On August 26, 2024, a delegation from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) led by Vice President Cheng Guangting visited the Wuxi High-tech Zone. During the visit, Cui Rongguo, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Wuxi High-tech Zone and Secretary of the Xinwu District Committee, held discussions with the delegation and jointly attended the signing ceremony for the Atom Semiconductor project. At the ceremony, a license was issued to Atom (Wuxi) Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., marking the official launch of the first project under Hong Kong’s “Industry-University-Research 1+ Program” in Wuxi High-tech Zone. The event was also attended by Hua Weirong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Guolian Group, Hou Haifeng, Deputy Director of the Wuxi Science and Technology Bureau, Peng Yanbao, Chairman of Xizhou International Co., Ltd., and district leaders Gu Guodong and Han Yang.
Cui Rongguo congratulated Atom Semiconductor on the signing and expressed gratitude for HKUST’s strong support for the development of Wuxi High-tech Zone. He noted that the integrated circuit industry is the most competitive “ace industry” within the “6+2+X” modern industrial clusters of Wuxi High-tech Zone, and a key track for developing new production capabilities in the district. The signing of the Atom Semiconductor project represents the first project under Hong Kong’s “Industry-University-Research 1+ Program” to settle in Wuxi. This project is expected to inject innovative energy into the integrated circuit industry in Wuxi High-tech Zone and Wuxi city as a whole, helping to strengthen, supplement, and extend the industry chain. It also pioneers a new path for city-level cooperation, integrating “investment + talent policies” to support the incubation and localization of Hong Kong’s innovative projects in Wuxi. This collaboration serves as a model of scientific and technological cooperation between Wuxi and Hong Kong. Wuxi High-tech Zone will use this signing as an opportunity to further enhance cooperation with research institutes and technology enterprises, address key technical challenges, and fully support the growth of the semiconductor industry in the district. Cui Rongguo expressed hope that more projects and teams under the “Industry-University-Research 1+ Program” will establish broader cooperation with Wuxi High-tech Zone, leading to mutual success.
Zheng Guangting highly praised the rapid development of Wuxi High-tech Zone, acknowledging its deep economic and cultural heritage as the birthplace of Wu culture, as well as its significant strengths in industries such as integrated circuits, the Internet of Things, and biopharmaceuticals. He highlighted the strong urban appeal of the area. HKUST focuses on developing strong disciplines such as electronics and computer engineering, prioritizes the cultivation of scientific and technological talent, and is committed to translating research achievements into commercial markets. These priorities align closely with Wuxi High-tech Zone’s emphasis on technological innovation and industrial development. Zheng expressed hope that with the launch of the Atom Semiconductor project, the two sides would further complement each other’s strengths and achieve win-win cooperation in technology transfer, result conversion, and talent training.
The “Industry-University-Research 1+ Program” is a key strategic initiative in Hong Kong’s transformation into an international innovation and technology center in recent years. The program plans to invest HKD 10 billion to support over 100 university teams, unlocking the potential of Hong Kong’s local universities in translating research into commercial products and promoting collaboration among the government, industry, universities, and the research community. The first batch of projects funded under the program was announced in May this year, covering areas such as health and medical sciences, new materials and new energy, artificial intelligence and robotics, electrical and electronic engineering, advanced manufacturing, and traditional Chinese medicine.
The Atom Semiconductor project, focused on mixed-signal sensor design, was selected as part of the first batch of the “Industry-University-Research 1+ Program” in Hong Kong. Its products are used in various fields, including consumer electronics, industrial, medical, automotive, and communications. The company’s founder and CEO, Yuan Jie, is the Associate Dean of the School of Engineering at HKUST and a professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, with over 20 years of experience in semiconductor technology.
Moving forward, relying on the Wuxi High-tech Zone (Hong Kong) Innovation Center, Wuxi High-tech Zone will further integrate Hong Kong’s academic and educational talent resources with the economic and industrial cluster advantages of Wuxi High-tech Zone. This will promote the integrated development of industries in Wuxi and Hong Kong, accelerate the establishment of a dual-directional innovation model where “incubation occurs in Hong Kong, while transformation happens in Wuxi,” and “research is conducted in Hong Kong, while production is carried out in Wuxi.”