On December 19, the Conference on the Integrated Development of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation was held on Nanjing University's Suzhou Campus. Liu Xiaotao, Governor of Jiangsu Province; Fan Bo, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee; Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) attended the conference and delivered speeches. The event was presided over by Tan Zhemin, President of NJU and Academician of the CAS.
By the picturesque shore of Taihu Lake and beneath Zhuangli Mountain, the newly unveiled Suzhou campus of Nanjing University was graced by a distinguished gathering of guests and luminaries. The conference aimed at vigorously promoting the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation and accelerating the unified development of education, technology, and talent. It attracted participation from various sectors including government, industry, academia, and research, to share achievements, spark wisdom, and build consensus.
In his address, Fan Bo remarked that the construction of NJU's Suzhou campus represents a pioneering effort to implement President Xi Jinping's important instruction to build the "unique Nanjing University," and is a proactive exploration to fulfill the Provincial Party Committee and Government's call for "dual-high synergy" innovation development. He affirmed Suzhou's continued commitment to providing an optimal environment for the development of the Suzhou campus, for investment by enterprises, and for talent innovation and entrepreneurship, jointly contributing to Jiangsu's leadership and demonstration role in advancing Chinese modernization.
Tan Tieniu stated that the conference exemplifies the active implementation of President Xi Jinping's important directives, and is a powerful measure to thoroughly study and apply the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It signifies the full inauguration of the Suzhou campus and a new chapter for Nanjing University’s development. He emphasized that the university will further strengthen its foundation in research, strive for leadership in core technologies, expedite the translation of research into results, and write a splendid chapter integrating technological innovation with industrial advancement, making greater contributions to the development of both the nation and Jiangsu.
Tan Zhemin chairs the conference
The conference unfolded in three main sections, jointly witnessing the university’s development, the integration of university and local industry, and the fusion of technological and industrial innovation.
In the "University Construction and Development" segment, attending representatives received reports on the progress of the Suzhou campus and witnessed the inauguration of five colleges: the National School of Outstanding Engineers, the School of Future Technologies, the School of Robotics and Automation, the School of Advanced Manufacturing, and the School of Biomedical Engineering.
Tan Tieniu, Tan Zhemin, Jiang Yong, Director of Jiangsu Education Department; and Wang Tianqi Jiangsu Director of the Department of Finance of Jiangsu Province unveiled the National School of Outstanding Engineers. The National School of Outstanding Engineers is dedicated to cultivating engineers with exceptional innovative capabilities and the ability to tackle complex engineering challenges.
Tan Tieniu, Tan Zhemin, Xuguanghui, Director of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology; and Zhu Congming, Director of the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Jiangsu Province unveiled the Schools of Future Technologies, Robotics and Automation, Advanced Manufacturing, and Biomedical Engineering.The four schools will focus on future industries and breakthroughs in key core technologies.
Suo Wenbin, Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee and Vice President of NJU delivered the development report for the Suzhou campus.
In the "University-Local Integrated Development" segment, the "NJU Innovation Circle Plan" was officially released, with the rooting of both the Nanjing University National University Science Park (Suzhou) and the Suzhou New District "Dual-high synergy" results transformation base. Concurrently, the "NJU Innovation Circle Alliance" was launched to facilitate resource sharing and cooperation among universities, research institutes, enterprises, and financial institutions, thus advancing the efficient transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
Wu Qi, Deputy Secretary of Suzhou New District Party Committee and Chief of Huqiu District released the "Innovation Circle" construction plan.
Wu Qingwen, Mayor of Suzhou Municipal People's Government; Gu Haidong, Standing Committee Member of the Standing Committe of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Suzhou;Yu Yu, Secretary of Suzhou New District Party Working Committee; Zheng Hairong, Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee, Vice President and Academician of the CAS; Liu Miao, Deputy Chair of NJU CPC Council; and Wen Yu, Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee jointly initiated the two base constructions.
Ding Aijun, Assistant President of NJU, along with representatives of research institutes such as the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, CAS, jointly launched the "Innovation Circle Alliance."
Looking ahead, the eight colleges of Suzhou campus will form innovation alliances with the Suzhou International Energy Transformation Federation, Suzhou Photonics Industry Federation, Suzhou Artificial Intelligence Industry Association, Suzhou Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Alliance, and 44 key enterprises of Suzhou to jointly promote the transformation of achievements. Moreover, to cultivate the innovation ecosystem, Nanjing University issued "Innovation Card-Passes" to more than 100 key enterprise R&D personnel within the High-tech Zone, granting them free access to the campus and, in stages, to book and use various academic, scientific, and cultural facilities.
Jiang Tian, Assistant President of NJU, representatives from industry associations, and signing companies jointly launched the "Academia-Enterprise Innovation Alliance."
Qi Song, Member of the Standing Committee of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee; Mao Wei,Vice Mayor of Suzhou; Zhou Zhihua,Vice President of NJU and Academician of the CAS; Li Bin, Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee and Assistant President; Sun Leqiang; Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee conferred the "Innovation Passcards."
In the "Integration of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation" segment, Nanjing University signed agreements with companies such as Insta360, Siemens, Saturn Technology, NARI, Jingfeng Group, and HSC Corporation to co-establish the first university-enterprise joint laboratories. The NJU Education Development Foundation, in partnership with alumni enterprises and financial institutions, officially launched the "Nanyong Science and Innovation Fund Initiative." The inaugural Nanyong Fund, co-sponsored by the university foundation, E Fund Private Placement, Guangzhou Financial Holdings, and the Nantong Alumni Association, has an initial scale of one hundred million yuan and will facilitate the commercial application of high-quality scientific and technological achievements by alumni, faculty, and students. That day also marked the launch of the NJU Innovation Circle OPC Community, jointly built with Suzhou New District and operated with Suzhou Oriza Holdings, with special OPC Entrepreneurship Boot Camps to provide end-to-end support—from training to funding—for OPC projects incubated by NJU students and faculty.
Lu Yanqing, Vice President of NJU and company representatives jointly inaugurated the university-enterprise joint laboratories.
Suo Wenbin, with representatives from the Nantong Alumni Association and financial institutions, issued the "Nanyong Science and Innovation Fund."
Lu Xiancai, Member of the Standing Committe of the CPC Nanjing University Committee and Vice President; Liu Bo,Vice Mayor of Suzhou;Yu Meihua, Member of the Suzhou New District Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the District Administrative Committee; and company representatives jointly launched the OPC Ecosystem Community.
The keynote report session was hosted by Zheng Hairong. Keynote speeches were delivered by Zhang Yudong, Member of the Standing Committee of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former Vice Minister of Science and Technology;Chen Kaixian, Researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS and Academician of the CAS; and Wang Xiaoyun, Chief Scientist of China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). The attendees explored new concepts, mechanisms, and pathways for the integration of technological and industrial innovation.
Zhang Yudong delivers his keynote speech.
Chen Kaixian delivers his keynote speech.
Wang Xiaoyun delivers her keynote speech.
Prior to the conference, leaders and guests visited the NJU Exhibition of Technological and Industrial Innovation Achievements, which showcased 219 exhibits from 147 technology innovation teams, systematically illustrating the "from science to technology, from laboratory to production line" innovation ecosystem following the integrated chain of basic research, technology development, and result transformation.
Later that day, the unveiling ceremony of the Nanjing University name stone was held. The inscribed stone shall serve as a lasting legacy, symbolizing the university's enduring wisdom and Suzhou's collective strength. Here, a magnificent new scroll for promoting Chinese modernization unfolds gracefully.
The event was attended by Ma Yuqiang, Vice-Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Academician of the CAS; Zhang Rong, Xiamen University Party Secretary and Academician of the CAS; Zhao Jianjun, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Secretary-General of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government; Hu Jinbo, former NJU Party Secretary; Chen Yi, former Acting President of NJU and Academician of the CAS; CAS Academicians Wang Ying, Guo Zijian, Yang Jingsui, Shi Yi, Chen Yanfeng; CAE AcademicianZhang Quanxing; Zhao Shuming, University Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and other guests, as well as responsible persons from relevant departments and units of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou City and NJU, faculty members, students and alumni of NJU, and representatives from partner enterprises.
