Serving the country's national strategy and economic and social development is an important function and mission of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). Taking guidance from the national strategic plan, the University has introduced its own strategies and action plans as guidelines. In 2022, it made remarkable achievements in university-government cooperation, university-enterprise cooperation, and major projects.

Building a stronger university through cooperation agreements

SUSTech is deeply involved in the implementation of major national strategies in the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It cooperates with local governments to carry out in-depth cooperation, jointly promote the construction of major projects and platforms, and carry out high-level talent training and discipline construction to promote regional and national economic and social development.

SUSTech has led the construction project of Shenzhen Ocean University. As the preparatory unit, SUSTech has coordinated with all relevant parties to promote the progress of both universities in terms of discipline construction, project application, land use planning, and campus construction.

In May, SUSTech signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Guizhou Province. In the context of the country's east-west collaboration and development of the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, SUSTech will strengthen its cooperation between universities and institutions in Guizhou Province, and provide support for economic and social development in the region. Both parties also agreed to jointly establish a Green Industrial Technology Research Institute to strengthen cooperation in education, talent training, and talent exchanges, and to provide intellectual and technical support for Guiyang's economic and social development.

SUSTech and the Dapeng New District Management Committee signed a strategic cooperation agreement in June. Both parties agreed to cooperate in many areas, such as talent training, scientific research, technology transfer, basic education teaching in schools, and the joint construction of an ocean science research institute and a high-tech industrial base. At the same time, both sides will continue to collaborate in science and education integration and university-industry research.

SUSTech also cooperated with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) to establish a joint research center for new materials. Both parties aim to strengthen scientific research cooperation, talent training, and academic exchanges in the field of new materials, and to carry out basic and forward-looking research and application technology development in the area of new materials. At the same time, SUSTech and Qinghai Normal University (QNU) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly serve the economic and social development of the western region of the country.

In urban basic education, the University is commited to building an innovative affiliated education group with the implementation of science and technology education at its core, with characteristics of internationalization, modernization, informatization, and exploration of future education to provide better basic education to society.

The High School Affiliated to SUSTech (HSAS) made a breakthrough in enrolling students from the 2022 Shenzhen Middle School Entrance Examination. Since its enrollment began three years ago, the school's admission score has continued to rise, with its enrollment ranking being recognized across the city. In September, the Pingshan School Affiliated to SUSTech opened and began to enroll students, contributing to the development of education in Pingshan and Baoan District.

In July 2022, the first affiliated school of SUSTech in Guangming District was officially established. The new school was named Guangming School Affiliated to SUSTech (Phoenix). This cooperation between the school and the district is a new attempt by SUSTech and Guangming District to strengthen basic education in the area.

Serving scientific and technological innovation in the GBA

As a new type of research university, SUSTech aims to develop and grow at the same pace as Shenzhen and the GBA. Guided by the National Deployment Support Development Strategy and the Major Strategic Guidance Plan, the University will continue to drive scientific and technological innovation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region to play a more prominent role in the overall development of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao (GBA), truly reflecting the advantages of the principle "one country, two systems".

Focusing on the needs of industrial development in the GBA, SUSTech has built scientific research institutions such as science centers and joint laboratories in the fields of energy materials, fluid mechanics engineering applications, and nanotechnology. The University also plays an important role in promoting discipline construction, talent training, and scientific research of universities in the GBA, and promotes the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with economic and social development in the region.