The Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) recently hosted its Annual Research Symposium 2024 at the University’s College of Science.
The event, held on December 21, was presided over by Jiaqing HE, Director of the Office of Research.
Attendees included members of the University’s leadership team, such as University Council Chairperson Hong JIANG, President Qikun XUE, Vice President Xueming YANG, Acting Vice Presidents Jinfeng JIA and Xiaodong HAN, along with heads and directors of various centers, institutions, and departments within SUSTech.
Other notable guests in attendance included Hai ZHONG, Deputy Director of the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
SUSTech continues to meet the nation’s and the region’s key strategic demands, with the goal of becoming a globally influential research university, President Qikun XUE underlined.
He emphasized that top-tier universities are distinguished by their world-class scientific research, which is built upon exceptional academic resources and ecosystems.
President XUE highlighted the importance of strengthening scientific and technological innovation to meet national and regional strategic needs, fostering new productivity, and driving the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent.
SUSTech will commemorate its 15th anniversary in 2025, which is a significant milestone in the University’s “three-step” strategy. He called for efforts to optimize resource allocation, improve research efficiency, and elevate the University’s research work to new heights.
Representatives from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) presented reports on science and technology policies, funding opportunities, and reform measures in 2024. The NSFC acknowledged SUSTech’s achievements in 2024 and expressed confidence in the University’s future progress.
Deputy Director Hai ZHONG noted Shenzhen’s comprehensive new science and technology framework, which encompasses basic research, applied R&D, achievement transformation, platform development, and talent cultivation. He expressed hope that SUSTech and Shenzhen’s growing innovation ecosystem will continue to strive to build an international science and technology innovation center.
The symposium also commemorated the inauguration of six research institutions at SUSTech, which were established from December 2023 to the present.
These institutions are dedicated to advancing research in critical fields, including ocean science, microscopy, robotics, homeostatic medicine, artificial intelligence, and new materials, in order to meet the strategic needs of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
They included the Advanced Institute for Ocean Research, the Institute of Microscopy Technology, the Institute of Robotics, the Homeostatic Medicine Institute, the Advanced Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Institute of Major Scientific Facilities for New Materials.
Vice President Xueming YANG presented awards to individuals and teams for their significant contributions to scientific research work and projects.
Additionally, Liyuan ZHANG, Deputy Head of the Department of Physics; Xinyuan LIU, Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry; and Bo TANG, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, shared their scientific research achievements.
Vice President YANG also provided an analysis of SUSTech’s 2024 research work achievements and outlined plans for 2025. The report spanned various domains, including academic papers, approval of scientific research project applications, construction of scientific research platforms, university-industry and university-enterprise cooperation, intellectual property and transformation of achievements, and laboratory safety management, amongst others.
During the afternoon sub-forum, participants engaged in discussions centered on systematically advancing organized scientific research and promoting the integration of science, technology, and humanities.
The sub-forum was summarized by Shuhong YU, Dean of the College of Science; Yi GONG, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College of Engineering; Maofu LIAO, Director of the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Center; and Yuehong CHEN, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who offered valuable suggestions for enhancing SUSTech’s scientific research efforts.
In her concluding remarks, Chairperson Hong JIANG expressed her gratitude to the faculty members and staff committed to SUSTech’s scientific research work and teaching.
She noted that the symposium, which was problem-oriented, facilitated meaningful exchanges and reflections, helping to identify common challenges faced by the University. It also provided direction and a foundation for furthering reforms, with the goal of utilizing these insights to contribute to the building of a strong nation in science, technology, and education.
