It was an opportunity to establish ongoing collaborations in building knowledge-based partnerships that can transform society in Australia, China and worldwide.
Coinciding with the 75th anniversaries of both UNSW Sydney and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Torch Technology Roadshow 2024 kicked off on 14 October in Longgang District, Shenzhen.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise Professor Bronwyn Fox, accompanied by Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry and Innovation Professor Stephen Rodda, led 21 UNSW delegates to Shenzhen, Wuxi and Shanghai. At the event, our delegates showcased UNSW’s innovative technologies around clean energy, water and environment, health, and biotech and digital transformations.
“The former Australian prime minister and the former Chinese premier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UNSW and the Ministry of Science and Technology in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in April 2016 to establish the first industry-led Torch Innovation Precinct outside China. Since then, we have signed more than A$100 million in research contracts with more than 130 companies from China,” said Professor Fox.
“UNSW Chinese industry partners Beroni Group, Beijing Origin Water, China Coal Technology Engineering Group, Jinko Solar, Shenzhen Kohodo have all established Australia-based companies. The UNSW Torch initiatives will assist both our nations to advance scientific and technological progress that can help the entire world better prepare for the future.”
More than 150 representatives from local high-tech companies, investment groups and industry incubators attended. The delegation also toured local innovation facilities, gaining insights into Shenzhen’s dynamic ecosystem.
From Shenzhen to Wuxi
The Roadshow’s second stop was Wuxi, a major city in the Yangtze River Delta and home to the UNSW Centre for Transformational Environmental Technologies (CTET). More than 100 attendees from government agencies, industry partners, investors and research institutions joined.
Preceding this, the University signed a seed funding agreement with the National Innovation Centre par Excellence, consisting of partnerships with Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), Shanghai Yangtze Delta Innovation Institute, Wuxi Industrial Innovation Research Institute and Huangyan Taizhou in Zhejiang Province. Along with the Roadshow event, this has helped to reinforce a foundation for future industry collaborations in the region.
The final stop
Our last event in Shanghai’s Yangpu District fostered discussions on the commercialisation of UNSW technologies and brought together close to 100 industry representatives.
As a global tech hub and home to UNSW China Centre, Shanghai has built strong ties with UNSW in multiple fields. Yangpu officials expressed commitment to localising UNSW breakthroughs, particularly in health and biotech, as well as green, low-carbon technologies. During business matching sessions, UNSW experts engaged with attendees, fostering new partnerships and establishing a foundation for impactful cooperation.
See the highlight video for more information about the Torch Technology Roadshow 2024.
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