now the chairman of Shuiwan Technology (Taizhou), and Zhi ZHANG is the executive president of Shenzhen Nanke New Materials Technology. University Council Vice Chairperson Fengliang LI, in his capacity as Alumni Association Executive Vice President, received the donations. Many senior leaders across SUSTech also attended the donation ceremony.
Tianzi GUO thanked SUSTech for supporting her dream to become an entrepreneur. She remained committed to the prevention and control of COVID-19 at SUSTech and had been deeply encouraged by the efforts made by the SUSTech community over the previous months. Her donation of disposable hand sanitizer would go to Shude College, where she spent four wonderful years, to protect the class of 2020. Tianzi GUO hoped to develop stronger industry-university research partnerships with SUSTech in the future, as SUSTech inspires more undergraduate students to get involved in the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to create knowledge for the future.
University Council Vice Chairperson Fengliang LI thanked the alumni for their ongoing support of SUSTech. The donation of anti-epidemic supplies will assist in protecting the students returning to campus in the coming days while reflecting the love that alumni have for their alma mater. Fengliang LI said that SUSTech would continue to strengthen the entrepreneurial culture on campus and integrate it with the broader Shenzhen industrial framework. It will also support the development of alumni companies and a start-up culture among alumni to create an international alumni branch association that thrives on innovation.
Tianzi GUO was a Summa Cum Laude Graduate in 2018, after studying under Associate Professor Dazhi SUN. The two of them established Shuiwan Technology (Taizhou), which is dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization of new materials used in water purification. The company was established in October 2019 and reflected the ongoing strategic cooperation between SUSTech and Taizhou City in Zhejiang Province. Shuiwan Technology has received significant support from Taizhou City’s talent policy, to move smoothly from incubation to industrialization. An exclusive production line was designed to develop their hand sanitizer that has now entered the market.
Zhi ZHANG was one of the first undergraduate students to enter SUSTech. He established Shenzhen Nanke New Materials Technology with Associate Professor Dazhi SUN, as the first SUSTech-established enterprise. It is committed to the development, transformation, and industrialization of new materials.
