Proof of Concept and Commercialisation at CityU Shenzhen

On 25 November, the Shenzhen Virtual University Technology Transfer Promotion Association visited the City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute. The delegation comprised Association President Peng Honglin, former Chairman of Shenzhen Kunpeng Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd.; Vice Presidents Chen Qidong, Vice President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Liu Hongxia, Chairwoman of Shenzhen Yuanshan Private Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd., Zhang Qilong, Chairman of Shenkegang (Shenzhen) Venture Capital Co., Ltd., and Ding Guoxin, Chief Representative of Federal IP Law Firm's Shenzhen representative office; Supervisor-General Mu Weifeng, Vice President of Zhejiang University Shenzhen Research Institute; Standing Council Member Zhong Chunjiang, Executive Vice President of Xidian University Shenzhen Research Institute; Zhang Junxiang, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen-Hong Kong (Shenzhen) Venture Capital Co., Ltd.; Feng Chongqin, Space Information Sector Head at Shenzhen Yuanshan Private Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd.; Executive Secretary-General and Chief Legal Counsel Dandan Fei, a partner at Beijing Guantao (Shenzhen) Law Firm; and Executive Secretary-General Jiang Fang. The delegation was received by Association Standing Council Member Chen Junduo, Executive Vice President of CityU Shenzhen Research Institute, and colleagues.

Technology transfer through a legal and governance lens

Fei participated in her capacity as the association's Executive Secretary-General and Chief Legal Counsel. The discussion considered how research moves from proof of concept to commercial use, and how universities, investors and professional advisers can coordinate project selection, intellectual-property protection, financing and implementation.

Proof of concept and university-industry collaboration

The Institute participants included Executive Vice President Chen Junduo, Proof-of-Concept Centre Director Liu Jianbin, CityU Mainland Research Institutes Senior Manager (Administration) Yang Xiaolu, and Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Development Director Chen Xianxue. Liu outlined CityU's research presence in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Dongguan and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. Established in 2001, the Shenzhen Institute supports applied research, doctoral education, project incubation and the transfer of CityU research into mainland China.

Chen Junduo described the Institute's work linking research and innovation education with business demand and its interest in broader collaboration between universities and companies. Peng Honglin said the association should connect universities, businesses and investors, explore shared proof-of-concept facilities and help move research towards commercial use through market-based support.

Areas for continued work

On university collaboration and shared resources, Chen Qidong of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Mu Weifeng of Zhejiang University Shenzhen Research Institute and Zhong Chunjiang of Xidian University Shenzhen Research Institute offered perspectives from their institutions. Liu Hongxia, Chairwoman of Shenzhen Yuanshan Private Equity Investment Management; Zhang Qilong, Chairman of Shenkegang (Shenzhen) Venture Capital; Ding Guoxin, Chief Representative of Federal IP Law Firm's Shenzhen representative office; Zhang Junxiang, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen-Hong Kong (Shenzhen) Venture Capital; and Feng Chongqin, Space Information Sector Head at Shenzhen Yuanshan Private Equity, discussed the role of companies, capital and professional services in technology transfer. Association Executive Secretary-General Jiang Fang also joined the visit.

The discussion addressed shared research resources, market-based project screening, intellectual-property safeguards and early-stage investment support. Dandan Fei, participating as the association's Executive Secretary-General and Chief Legal Counsel, contributed from the perspective of project selection, intellectual property, financing arrangements and implementation. Participants agreed to continue discussions on proof-of-concept work, innovation projects and professional-service coordination.