“IDEA Class”, a joint doctoral training program co-sponsored by HKSTU(GZ) and IDEA, aims to cultivate world-class and top-notch innovative talent
On July 4, 2022, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (“HKSTU(GZ)”) and the International Digital Economy Academy (“IDEA”) signed a joint PhD student training cooperation agreement. Both sides are dedicated to nurturing top-notch PhD students at the international level, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology for the digital economy, in a bid to facilitate high-end talent training and scientific and technological advancement in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The powerful combination of both sides will produce tip-top talent with international competitiveness and practical innovation capability. The admission of the first joint training PhD students is scheduled for the fall of 2023.
Signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement
The signing ceremony was held on the launching campus of HKSTU(GZ) in Nansha District, Guanzhou. Prof. Lionel M. Ni, president of HKUST (GZ) and academician Shen Xiangyang, founder and chairman of IDEA attended the ceremony and signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of both sides. Wu Jingshen, vice president of HKSTU(GZ), Xie Danyang, acting dean of Society Hub of HKSTU(GZ), Li Bin, special assistant to the president of HKUST (GZ) and director of the President’s Office of HKUST (GZ), Xiong Hui, AI Thrust head of HKSTU(GZ), Guo Jian, executive president of IDEA, Chen Zhihong, director of the President’s Office of IDEA, and Zhang Linlin, director of academic cooperation of IDEA also attended the signing ceremony.
The group photo of representatives of both sides
The “IDEA Class”, a joint doctoral training program signed by both sides this time was jointly launched by HKUST(GZ) President Prof. Lionel M. Ni and academician Shen Xiangyang. It is a key program to deepen strategic cooperation between HKUST (GZ) and IDEA.
On June 1, 2021, HKUST (GZ), which was under preparation, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with IDEA. Both sides plan to conduct deep and strategic cooperation in such fields as talent recruitment, student cultivation, project cooperation, and sharing of scientific and technological resources in the forms of joint construction.
After one-year of discussion and preparation as well as the official approval by the Ministry of Education for the establishment of HKUST (GZ), both sides have promptly taken a step forward to jointly train PhD students. It is also the first joint PhD students training program initiated after the establishment of HKUST (GZ). Based on the agreement signed this time, the research focus of the “IDEA Class” includes AI and cutting-edge technology for the digital economy, striving to develop features and advantages in AI in FinTech, robotics and AI automation, computer vision, and other fields. By virtue of the strong teaching force and research equipment of HKUST (GZ) and the unique mode of research and talent cultivation of IDEA, conditions will be created to enable students to master research and development ability for cutting-edge technologies. The powerful combination of both sides will produce tip-top talent with international competitiveness and practical innovation capability. The admission of the first joint training PhD students is scheduled for the fall of 2023.
For the cooperation of both sides, HKUST(GZ) President Prof. Lionel M. Ni said, academician Shen Xiangyang had a deep bond with HKUST and we were very glad to embrace our deep cooperation with IDEA after the official approval by the Ministry of Education for the establishment of HKUST (GZ), which I believe will produce win-win results. Both sides would work in tandem to contribute to the scientific and technological innovation and talent training in GBA with strengths given full play.
HKUST(GZ) President Prof. Lionel M. Ni speaks at the ceremony
When addressing the ceremony, academician Shen Xiangyang said, it was with great joy that IDEA could cooperate with HKUST (GZ), hoping that both sides would make unprecedented and groundbreaking achievements with an innovative spirit of entrepreneurs.”
Academician Shen Xiangyang speaks at the ceremony
Before the signing ceremony, academician Shen Xiangyang gave a brilliant thematic speech for teachers and students of HKUST (GZ), both online and offline. He shared his personal experience and unique lessons in his research career and engaged in friendly exchanges with them.
粤港澳大湾区数字经济研究院（福田）是一家面向全球人才与合作的国际化创新型研究机构，总部坐落于深港科技创新合作区内，团队包括来自产业界和学术界的世界一流科学家和工程师，围绕AI金融、工业AI、下一代NLP技术、视觉与机器人技术等领域展开国际一流的研究和产业化落地，实现科研、创新、创业一体化发展，服务粤港澳大湾区发展。
沈向洋，IDEA研究院创院理事长、美国国家工程院外籍院士、英国皇家工程院外籍院士。他是计算机科学与人工智能领域的世界级专家和全球科技产业领袖，也是在学术界、企业界、投资界有重要影响力的战略科学家。沈向洋院士曾担任微软公司全球执行副总裁，主管微软全球研究院和人工智能产品线，并负责推动公司中长期总体技术战略及前瞻性研究与开发工作。后参与创建了微软亚洲研究院，并担任院长和首席科学家，培养了众多国际一流的计算机科学家、技术专家和企业家。
