The Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology (GDST), City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), and City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), hereinafter referred to as “(CityUHK (Dongguan)”, signed the Work Plan to Jointly Support the Deepening of Collaboration in Science & Technology (the Work Plan) on 14 August. This milestone marks a new phase of systematic and impactful cooperation among the three parties, injecting strong momentum into the construction of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) international science and technology innovation centre. 

The signing ceremony took place at CityUHK (Dongguan). Mr Yang Jun, Deputy Director of the GDST; Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityUHK; and Professor Duan Baoyan, President of CityUHK (Dongguan), jointly signed the Work Plan. The ceremony was witnessed by Mr Zheng Guohong, Deputy Director of the Dongguan Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee; Ms Li Jun, Deputy Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal; Ms Yang Huifang, Director of the Exchange Cooperation Department at GDST; Mr Zhong Jingping, Director of the Science and Technology Bureau of the Dongguan Municipal; and Professor Lu Chun, Vice-President of CityUHK and Executive President of CityUHK (Dongguan). The event was hosted by Professor Julie Li Juan, Associate Vice-President of CityUHK and Vice President (Academic) of CityUHK (Dongguan).

The Work Plan establishes a tripartite collaboration model, deeply integrating talent, funding, and platform resources from Guangdong and Hong Kong, thus creating a synergistic effect. Starting in 2025, the three parties will adopt a "1+1+1" joint funding scheme over a two-year period, forming a seed funding pool to support joint projects between the two universities that align with the socioeconomic development needs of the GBA. The initiative aims to foster original scientific achievements with global influence, promote the cross-border flow of innovation resources, and drive deep integration of the technology industry.