First Annual Stanford-CUHKSZ Technology Innovation Forum Held

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Stanford University held the first Annual Stanford-CUHKSZ Technology Innovation Forum from September 10th to 18th, featuring a number of world-class academicians and professors and a series of lectures and academic seminars.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Stanford University held the first Annual Stanford-CUHKSZ Technology Innovation Forum from September 10th to 18th, featuring a number of world-class academicians and professors and a series of lectures and academic seminars. Besides, the two universities each sent 14 outstanding student representatives to form six innovative groups to jointly complete projects and carry out technological innovation and exchange activities.

During the forum, the University concentrated its resources to provide a series of experience activities for the invitees, including forum summits, academic lectures and seminars. Participants also conducted a market survey on Huaqiangbei (a major electronics manufacturing hub), visited Huawei, Tencent, DJI and Helitai, and experienced the general education courses of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. At the same time, the six groups regularly carried out project research and demonstrated their projects after multiple rounds of discussion and revision with the instructors.

Stanford-CUHKSZ Maker Lab Established to Redefine the Spirit of Innovative Craftsmanship

With the theme of Innovative Craftsmanship Culture, this forum explored to redefine the spirit of craftsmanship and to integrate this culture into universities and other issues in the rapid development of information technology. The inauguration ceremony of Maker Lab, a key innovation workshop project between the two universities, was also held during the summit.

Professor Tom, Z.Q. Luo, the Vice President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, pointed out that excellent universities should encourage innovation and be brave in making breakthroughs, while students should prepare for more important and pragmatic needs of the society rather than just for exams. In the culture of innovation, everyone needs to be broad-minded with full of enthusiasm.

Speech by Professor Luo, Vice President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Professor Cui Shuguang, the founder of the forum, the head of the innovation workshop, and the Executive Dean of SSE, said that how to build CUHK-Shenzhen into a world-class research university with distinctions is always the most important mission for CUHK-Shenzhen’s educators. Looking back to the history of Stanford University, one of the reasons why Stanford has made to become a world-famous and distinctive university is that it is located in the renowned high-tech park Silicon Valley and has strong interaction with it. Shenzhen, where the University is located in, is characterized by innovative craftsmanship. It is hoped that the establishment of the Maker Lab will make full use of the local conditions of Shenzhen and the successful experience of Stanford University to promote innovation at CUHK-Shenzhen. Besides, it is also hoped to build a “zero threshold” innovative platform for the students of the two universities to integrate their wisdoms, skills and craftsmanship. “Craftsmanship spirit is not just about design or creation, but also about facilitating good and meaningful things with a positive impact on society”, said Prof. Cui.

Speech by Prof. Cui Shuguang, the founder of the forum, the head of the innovation workshop, and the Executive Dean of SSE

Stanford Students: Innovative Environment at Shenzhen Can Quickly Turn Ideas into Products

During the forum, 28 students from Stanford University and CUHK-Shenzhen worked together, spending two to three hours a day, to utilize materials and existing equipment purchased in Huaqiangbei for creative assignments. Matthew Trost from Stanford University said: "Silicon Valley does not have a place like Huaqiangbei. I really hope that I can have the opportunity to spend more time, such as a whole day, or even longer, to explore this place. In addition, CUHK-Shenzhen is very beautiful and its library is amazing! I was deeply impressed."

CUHK-Shenzhen Teachers Instruct Students to Complete Cooperation Projects

Stanford University student Zhiyang He said: "I feel that students at CUHK-Shenzhen have a very strong desire for hands-on and they are really good at it. This requires a certain platform for students to conduct projects. Before we arrived in Shenzhen, they had already set up the draft system that we needed to use in our group project. We just made modifications and debugging on their basis. In this process, everyone has gained growth. I think this opportunity is very precious, especially for undergraduates, because it is very difficult to get involved in this kind of tasks in regular teaching. This time we went to Huaqiangbei and visited a lot of hardware incubators. Shenzhen has a good organic environment that can quickly turn ideas into products. Companies in Silicon Valley do not enjoy such a complete production chain. I am very impressed by the inclusiveness of the campus, too. As long as we are interested, we can participate in the lectures and activities held by CUHK-Shenzhen. The lectures are open to the public. We can also participate in other projects and learn together with teachers or students. Everyone here holds an open attitude. This is a very good thing for both students and universities.”

Students Complete Projects in Groups

Li Yingru, a student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said that this event has benefited him a lot: "Interdisciplinary studies can promote the discovery of new theories, new methods, and new technologies. In a lecture of this forum, Professor Goldsmith introduced the recent deep learning method and its application in classic issues of communication, and explored under what circumstances deep learning can surpass traditional theory, which not only broadens the application boundary of deep learning, but also finds a new direction for understanding deep learning black box from the perspective of communication and information theory. I really look forward to more master lectures in different fields.”

CUHK-Shenzhen and Stanford Students Work Together

After the one-week event, each group's projects will continue to evolve through their long-term cooperation. At the same time, the forum will provide a high-level stage for the emerging generation to shape the future. In this platform, participants can not only get the top international innovation training, but also have the opportunity to land their entrepreneurial ideas in Shenzhen.

The Stanford-CUHKSZ Technology Innovation Forum aims to leverage the resources and advantages of the two internationally innovative universities to train and guide the new generation of young global leaders, entrepreneurs and engineers in Shenzhen. Through the geographical advantages of Shenzhen, the innovative resources of the two universities will be connected for a long-term cooperation, with the Maker Lab as the carrier. The organizers of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Stanford University plan to make this forum an international annual event to seek more opportunities for Sino-foreign cooperation.

Group Photo of Faculties and Students