City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University (SMU) signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on 20 March to jointly promote scientific research, technology transformation and talent cultivation.

Officiating at the Signing Ceremony at CityUHK were Professor Liu Shuwen, Vice-President of SMU, Dr Xiao Liehui, Party Secretary of Shenzhen Hospital of SMU, Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President, and Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityUHK Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise). The agreement was signed by Dr Xiao and Professor Yang, and witnessed by Professor Liu and President Boey.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Shenzhen Hospital of SMU,” said President Boey, adding that both sides will jointly promote development and cooperation in the fields of life sciences, digital medicine, computer science and biomedical engineering, paving the way to establishing the Institute of Digital Medicine at CityUHK.

“Shenzhen Hospital of SMU will provide us with clinical resources and support to assist us in developing relevant research and projects,” he said. “Based on our expertise in technology transfer, we will assist Shenzhen Hospital of SMU in conducting clinical research or medical transformation in cell therapy and gene therapy.”

Professor Liu said this cooperation is an important initiative to deepen cooperation between the affiliated hospital of SMU and a university in Hong Kong, and to promote in-depth collaboration between the two places.

He pointed out that CityUHK has a solid foundation in various fields of research, including biomedical sciences, biomedical materials, public health, AI and digital health. “CityUHK is a world-class university with a strong reputation both domestically and internationally,” Professor Liu said. “We hope that through our joint efforts, we can work towards the goal of ‘higher, further, faster’, actively building new advantages in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and providing international standard, high-quality, accessible medical services for the people of Hong Kong and Macao, Shenzhen and overseas residents.

Before the signing ceremony, both sides introduced their technological innovation developments and related policies, aiming to practise “Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation” and “internationalisation”, leveraging their respective advantages to promote platform and resource sharing and establish science and technological innovation platforms at the provincial and municipal levels and in the Qianhai Free Trade Zone. The two parties are also actively exploring the joint organisation of relevant degree or non-degree programmes to enhance the dissemination of cutting-edge theoretical and practical knowledge, and academic exchanges.

In addition, CityUHK faculty introduced scientific research projects, covering the fields of biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, infectious diseases and public health, demonstrating their outstanding research results.

Members of the delegation from SMU and the Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality included Dr Zheng Pusheng, Deputy Director of the Office of the CPC Committee of SMU; Professor Liu Yajie, Vice-President of Shenzhen Hospital of SMU, Professor Guo Xia, Ministry of Science & Innovation Department, and Dr Chen Ling, Staff Member of the Nursing Department of Shenzhen Hospital of SMU; Mr Zhang Wenji, Senior Administrative Officer of the Department of Social Development Promotion (International Cooperation Department) of the Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality; Mr Liu Liang, Managing Director, Mr Luo Kun, Chief Director, and Ms Niu Jun, Account Manager of Shenzhen Comen Medical Instruments Co., Ltd; Dr Au Siu-kie, Director of the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Oncology Center; and Mr Tong Ka-kei, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre.

CityUHK senior management and faculty attending the meeting included Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement); Professor Johnny Ho Chung-yin, Associate Vice-President (Enterprise); Professor Denvid Lau Tak-bun, Associate Director of the CityUHK Academy of Innovation; Mr Chen Junduo, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute; Professor He Jufang, Head of the Department of Neuroscience and Wong Chun Hong Chair Professor of Translational Neuroscience; Professor Zhang Yong, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Professor Kannie Chan Wai-yan, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Professor Chen Chia-hung and Professor Chen Ting-hsuan from the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Professor Yin Huiyong, Associate Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences; Professor He Mingliang and Professor Zhang Liang from the Department of Biomedical Sciences; and Professor Li Runsheng and Professor Yang Guan from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health.