The 17th Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) Global Alumni Entrepreneur Forum was held on Nov 15. Over 1,500 participants, including academicians, experts, alumni entrepreneurs, representatives of global alumni, and faculty and student representatives, gathered to discuss cooperation and future development.

Guided by the Wuhan Municipal People’s Government and HUST, and hosted by the HUST Alumni Association, Entrepreneur Association, and Venture Capital & Finance Association, the conference featured the theme "Joining Hands to Advance the Deep Integration of Science and Industry, and Jointly Building A Sci-Tech Innovation Pivot for Central China's Rise".

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Bin, president of the HUST Entrepreneur Association, stated that alumni have demonstrated innovation and a strong sense of responsibility, fostering a collaborative environment between the university and local regions, as well as integrating industry with research. He called on all alumni to seize the momentum and work together for mutual success between the city and the university.

Liu Bo, chair of the HUST committee, emphasized that alumni have made their alma mater proud, showcasing the mission and commitment of the HUST community through their outstanding achievements. They represent both a distinguished hallmark and a valuable asset to the university. Alumni enterprises, in sync with local development, have consistently driven high-quality growth, leading to dynamic practices of collaborative development. The university, aligning with Hubei and Wuhan, has continuously transformed academic strengths into technological momentum and contributed to the region’s high-quality development. HUST will work closely with alumni entrepreneurs to keep pace with national development, deeply integrate into the development of Hubei and Wuhan, and jointly create a new model of university-enterprise-local integration, contributing significantly to the high-quality development and modernization of both the province and the city.

Sheng Yuechun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, secretary of the CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee, acknowledged HUST as a prestigious university renowned at home and abroad.

He noted that its alumni are witnesses and participants in Wuhan's high-quality development and are invaluable to the city. He expressed hope that HUST alumni entrepreneurs would continue to support Wuhan's growth, collaborating to build innovation hubs, enhance industrial competitiveness, and chart the city's future. Wuhan will vigorously develop the alumni economy, continuously create a first-class market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment, and provide high-quality services for alumni and enterprises to innovate and start businesses in the city.

President You Zheng delivered a keynote speech, outlining HUST's goal to establish itself as a world-class university. He highlighted the symbiotic and synergistic growth with the Optics Valley of China (OVC), recounting their shared journey to build a world-class university and strengthen the global influence of OVC. niversity innovation goes hand in hand with industrial upgrading, presenting an innovative picture of key technological breakthroughs and efficient transformation. Talent cultivation has progressed alongside regional development, showcasing a landscape where tens of thousands of alumni have rooted themselves in OVC, leading industrial advancement. HUST remains committed to "aiming high while staying grounded, and pursuing excellence", advancing in tandem with the valley to create a brilliant future. It will contribute to Wuhan's goal of becoming a nationally influential sci-tech innovation center, Hubei's aspiration to become a crucial strategic pivot for the rise of Central China, and the nation's pursuit of high-level self-reliance in science and technology.

The event also featured a signing ceremony for investment and cooperation projects of alumni enterprises. Thirty-six signed projects, with a total value of 15 billion yuan ($2.1 billion), span strategic emerging industries such as new-generation information technology, high-end equipment, new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, and healthcare. The HUST Entrepreneur Association also established its AI branch, aimed at building an integrated platform for industry-university-research collaboration in the artificial intelligence field.

Municipal leaders Zeng Sheng, Shen Yue, and Li Zhan, along with Zhang Tao, vice chair of the university committee, attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Ding Hongxiang, founding president of the HUST Entrepreneur Association.

The conference also included speeches, parallel dialogues, and youth dialogues. More than 80 prominent alumni, including academician Pan Yuan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as Ding Hongxiang, Chen Zongnian, Zhou Yunjie, Huang Li, Gong Hongjia, Yu Zida, and Sun Yelin, shared their insights.

Written by:Chen Han

Edited by:Su Wanxin, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng