Delegation led by China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology Zhang Jianguo visits UM Zhang praises UM for its effort in research

A delegation led by Zhang Jianguo, vice minister of science and technology of China, today (9 October) visited the University of Macau (UM) and the university’s three state key laboratories. Pleased with UM’s significant progress in recent years, Zhang praised the university for its efforts in talent development, in enhancing its international reputation, and in fostering collaboration with the industry and research institutes, adding that he has great expectations for UM’s future development.

The ten-member delegation was warmly received by UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Lionel Ni and Rui Martins. During the meeting, Zhang praised UM for its achievements in various research fields in recent years, adding that the ministry will continue to support UM to reach its goal of becoming a world-class university. Zhang said that scientific and technological innovations are crucial to Macao’s long-term development and serve China’s national interest, adding that the Ministry of Science and Technology has launched many preferential policies to support technology and innovation development in Hong Kong and Macao, and will follow the progress in curriculum development and policy-wise innovations at the three state key labs and other research institutes at UM.

Lam said that the quality of research and teaching at UM has been steadily increasing thanks to the support of the central and Macao SAR governments. The establishment of the third state key lab allows UM to further expand the scope of its research studies. The lab will focus on basic scientific problems concerning a new type of Internet of Things, to provide support for developing smart cities in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. The other two state key labs of UM enjoy a leading position in the fields of Chinese medical sciences and microelectronics, respectively. Lam added that the university will continue to create a new system, cultural environment, and entrepreneurial platform conductive to scientific and technological innovations.

Song shared UM’s vision, its commitment to nurturing outstanding professionals, and its research achievements in recent years. He added that the state key labs are very important to increasing industrialisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Macao as well as on the west bank of the Pearl River. He added that the university will increase support to the three state key labs in order to develop them into top research institutes in the world. Song also told the guests about UM’s three new key research areas, namely precision medicine, advanced materials, as well as brain science and artificial intelligence, adding that the university has attained outstanding research achievements in these fields.