The last year is a year of progress for SUSTech and a year of significant yield for SUSTech’s research work. The university has successfully had approved 197 technology projects at all levels, with total funds of 372 million yuan. Its faculty published 783 academic papers and applied for 171 patents, while the Nature Index for growth ranked it 3rd. It also presented 35 high-tech projects at the China Hi-Tech Fair, and won one second prize of the National Natural Science Award.
Behind the inspiring figures are the painstaking efforts of SUSTech’s professors, SUSTech’s constant innovation in research systems and mechanisms, as well as the improvement of SUSTech’s research platforms.
Breakthrough is just for a new star.
In 2016, SUSTech achieved another major breakthrough in applications for the Shenzhen Peacock Projects. In August, Shenzhen’s first group of “peacock teams” for overseas high-level talents in 2016 was unveiled. SUSTech’s six teams (high-efficiency thermoelectric conversion materials and device team, third-generation gene sequencer R&D and industrialization team, X-LED advanced lighting and display technology innovation team, intelligent wireless terminal detection technology and industrialization R&D team, river basin water environment pollution treatment team, vehicle fuel cell stack technology development team) were listed, accounting for 50 percent of all listed teams. These teams won government subsidies of 190 million yuan.
In 2016, SUSTech won 197 technology projects at all levels from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Ministry of Education, Guangdong, Shenzhen and Nanshan, with total funds of 372 million yuan; over 60 professors of SUSTech won competitive research funds of over one million yuan. Of these professors, Liu Junguo, a professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, won the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, marking a breakthrough for SUSTech in this respect; as the undertaker of six projects under the Key R&D Program of MOST, SUSTech achieved a breakthrough in undertaking such projects; SUSTech’s research funds approved by the MOST soared from 423,000 yuan last year to 32.05 million yuan, marking a major breakthrough; on October 12, the Grubbs Institute Shenzhen, mainland China’s first research institute named after a Nobel laureate, was established at SUSTech; Li Chuangchuang, a professor at the Department of Chemistry, was included in the 2016 Innovative Talent Program of MOST to become SUSTech’s first national young and middle-aged leading innovation talent.
Astounding progress makes SUSTech more brilliant.
On July 28 2016, Nature magazine released the “Nature Index 2016 Rising Stars” report. SUSTech was placed 62nd among 100 countries and institutions that improved their high-quality research paper output most significantly, ranking third in research output growth and registering a growth rate of 2,442.49 percent. SUSTech’s weighted fractional count was 19.33 (from May 2015 to April 2016) in 2016, ranking 44th among listed Chinese universities.
In 2016, SUSTech’s teachers published 600 papers (393 papers published with SUSTech as the first author or the correspondent author) on international academic journals, 172 papers at international academic conferences, as well as 11 works; applied for 171 patents, including 132 patents for invention, eight utility model patents, 25 international patents (PCT) and six patents obtained abroad. SUSTech’s 11 patents for invention and nine utility model patents were authorized.
Technology innovation and production-learning-research integration attract social attention.
On November 16, 2016, SUSTech made its second appearance at the China Hi-Tech Fair with 35 high-tech research findings of professors and teachers. The Student Maker Center presented award-winning works such as “FPV Shooting Chariot”, “Touch-to-wake Alarm Clock”, “Remote Control Smart Clock” and “Mini 3D Printer”, attracting flocks of visitors.
In May 2016, over 50 SUSTech teachers were included in the expert bank of the State High-Tech Industrial Innovation Center, Shenzhen; SUSTech signed a strategic framework agreement on technology cooperation with Shenzhen Dapeng New Area Administrative Committee. Based on respective demands, the two sides will carry out multi-form and multi-level cooperation to promote the establishment of a regional technology innovation system, accelerate research carrier construction and achievement transformation, and advance the development of emerging strategic industries.
In 2016, SUSTech implemented the strategy of production-learning-research integration, encouraged teacher innovation and entrepreneurship and introduced and incubated some high-tech enterprises. So far SUSTech has established 13 technology enterprises through investment, shareholding and equity participation.
Efforts pay off, important awards favor SUSTech.
Good news poured in at the beginning of 2017: the 2016 National Science and Technology Awards were presented in Beijing, and the “Self-adaptive and High-precision Numerical Method and Its Theoretical Analysis”, a project led by Prof. Tang Tao, Vice President of SUSTech, won the Second Prize of the National Award for Natural Sciences. “Multi-interface Light-Thermal Coupling White Light LED Packaging Optimization Technology”, a project mainly completed by researchers including Wang Kai, an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of SUSTech, won the Second Prize of the National Award for Technical Invention.
In 2016, Chen Yifan, a professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Cheng Chun, an associate professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering won the 2015 and 2016 Shenzhen Youth Science & Technology Award respectively; Zhang Xumu, a professor at the Department of Chemistry, won the “Asian Core Program Network Lectureship Award”, while Hu Qing, a professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, won the “IBM Faculty Award”.
In 2016, SUSTech’s research work achieved constant breakthroughs, grew rapidly and reached a new level.
SUSTech is expected to get better in 2017.
