Earlier this month, Southern University of Science and Technology was the host of the first International Cooperation and Exchange Conference on Technology Transfer. Experts and scholars on technology transfer from home and abroad attended the conference, along with 200 or so representatives from high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen. Industry representatives in areas such as finance and investment came together to discuss potential technology transfer collaborations and cooperations in this new era of political and economic uncertainty.

The conference sought to encourage informational exchange on technology transfer, both within and without mainland China, as well as promote cooperation between technology transfer agencies. The conference also encouraged integration with the latest scientific achievements across both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area as well as global tech hubs, so that the actual needs of enterprises and industries of Shenzhen could provide the right supporting resources of better technology, where it is needed. Through the integration of multiple resource hubs within Shenzhen, the effect of the technological bottleneck would be reduced and ultimately, all areas would achieve their development goals.

Director Yan Li of the Technology Transfer Promotion Center of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission opened the conference. She said that Shenzhen aims to build an international center for scientific, technological and industrial innovation. She anticipated that through this conference, Shenzhen would strengthen its role in the construction of scientific and technological innovation cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Shenzhen would also strengthen its contacts and exchanges with other institutions heavily involved in international technology transfer. SUSTech Technology Transfer Center Director Liao Xiao followed him with a briefing of SUSTech’s achievements in the area of technology transfer under its unique educational and scientific models.

There were two round table discussions. The first roundtable discussions looked at “How to evaluate the science and technology start-up project,” featuring major venture capitalists from across Shenzhen. The second roundtable discussion examined “university-industry cooperation,” and had numerous panelists from the tertiary education sector as well as high-level industry representation.

In the final session for Technical Managers, experts from the University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, National University of Singapore, the University of Queensland, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University, RTC Sino Europe Innovation, Kings College London, the University of Connecticut and the University of Hawaii spoke to the audience.

The Exchange was sponsored by Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee, and sponsored by Nantong University of Science and Technology Technology Technology Transfer Center, Nantong University Asset Management Company, Nantong University Education Foundation and Shenzhen Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Fund No. 1., Shenzhen Technology Transfer Promotion Center, Nanshan Science and Technology Innovation Bureau (SCI) and Longhua Science and Technology Innovation Bureau supported the meeting.