Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

THE South University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) signed a framework agreement with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Saturday to establish a joint school of microelectronics in Shenzhen.

The proposed school will be located on the SUSTech campus, offering programs at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The school will also run four research centers on integrated circuits (IC) design methodology and electronic design automation (EDA), communications, system-on-chip design and system integration, as well as wide-bandgap semiconductor devices.

A task force of members of both universities will be set up to push ahead certain applications and work with the Shenzhen city government on the details of its support for the infrastructure and operation of the school.

The proposed joint school is to become a multilateral collaborative platform for industry, academia and research at the national level, facilitating both the cultivation of in-demand high-caliber talents and innovative research in key strategic areas, such as IC, system-on-chip design for communications, artificial intelligence and robotics, and next-generation microelectronic device technologies like wide-bandgap semiconductors.

At the ceremony, SUSTech president Chen Shiyi said the international, leading and research-led Joint School in Microelectronics will not only serve as a national demonstration, but also bring new, tremendous opportunities and prospects to both universities.

HKUST acting president Professor Shyy Wei also said that the collaboration would help support the nation’s Greater Bay development initiative.

“We have been contributing to the microelectronics and IC industry in Shenzhen for years and we are trying to push the development of the IC industry in Shenzhen, the Greater Bay Area and even in China through the construction of the school in five to 10 years,” said Shyy.