City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) launched its Master of Science in Venture Creation (MScVC) programme with an opening convocation ceremony for the inaugural cohort, on 13 January 2026, introducing a practice-led postgraduate programme designed to nurture future entrepreneurs.

Supported by the intellectual property resources of City University of Hong Kong, the programme aims to equip students with the skills to transform innovative ideas into viable business models through mentorship and project-based learning.

The opening convocation ceremony was host by Professor Lu Chun, Executive President of CityUHK (Dongguan) and Vice-President of CityUHK. In attendance were distinguished guests including, Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK and Chairperson of CityUHK (Dongguan)'s Governing Board; Mr Zhang Jian, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Dongguan Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; Ms. Yan Xiaoke, Chairperson of Guangdong Tong Guan Science and Technology Corp.,Ltd; Professor Tobin J.Marks, Senior Fellow of the CityUHK Institute for Advanced Study and member of the US National Academy of Sciences, US National Academy of Engineering, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Professor Li Juan, Vice President (Academic) of CityUHK (Dongguan) and Deputy Vice-President of CityUHK; Professor Chak Chung Ray CHEUNG, Associate Provost (DL), office of the Provost and Deputy President of CityUHK; Professor Chin Foo Goh, Associate Vice-President (Mainland Industry) of CityUHK.

Also present were representatives from local government and enterprises, university leadership, faculty members, and all students of the inaugural Master of Science in Venture Creation programme.

Rapid Realisation of an Entrepreneurial Vision

In his address, Professor Freddy Boey, shared that the programme originated from insights gained over a decade in leading global institutions. He stressed the university's capacity to nurture start-ups rather than merely support them, leveraging academic talent and intellectual assets.

The programme will be driven by the Graduate Research and Innovation Trek (GRIT) scheme, a structured platform to advance research commercialisation. “A start-up company may fail, but the person, the inventor, the founder, he or she does not fail,” Professor Freddy Boey told students, encouraging them to embrace challenges and build high-value careers.

Professor Lu Chun noted the programme's swift development since its approval in November 2025, reflecting the educational philosophy of "Consistency in Academic Excellence" that integrates CityUHK's academic excellence with CityUHK (Dongguan)'s dynamic industrial environment.

Meeting Regional and Industrial Demand

In the ceremony, Mr Zhang Jian commended the programme as an innovative step that aligns with the city's development strategy and supports the integration of education, technology and talent in the Greater Bay Area.

In her address, Ms Yan Xiaoke noted that the programme responds directly to market needs by cultivating versatile, innovation-ready graduates who can help drive corporate and technological advancement.

Global Insights and Student Aspirations

The ceremony also featured a keynote lecture by Professor Tobin J Marks. He presented Northwestern University's successful practices and perspectives on campus, offering valuable perspectives on academic entrepreneurship and intellectual property management.

Student representative Jia Shang spoke of his prior entrepreneurial experience and his hopes to leverage the university's global innovation network and regional ecosystem to contribute to the Greater Bay Area's growing innovation landscape. 

Strategic Location in an Innovation Hub

Positioned within Dongguan's Songshan Lake Science City, the university benefits from proximity to world-class research infrastructure. This strategic setting provides students with direct exposure to cutting-edge scientific environments and industry networks, enhancing their professional readiness.

Through the MScVC programme, CityUHK (Dongguan) equips graduates with essential entrepreneurial competencies, aiming to cultivate a new generation of innovators for the technological progress and sustainable economic growth of the Greater Bay Area.