Collaboration between Industry and Academia for a Sustainable Greater Bay Area in the Future

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) comprises a total area of around 56,000 square kilometres with over 86 million population. The gross domestic product (GDP) was US$1,668.8 billion in 2020. The main development objectives of the GBA include developing an international innovation and technology hub as well as a quality living circle for living, working and travelling.

As such, to drive innovative solutions and technology applications for the sustainable development of the GBA, a framework of three pilot research projects will be developed to strengthen the collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations.

The projects will be conducted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Chinachem Group (Chinachem). The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 8 November 2022 to foster the partnership, which leverages the combined strengths and experiences of PolyU in interdisciplinary research with that of Chinachem in property and community development.

This industry-academia collaboration will include the development of new technologies and systems to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption in a next-generation data centre; exploration of new types of intergenerational housing for future Hong Kong community settlements in the GBA; and experiments with the use of blockchain technology in promoting Green economy.

The MoU will also pave the way to explore opportunities in supporting start-ups and entrepreneurship; adopting new technologies; promoting environmental, social and governance strategy and measurement; and achieving carbon neutrality. —Construction+ Online

Source: Chinachem Group