On March 20th, a delegation from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), led by President Tony Fan-Cheong Chan and Vice President Kevin Edward Cullen, visited The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen for exchange and collaboration discussions. Professor Yangsheng Xu, President of CUHK-Shenzhen, and Professor Zhiqun Luo, Vice President of CUHK-Shenzhen, welcomed the delegation and had discussion about potential areas of cooperation and deepening partnerships.

President Chan (left) and President Xu (right) exchange commemorative gifts

In the afternoon, representatives from both universities engaged in a discussion that centered on topics ranging from education to research collaboration. Participants also included Professor Tony Li, Associate Vice President of CUHK-Shenzhen; Professor Jianwei Huang, Associate Vice President of CUHK-Shenzhen; heads of various schools and research institutes of CUHK-Shenzhen; and Prof. Jianbin Xu, Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

During the exchange, Professor Tony Fan-Cheong Chan and Zhiqun Luo introduced the latest development of the two universities respectively, including educational philosophies, academic growth, and achievements. Representatives from each school or research institute, including Professor Benzhong Tang, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (SSE) at CUHK-Shenzhen; Professor Haizhou Li, Executive Dean of the School of Data Science (SDS) at CUHK-Shenzhen; Dr. Ping Lee, Executive Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data (SRIBD); Prof. Jianbin Xu, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at CUHK; and Professor Gianluca Setti, Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering at KAUST, shared insights on research accomplishments, faculty resources, and student development. Interactive discussions sparked new research ideas and unveiled potential opportunities for further collaboration.

President Tony Fan-Cheong Chan stated, "We have many research projects that align with those at CUHK-Shenzhen, such as big data, artificial intelligence, and new energy sources. The development of these related disciplines is a global vision that cannot be accomplished by a single institution or country. CUHK-Shenzhen is a diversified research university, and through collaboration and exchange, we can create more possibilities and achieve greater progress."

KAUST President Tony Fan-Cheong Chan giving remarks

Previously, CUHK-Shenzhen, KAUST, and SRIBD signed a memorandum of understanding, laying the foundation for future extensive collaboration in areas such as education, research, faculty and student exchange, and joint academic activities.

CUHK-Shenzhen Vice President Luo Zhiqun giving remarks

In his speech, Professor Zhiquan Luo, Vice President of CUHK-Shenzhen and Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, stated, "We will promote tangible cooperation, especially in the joint cultivation of students spanning undergraduate, master, and doctoral ones. In terms of research, we will establish laboratories in artificial intelligence and machine learning with KAUST and explore the possibility of creating joint innovation laboratories in semiconductor and microelectronics. I believe that we will soon see fruitful results in research, student cultivation, and industrialization. This collaboration also signifies a close integration between the Gulf countries and the Greater Bay Area of China, and highlights Shenzhen's leadership in scientific, educational, and industrial collaboration across the nation."