News

Forum connects young entrepreneurs

Published on 8 November 2021

UIC held the 7th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum on 3 November 2021. Guest speaker Mr Chen Xiaodong, Vice President of Alibaba Group and CEO of Intime Retail Group, shared his insights into innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, student representatives of the award-winning teams of the Jingniuhui Cup exchanged ideas on entrepreneurship with experienced alumni.

Group photo of guests

Mr Chen Xiaodong

The forum began with an introduction to an awarded-winning project, Gardener, presented by Chen Zhuo, who is currently studying the Master of Arts (MA) Programme in Communication (AI and Digital Media) at UIC.

Chen Zhuo introduces their project titled Gardener Tabletop Plants

Mr Chen Xiaodong gives feedback on Chen Zhuo's project

Thirty-one teams from different fields, including information technologies (IT), blockchains, cultural creativity, artificial intelligence, participated in the Jingniuhui Cup this year.

Later, Mr Chen Xiaodong gave a keynote speech about the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship. At first, he talked about several concepts in the business sector and presented a business model of Intime Retail Group. As he suggested, students should be innovative while developing management skills. Furthermore, he thinks that they should also learn from failures, from which they could summarise helpful experience.

UIC's Provost Prof Chen Zhi (left) presents a student's artwork to Mr Chen Xiaodong as a gift

A new session at the 7th forum was called Alumni Salon. UIC alumni discussed with Mr Chen Xiaodong various topics related to industry trends. From the panel session, students could also learn from the experiences of the guests.

Mr Chen Xiaodong discusses with UIC alumni

At the awarding ceremony, the project team of Gardener got the Gold Award, and the team of AI Risk Management and ANNDA intelligent travel won the Silver Award and Bronze Award, respectively. In addition, Gardener and AI Risk Management will enter UIC's Industrial-University Research Collaboration Centre at the Zhuhai hi-tech zone.

Prof Chen Zhi awards the Gold Award to team Gardener

Chen Zhuo and his teammates of Gardener

UIC's Vice President (Academic), Dean of Division of Science and Technology Prof Huang Huaxiong (right), awards the Silver- and Bronze-winning teams

UIC's Vice President (Administration), Prof Mao Yaqing, awards the Finalist teams

The 7th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum was organised under the direction of the Chinese Communist Youth League of Zhuhai, Zhuhai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, supported by Zhuhai National High Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Centre, and co-organised by UIC Innovation Centre and Four-Point Education Coordination Office of UIC.

The forum got affirmation from the Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Zhuhai Hi-tech Zone, Mr Hou Biao, Deputy Secretary of the Zhuhai Committee of the Communist Youth League, Mr Xie Minghua, and UIC's President Prof Tang Tao. They considered it an opportunity platform for youths to present their innovative ideas and get attractions from investors. They also emphasised that Zhuhai high-tech zone has excellent conditions to start a business.

Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Zhuhai Hi-tech Zone Mr Hou Biao

Deputy Secretary of the Zhuhai Committee of the Communist Youth League Mr Xie Minghua

UIC President Prof Tang Tao

UIC has been promoting the development of the Industrial-University Research Collaboration. In 2019, UIC established the Industrial-University Research Collaboration Centre with the support of Zhuhai High-tech Zone. The centre has attracted more than 20 enterprises and excellent project teams specialised in different fields.

Led by Prof Shi Hongjian from the Division of Science and Technology (DST), Chaoshisu Technology company was the first team cooperating with UIC's Industrial-University Research Collaboration Centre. It is committed to the research of intelligent cone-beam CT imaging and diagnosis project. Recently, the team won the Bronze Award in the competition of the 2021 Guangdong Community Entrepreneurship Cup. Furthermore, to promote the Industrial-University Research Collaboration, the company will offer internship opportunities to UIC's students.