On the morning of May 18, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) and Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WETDZ) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build a Science and Technology Innovation Park for International Education (STIPIE) (Jun Mountain Campus) and a Future Technology Innovation Research Institute (FTIRI). Based on the agreement, both parties will boost the coordinated development of universities, research institutes, enterprises and society by further expanding their cooperation fields, promoting the collaboration between the university and local government and deepening the integration of industries and universities, creating a new blueprint for the development.

Liu Ziqing, Wuhan Municipal Standing Committee Member and Wuhan Economic Development Zone Working Committee Secretary, extended a warm welcome to HUST for being a part of WETDZ. He said that building campus from the Yujia Mountain to the Dajun Mountain represents not only the rapid development of HUST in time and space, but also its efforts to reach a new high. In the WETDZ, we will strive to facilitate the construction of HUST’s Jun Mountain campus, jointly build a high-level research institute of future technology innovation, accelerate the third phase construction of the West Hospital of Union Hospital, work together to establish a high-end think tank forum, as well as strengthen the training and exchanges of talents. Liu Ziqing remarked that HUSTers are more than welcomed to put what they have learned into real-life practice in WETDZ by integrating their knowledge and expertise with innovation opportunities.

Li Yuanyuan, Chair of the University Committee of HUST, expressed the gratitude to the long-term care and support of WETDZ for HUST. He pointed out that since renowned universities and cities always coexist and thrive together, "taking root in Hubei, serving Hubei, and developing Hubei" is the shared responsibility and glory of HUST and WETDZ. “Settling in Jun Mountain, seizing the opportunity, and starting a second business” are the common goals and expectations of both parties.

Li Yuanyuan emphasized that we would build the STIPIE into an innovative, open, interdisciplinary and world-class modern new campus by integrating education and research. The aim of the new campus is to cultivate and train outstanding engineers and innovative talents for the industrial development, advance scientific and technological progress, promote the international cooperation and exchange and finally serve the local community.

President You Zheng and Liu Ziqing signed the "WETDZ-HUST Strategic Cooperation Agreement” and " WETDZ-HUST Cooperation Agreement on the Joint Construction of HUST’s Science and Technology Innovation Park for International Education (Jun Mountain campus)”. Li Yuanyuan, You Zheng, Liu Ziqing, and Tang Chao jointly unveiled the Future Technology Innovation Research Institute of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Before the signing ceremony, delegations from both parties conducted an on-site inspection of the pilot base of the FTIRI and the STIPIE whose construction is on the way.

It is reported that STIPIE would address the major issues faced by the local community, industries and enterprises, such as challenges in advanced material & intelligent manufacturing, information technology & artificial intelligence, clean energy & environmental protection, life sciences & healthcare. The construction of the park is scheduled to begin in 2022, with the first phase expected to be completed for the enrollment of students in September 2024. Focusing on future technology projects such as automobile, new materials, new energy, digital economy, the FTIRI will build a fully functional professional technology platform and pilot test base, cultivate high-level academic and professional talents, and enhance the capacity to transfer scientific research achievements, so that it will become an important carrier for HUST to support local economic and social development.

Written by: Zhang Shizhe

Edited by: Chen Yuan, Jiang Jing