On May 7, the "Fusion Development, Sci-Tech Innovation for the Future" the Third Jiangsu-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Cooperation Salon was held on Nanjing University's Suzhou Campus, hosted by NJU and Hong Kong Jiangsu Community Association. Tang Yingnian, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and founding president of the Hong Kong Jiangsu Community Association, Zhao Yan, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yao Maolong, CPPCC member and president of the Hong Kong Jiangsu Community Association, attended the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Zhao Yan highlighted the longstanding cooperation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong. In recent years, the collaboration has deepened, with expanding platforms for exchange and communication, yielding fruitful results that showcase the unique advantages and significant achievements of Jiangsu-Hong Kong innovation cooperation under the framework of "one country, two systems." Hong Kong, as an international financial center and global exchange hub, possesses inherent advantages in technology innovation and international influence. Jiangsu, as a major province in economy, science, education, and openness, boasts a strong industrial foundation and a favorable innovation ecosystem. The two regions complement each other well and are poised to lead the wave of the era in the field of artificial intelligence, opening a new chapter of win-win cooperation. Zhao Yan stated that both sides will jointly build a highland for AI innovation, create AI application scenarios, and develop an AI talent ecosystem, continuously advancing Jiangsu-Hong Kong innovation cooperation to new heights and achieving new successes.
Tan Tieniu welcomed the guests on behalf of Nanjing University. He noted that the Jiangsu-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Cooperation Salon has become a brand event for collaboration between the two regions, with increasing influence. This salon continues to focus on cutting-edge disciplines, national needs, and regional requirements, demonstrating the firm determination of Nanjing University, Jiangsu, and Hong Kong to embrace the future and jointly draw an innovation blueprint. Tan Tieniu expressed hope that this salon would be an opportunity to promote Jiangsu-Hong Kong cooperation using AI as a link to build innovation platforms, strengthen basic and technical research, share industrial opportunities, deepen scenario integration, cultivate an innovation ecosystem, and continuously stimulate talent vitality. NJU will strive to contribute to the construction of a strong, prosperous, beautiful, and high-quality new Jiangsu, and the establishment of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology center, making new and greater contributions to the comprehensive advancement of China's modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
In his speech, Yao Maolong pointed out that this salon attracted joint participation from universities in Jiangsu and Hong Kong, which will surely promote closer innovation and technology exchanges and cooperation between the two regions. He stated that AI has fully entered our lives, and the Hong Kong Jiangsu Community Association has always placed great emphasis on the cultivation of professional talent, promoting cooperation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong in fields such as innovation and technology. In the future, the association will continue to deepen multi-party exchanges and cooperation, play a bridging role, and promote collaboration in AI technology industrialization and other areas, contributing wisdom and strength to the rapid development of new productivity in Jiangsu and Hong Kong.
In a video address, Sun Dong, Secretary of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated that AI is an important engine driving innovation, and both Jiangsu and Hong Kong have elevated AI to a strategic position. In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR government has introduced a series of policy measures to support the development of the AI industry. There is significant space for cooperation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong in the AI industry, and the Hong Kong SAR government will continue to deepen sci-tech exchanges and cooperation with Jiangsu, jointly contributing greater strength to the high-quality development of national innovation and technology.
With the theme "AI Without Borders, Jiangsu-Hong Kong Together," this salon featured keynote reports, roundtable discussions, and enterprise visits. Qin Sizhao, Lingnan University President and Fellow of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, and Li Ming, Dean of NJU School of Artificial Intelligence delivered keynote speeches titled "Higher Education Transformation in the AI Era" and "Large Code Models: Status and Challenges," respectively. During the roundtable salon, experts and scholars from universities such as the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Education University, and Nanjing University, along with industry representatives, engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as AI empowering new industrialization and the integration of education and technology talent in the AI era. During enterprise visits, participants deepened exchanges, built consensus, and sought development together.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Suo Wenbin, Vice President of NJU. Attendees included responsible persons of relevant units in Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, industry leaders, representatives of the Hong Kong Jiangsu Community Association, experts and scholars from universities in Jiangsu and Hong Kong.
