The HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD jointly operated by The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) is now open for application.  If you are interested in participating in practical entrepreneurship training and developing your research commercialisation skills, this is your chance to enter an excellent network of top scientists in different disciplines contributing to solving real-world problems and making positive impact to the world.   Apply now to unlock your potential in real-world experience!   Key Research Areas Optoelectronics Materials Environment Engineering Biomedical Engineering Intelligent Manufacturing   Programme FeaturesStudents under this Programme will be registered as a full-time 4-year PhD student in HKU, and be mentored by supervisors of both HKU and BICI. Admitted students are expected to spend two years at HKU and two years at BICI’s research centres in Beijing or Guangzhou and be engaged in practical project-based training together with peers across universities and disciplines. Upon successful completion of the programme and fulfilment of the graduation requirements of both HKU and BICI, students will be conferred a single PhD degree by HKU.   Financial SupportStudents admitted to this joint programme will receive scholarships for up to four years provided by BICI. During the student’s study period in HKU in Hong Kong, students will receive scholarships in accordance with the standard HKU Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) rate. During the residency at BICI or BICI’s designated project locations, the scholarships will be granted by BICI in accordance with its regulation and policies (up to RMB 20,000 per month).   ApplicationInterested applicants should contact the proposed supervisor at HKU and obtain his/her consent in advance before submitting an online application.  Competition is keen. Please refer to the below application deadlines and submit your application as early as possible:April 30, 2024 (Admission 2024/25 - first clearing round)August 31, 2024 (Admission 2024/25 - second clearing round)   Click here for more details.

With the support from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, the Center organised a parallel forum of the 2023 X-Lake Forum on November 17, 2023 to foster collaboration and innovation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The forum was a high-level event which brought together around 40 experts, scholars, and industry leaders from across disciplines to share their insights on cutting-edge technology innovation and development.

The Collaborative Innovation Forum 2023: Funding Disruptive Tech, co-organized by the HKU Collaborative Innovation Center (CIC) and the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC), successfully concluded on November 1, 2023. This significant gathering brought together over 50 participants, including delegates from the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) and members from HKU's research community. Themed around nurturing disruptive technologies, the event aimed at stimulating discussions and knowledge-sharing, fostering an environment of innovation and forward-thinking.   The event commenced on an inspiring note with welcome remarks delivered by Professor Alice Wong, co-director of HKU CIC, and Dr. Duoxiang Wang, Director of the Jingjinji National Center of Technology Innovation. Their words emphasized the importance of collaboration in translating scientific discoveries into world-changing innovations.   Dr. Xinjian Zhou, President of BICI, took the stage to deliver a captivating keynote presentation titled "Bridging Research to Impact: BICI Funding Models and Case Studies," engaging the audience with insights into the dos and don’ts in transforming exciting research outcomes into impactful products or solutions.   Subsequently, Mr. Pierre Wang, Assistant Director (Business Development) at HKU Technology Transfer Office, elaborated the HK$10 billion funding opportunities under the latest  Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+) by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC).   A pivotal moment occurred when Dr. Duoxiang Wang returned to elaborate on the topic of "National Disruptive Technology Innovation Organizational Model and Practice," sharing invaluable insights into this exciting funding opportunity that could ignite the next technological revolution.   The event concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion, "Meet the Scientist CEOs," moderated by Mr. Paul Wang, Director of HKU TEC. The esteemed panelists, including Dr. Junqi Wang, Founder and CEO of ChromX Health; Ms. Li Li, Investment Director at BASF Venture Capital; Dr. Xinjian Zhou, President of BICI; and Professor Pengtao Liu from HKU School of Biomedical Sciences, provided diverse and enlightening perspectives. The discussion offered a comprehensive view of the entire journey, illuminating the challenges scientist-entrepreneurs faced and successfully overcame, leaving the audience with valuable insights into the process.   After the Forum, the HKU CIC and BICI team also conducted one-on-one meetings with the interested researchers to gain a deeper understanding of their research projects and provide guidance on funding opportunities and the next steps.   The HKU Collaborative Innovation Center will act as a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering collaboration between academia and industry to propel groundbreaking technological advancements. With an extensive network of visionary scholars, innovative entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, the Center is well-positioned to make a significant and enduring impact on the technology and innovation landscape at HKU and beyond.

HKU and the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) held a Plaque Unveiling Ceremony on May 23, 2023, to mark the establishment of the HKU Collaborative Innovative Center in Hong Kong.   Established under a partnership agreement between the University and BICI, the Center aims to promote translational research projects and to enhance collaboration in scientific research, technology commercialisation and talent training.    The ceremony was officiated by Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), and Professor Alice Wong, Associate Vice-President (Research) from HKU, and Dr Duoxiang Wang, President, and Dr Xinjian Zhou, Vice-President (Global Collaboration) from BICI.    In his welcoming address, Professor Shen said, “The HKU Collaborative Innovation Center is a testament to the University’s ongoing commitment to research excellence and innovation. It will bring together top researchers and industry partners to work on cutting-edge research projects to find solutions to complex problems, create new knowledge and nurture future talents. BICI has established strong collaborative relationships with top international universities worldwide. We are very excited about this meaningful partnership between HKU and BICI. I look forward to the fruitful accomplishment brought by this cooperation and the remarkable contributions that this Center will make to the HKU community and beyond.”   Dr Wang said, “Industrialisation of R&D outcome is important to technological advancement. Our partnership with HKU as a world-renowned institution will leverage the collaborative strengths and give full play to the respective advantages of HKU and BICI in academic and research excellence, high-quality students and technology acceleration. By developing an innovative and effective mechanism that combines R&D, industrialisation and talent training, we hope that the Center will foster original technologies and emerging industries, not only making contributions to our society, but also supporting HKU’s ongoing mission and dedication to education, innovation and entrepreneurship.”   At the ceremony, HKU and BICI also signed an agreement on a joint training programme for PhD to nurture future talents in innovation and technology, followed by an information session in which Dr Zhou introduced to participants the collaborative framework and funding opportunities for joint research and development. 

HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD is now open for applications.   Admitted students will receive joint supervision from HKU and Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI), financial support throughout the four years of study and full access to the academic and research facilities in HKU and BICI.   In addition to traditional PhD training, students will spend two years at BICI’s research centres in Beijing and Guangzhou and be engaged in practical entrepreneurship training on real-world projects.   Apply now or before August 31, 2023 for commencement of study on April 1, 2024.   Click here for more details.