Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee chairman Wu Qingwen and Massey College of Sciences Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Ray Geor.
Education, research and innovation will benefit from a Memorandum of Understanding between Massey University and the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee in China.
Massey is the first New Zealand university to sign with the committee, which oversees the Suzhou Industrial Park, an important cooperative project between the governments of China and Singapore. The park has developed into China’s number one national economic and technological development zone, leading the way in innovative industries. Within the park, the Science and Education Innovation District comprises 29 universities from around the world.
The memorandum, signed this week, aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and innovation between researchers, scholars and students from both China and New Zealand. It seeks to provide a platform to create global scientific and research collaboration and includes plans for collaborative incubation projects, applications for third-party funding, student exchanges, entrepreneurship activities and a scientific research institute.
As part of the visit, College of Sciences Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Ray Geor was invited to speak on science and innovation at Massey, at the Sino-New Zealand Scientific and Education Forum.
“The park is a fantastic ecosystem for science and innovation,” Professor Geor said. “With all the international universities as well as the local universities and research institutes, it is almost unparalleled as an environment for making advancements in a variety of scientific fields. Now, going forward, Massey University can join that ecosystem.”
Professor Geor shaking hands with Lin Xiaoming, vice chairman of Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee, at the Sino-New Zealand Scientific and Education Forum.
Value of relationships
Mike Roger, consul of the New Zealand Consulate-General in Shanghai, also spoke at the forum.
“As a small advanced economy, New Zealand takes pride in its tradition of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship,” Mr Roger said. “New Zealand-led advances in biotech and agricultural sciences are particularly well-known, both areas where Massey University exercises considerable academic leadership in New Zealand. Whether in education, trade or scientific exchange, international collaboration sits at the heart of New Zealand’s approach to doing business and is fundamental to our continued economic success.
“Scientific and technological cooperation between New Zealand and China has gained a significant amount of momentum in the last few years, underpinned by strong political relationships at central and local government levels, as well as between tertiary institutions and industry bodies in areas of mutual interest.”
The Massey delegation was also supported by Education New Zealand.