2020 marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). First-class cities breed first-class universities, and first-class universities lead to the development of a city. SUSTech’s spirit is deeply integrated with the spirit of Shenzhen. With support from all walks of life, SUSTech supports China’s initiative of building an innovative country and Shenzhen’s strategy for a more creative, advanced, and international metropolis.

SUSTech explores industry-university-research innovative system

Entrepreneurship is one of the characteristics of SUSTech. In 2020, the University, with an aim at the strategic emerging industries and future industries in Shenzhen, strengthened cooperation with universities in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with local community and enterprises, and promote regional innovation and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

On December 24, 2020, China’s State Council launched the third batch of 92 demonstration bases of mass entrepreneurship and innovation to stabilize the job market. SUSTech Science Park established by SUSTech Asset Management Co., Ltd (Asset Company) was among the list. This is the first national platform of entrepreneurship in the University.

Through policy and service support, SUSTech encourages faculty and students to innovate and start businesses. It has invested in the establishment of 52 Hi-tech innovation companies, with nearly 200 patents being transferred. A total of 103 technological achievements have been transferred and transformed in 2020. The ownership of 20 technological achievements was granted to researchers for the first time.

Apostle, nurtured in the University, is a provider of technologies and services for public health and life sciences. It has processed over 6 million samples. The technology of micro-mineral separation developed by SUSTech researcher Ke LIU partly solved the problems of the shortage of petroleum in China and the pollution of gasoline and diesel, which has been applied in an industrial park in Shandong province.

Joint laboratories were co-established by the Universities and enterprises. As of December 2020, 41 joint science and technology institutions, including 14 new ones in 2020, have been set up. More than 20 foreign scientific research institutions have been invited to Shenzhen for exchanges and cooperation, with more than 60 commercialized scientific and technological achievements.

The year 2020 saw an increase in the application number of intellectual property rights. A total of 735 patent applications were submitted by the University (a year-on-year increase of 37.4%), including 674 domestic patent applications and 562 domestic invention patent applications. There were 47 PCT international patent applications and 14 overseas patent applications. A total of 276 patents were granted, up 79.2% year on year. A total of 24 software copyrights got registered.

The year 2020 witnessed successful results of industry-university-research cooperation. The University led the key provincial project on new energy vehicle research and two COVID-19 research projects, hosted the 6th Internet Plus Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, Salon for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a Forum on Intellectual Property Securitization and Scientific and Technological Achievements Transformation of Xili Lake International Science and Education Town. The University also signed 10 practice education bases for masters of Engineering, including DJI and SenseTime.

SUSTech gains support in anti-epidemic battle and 10^th-anniversary celebration

In 2020, SUSTech received a total of 5,289 donations, totaling more than 100 million RMB. During the period of epidemic prevention and control, local companies donated epidemic prevention materials to help the University to keep everyone healthy and safe. Shenzhen Hanwei Intelligent Medical Technology Co., Ltd. donated medical supplies to the Second Affiliated Hospital of SUSTech. Shenzhen Sitan Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Zhongzhi Wei’an Robot Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Kewei Robot Service Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Nanke New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch of Agricultural Bank of China, and other companies provided anti-epidemic materials for faculty members and students. The SUSTech Education Foundation and the Office of Human Resources carried out a donation campaign and raised 364,700 RMB. 

During the 10th anniversary, the SUSTech Education Foundation held five activities and invited nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs to the campus. Leaders and staff of the Foundation Office visited nearly 200 companies. In 2020, SUSTech received great support and care from the general public.

The University organized a total of 14 science promotion activities throughout the year, bringing the popular science lecture out of the campus, and the “Science popularization public event” became a brand of campus culture.

In December, the ninth and general working meeting of the SUSTech Education Foundation second council was held. 33 representatives of entrepreneurs and donors participated in the meeting, which discussed the innovation and development of the University and the Foundation.

In 2020, the SUSTech Education Foundation funded a total of 60 projects to support SUSTech’s innovative development in research, university development, faculty development, talent training, campus construction, and education.

SUSTech makes significant progress in local poverty alleviation

In 2020, under the leadership of the school party committee and the support of all the teachers and students, SUSTech has seen significant achievements in helping a provincial poverty-stricken village in Chaotian, Heyuan City, Heping County. At present, all 109 people from 31 poor households in the village are living more comfortably compared to live before the support. Various targets have been achieved in the battle against poverty.

In 2020, the University made huge efforts to help the poor through party building, industry, and education, with an investment of nearly 3 million RMB. Village-based teams spared no effort in carrying out poverty alleviation work. The leaders of SUSTech visited the village of Chaotian to give a lecture and to resolve some practical problems. 68 party branches carried out various forms of assistance, and more than 100 party branch secretaries and party member representatives visited the village to comfort underprivileged households. SUSTech teachers and students went to Chaotian Primary School to give lectures on popular science.

Following the requirements of the poverty alleviation taskforce, SUSTech achieved its target of helping to alleviate poverty and build the village party organization into a team that continues its work. The University has set up a new group to assist with poverty alleviation, representing SUSTech to help poor families. In addition, from the summer of 2019 to June 2020, the University selected three students to carry out practical exercises in Chaotian village to assist the village party organization and the work team stationed there.

SUSTech successfully implemented the “industry and consumption” poverty alleviation mechanism, provided consumption poverty alleviation of about 1.2 million RMB, pushed forward the renewal of land leases for the passion fruit industrial base, focused on strengthening the village’s economy, and assisted in coordinating the development of the industry.

The University donated microscopes, books, and sports equipment to Chaotian primary school. SUStech teachers and students also gave some popular science lectures, such as lessons on bioenergy, the amazing world of photons, magical chemistry, a journey to quantum technology journey and an introduction to 3D printing.

The year 2020 witnessed the cooperation and interaction of the University with society. In 2021, at the start of the new decade, SUSTech will continue to explore a new model of integration with society, pooling the strength of all sectors to make more contributions to national construction and social development.