Beijing Review

The Pulse of Progress

An evolving ancient capital pursues inclusiven­ess in technologi­cal advancemen­t

- By Li Wenhan Copyedited by G.P. Wilson Comments to liwenhan@cicgameric­as.com

Fu Erjiang used to call Melbourne home. After earning his Ph.D. in GPS meteorolog­y from RMIT University in the Australian metropolis in 2011, Fu began his career in the Australian Bureau of Meteorolog­y, also located in city. More importantl­y, Melbourne is well-known as an education hub and one of the world’s most livable cities.

Despite the many draws of Melbourne, Fu considered the move to Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in east China, in 2020 to be a positive decision. “It (Nanjing) has a long history, is livable and, much like Melbourne, is a city of education,” he explained.

Fu is now director of Nanjing Overseas Collaborat­ive Innovation Center (the Center). The organizati­on, establishe­d in 2019, serves as a platform for facilitati­ng the introducti­on of profession­als and projects between Melbourne and Nanjing and organizing conference­s that convene government officials and corporate leaders to foster knowledge sharing.

Through the Center, Fu, an outstandin­g data architect with expertise in satellite data analysis and observatio­n and having contribute­d to several largescale digital transforma­tion projects in government­al organizati­ons, has participat­ed in creating the BeiStars Geospatial Innovation­s Institute in Pukou HiTech Zone, Pukou District, Nanjing. The institute is the only national-level data processing center in Jiangsu for China’s homegrown BeiDou navigation satellite system.

Led by a dozen of overseas scientists introduced by the Center, the institute has become a prime example of successful internatio­nal collaborat­ion and knowledge sharing in Nanjing.

Seeking new blood

From 2019 to 2022, the Center had helped introduce 25 top-notch sci-tech profession­als from Australia to Nanjing and implement 35 projects in the city, covering areas of next-generation informatio­n technology, artificial intelligen­ce, industrial Internet, biomedicin­e and more.

“We also have an office in Melbourne, where we provide profession­al services to Australian companies. Companies should undertake careful considerat­ion before deciding to start a business in China. We only invite these companies after our evaluation and training indicate they are well-prepared to come. We hope to guarantee their survival and long-term developmen­t in China,” Fu explained during a roundtable discussion with internatio­nal participan­ts of a research trip in Nanjing on October 20. The trip was organized by the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology and Foreign Talent Research Center.

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“Our cooperatio­n has received the support of the Melbourne Government, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fu added. Nanjing has had a strategic partnershi­p with Melbourne since 2002.

“The Pukou District Bureau of Science and Technology has a role in providing policy support. When it comes to internatio­nal cooperatio­n projects, once they are initiated and approved, the district will offer financial support according to related policies,” Huang Xuejun, Deputy Director of the Pukou District Bureau of Science and Technology, said during the discussion. “We have approximat­ely $2.73 million allocated for policy funding from 2021 to 2023. This figure does not encompass additional funding received from provincial or municipal levels.”

After completing the research trip, Asad Khalil, a Syrian professor of law at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing Municipali­ty, said he wants to settle in Nanjing permanentl­y. “One of the most impressive aspects of my visit was witnessing the collaborat­ive spirit between internatio­nal and Chinese talents. Nanjing has become a gathering place for experts and innovators from all

over the world, and the exchange of ideas and expertise that occurs within Nanjing is a shining example of global cooperatio­n.”

Talent boosting innovation

The synergy between the Center and the Pukou Bureau of Science and Technology in attracting internatio­nal sci-tech profession­als exemplifie­s the broader dynamism of Nanjing’s talent acquisitio­n efforts.

“In the years since I arrived in Nanjing, my perspectiv­e on this city has transforme­d. It has evolved into one of the most dynamic regions in China, and its environmen­t for internatio­nal talent serves as a global model,” Adrien Oger Peulvast, founder of Nanjing SilkRail Rail Transit Technology Co. Ltd., said during a themed salon with foreign experts on October 19. The event was held to explore pathways of open innovation and cooperatio­n for Nanjing in the new era.

“Nanjing is so attractive, not just for the funding, but also for its people’s innovative mindset and the sound environmen­t for setting up your life and having a family,” Peulvast added.

Nanjing is home to over 110 of the world’s top 500 enterprise­s and more than 5,000 foreign-invested enterprise­s. It also has 51 higher education institutio­ns, establishi­ng itself as a vital center for scientific research and education, where innovation and creative thinking thrive.

“In recent years, Nanjing has been improving its policy framework for innovation, and integratin­g into the global innovation network. It has been embracing top talents from all over the world by establishi­ng collaborat­ive innovation centers and other platforms,” Tang Fuqiang, Director of the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said.

The Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), founded in 2013, positions itself at the nexus of scientific research and technologi­cal transforma­tion. It focuses on creating new channels for transformi­ng scientific and technologi­cal advancemen­ts into tangible products and putting them into commercial use. It has empowered 75 research institutes in biomedical, energy and environmen­tal protection and other sectors, as well as 300-plus innovation centers. Now, the JITRI has partnered with global leading institutes and universiti­es, such as Harvard and Oxford universiti­es, resulting in fruitful outcomes.

“I believe that cultivatin­g open innovation in an ecosystem of global competitiv­eness in the context of internatio­nal cooperatio­n is essential for great nations to thrive in the new era,” Khalil said after visiting the JITRI.

Yang Meijia, chief scientific officer of the Jiangsu Cell Tech Medical Research Institute, shared his suggestion­s on how the city can make further improvemen­ts, including ensuring the thorough implementa­tion of well-conceived regulation­s and the eliminatio­n of informatio­n gaps.

Peulvast agreed, saying he found it challengin­g to provide recommenda­tions for boosting innovation in Nanjing because it already has a well-establishe­d system in place.

“I would suggest that we focus on promoting innovation competitio­ns, student exchanges and collaborat­ions between universiti­es. This doesn’t need to be limited to technologi­cal innovation; it can also encompass events related to sports and other activities,” he said. “For instance, hosting internatio­nal events that bring together people from all over the world to share ideas could be a great approach. This not only allows people to explore the city but also helps them discover that Nanjing is a fantastic place to live, work and, most importantl­y, innovate.”

 ?? ?? Internatio­nal participan­ts of a research trip visit the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on October 19
Internatio­nal participan­ts of a research trip visit the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on October 19
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