HUN-REN and CAS Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Sign Strategic MoU to Advance Scientific Collaboration in the Greater Bay Area

As part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences — the country’s largest and most comprehensive scientific ecosystem, comprising 108 institutes — the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology hold strategic significance within China’s research landscape as the national leader in life and health sciences. With strong and unwavering support from the Guangdong Provincial Government, SIAT has become a core driver of Shenzhen’s emergence as a world-class centre of innovation, technology development, and scientific excellence.

During the signing ceremony, President Chenli Liu emphasised the innovative spirit that characterises Shenzhen and the institute’s dedication to international partnership. He highlighted Shenzhen’s position as a global innovation hub and reiterated SIAT’s commitment to advancing scientific frontiers together with HUN-REN, noting that SIAT’s guiding philosophy — dreams shape the future, applications create value — resonates strongly with the shared ambitions of both organisations.

Additional remarks were delivered by Mr Yang Jun, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology, who reaffirmed the province’s commitment to supporting high-level international collaboration. He referenced the continuity of work established under former Director-General Long Weizheng, as well as the initial steps taken earlier this year under Director-General Wang. Guangdong continues to rank among China’s foremost regions in science and technology, allocating more than 510 billion RMB annually to R&D — including over 240 billion RMB provided by enterprises — reflecting its determination to contribute meaningfully to global scientific progress.

Representing the Hungarian delegation, President Balázs Gulyás underscored the long-term aspirations of the partnership. He noted that the signing of the MoU marks the opening of a new chapter between Shenzhen and Hungary, one defined by stability, pragmatism, and a shared commitment to producing enduring scientific impact. He emphasised that both institutions are motivated by a mission to advance knowledge for the benefit of humankind and to build a cooperation model that can grow sustainably over time.

The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework to deepen the partnership between the two institutions. It encompasses the development of joint research activities, the co-authoring of scientific publications, and the organisation of joint seminars, symposia, workshops, and scientific meetings. It also includes the mutual exchange and mobility of researchers, along with the longer-term goal of creating sustainable collaborative research programmes and shared platforms that align with the strategic priorities of both sides.

Following the signing ceremony, the HUN-REN delegation visited several of SIAT’s leading research units, including the Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction Research and the State Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Science and Systems. Discussions during the visit highlighted significant scientific complementarities, particularly in areas with strong relevance to both institutions’ long-term research strategies.