Lord Vallance, the UK’s Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, led a delegation to The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)), the last leg before he wrapped up his trip to China on November 12.

A high-level roundtable forum on global health and healthy ageing was held as highlight of Lord Vallance’s visit. The minister of state and Professor Lionel M. Ni, the university’s president delivered closing remarks to conclude the broad discussions.

Joining them were Sarah Mann, the British Consul General in Guangzhou, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, former Principal of the University of Strathclyde, Professor Chris Day, Chair of the Russell Group, along with representatives from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation, the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, Universities UK , and the British Embassy in China.

Professor Ricky Shi-Wei Lee, Vice-President for Research at HKUST(GZ), moderated the discussions. Key participants including Professor Robert Zhong Qi, Acting Dean of the Systems Hub, Dr. Qiaojin Lin and Dr. Cuiping Pan, Assistant Professors in the Thrust of Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering (BSBE), Jing Fu, Head of the Global Affairs Department, and Dr. Guangyan Kan, Deputy Director of the Biosciences Central Research Facility (GZ) (BioCRF (GZ)).

Professor Lee opened the forum by welcoming Lord Vallance and the guests. Discussions centered on fostering cooperation between China and the UK to tackle global health challenges. Participants explored breaking down research barriers and enhancing collaborative frameworks, drawing from successful Sino-British partnerships.

Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive Officer of Universities UK, and Nicholas Duvivier, Deputy Consul General at the British Consulate in Guangzhou, noted significant advancements in healthy ageing research at Chinese universities, including HKUST (GZ). They emphasized the need to showcase China’s potential and promote research collaboration.

Assistant Professor Qiaojin Lin drew from his experiences studying in the University of Cambridge to advocate for university-industry partnerships.

Assistant Professor Cuiping Pan highlighted successful Sino-British collaborations in the medical field, notably the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh institute.

Sir Jim McDonald emphasized the need for systematic cooperation among academia, industry, and government to secure funding for health research and translate findings into real-world applications. He urged leaders to create an environment that nurtures research and innovation.

Professor Robert Zhong Qi suggested that bilateral projects could serve as open platforms for global health collaboration. He noted that HKUST (GZ) could leverage its institutional and governmental support to expand the impact and scale of joint research.

In his closing remarks, Lord Vallance recognized global health and healthy ageing as key areas for future Sino-British collaboration. He reiterated the importance of the roundtable dialogue and systematic thinking for integrating resources and ensuring practical research applications.

Lord Vallance endorsed seed funding to facilitate early-stage research collaborations, which could foster interdisciplinary partnerships. He emphasized the value of personnel exchanges, stating, saying that “the true driving force of research comes from the collaboration and passion of scientists from different nations. Friendships built through such exchanges can address significant societal issues.”

President Ni expressed gratitude for DSIT’s choice of making HKUST (GZ) as the final stop on their China trip, highlighting the strengthened Sino-British cooperation in education and research.

“In a complex global landscape, deepening international cooperation faces many challenges, yet academic collaboration is vital. We look forward to transforming today’s insights into concrete actions for a mutually beneficial future,” President Ni said.

As a young research-oriented university, HKUST (GZ) seeks to lead in interdisciplinary education and scientific innovation, he added. He also expressed hope for the roundtable to become an annual event promoting dialogue and cooperation in global health and ageing.

Following the meeting, President Ni, Lord Vallance, and Consul General Mann continued discussions over dinner with representitives from Medcaptain Medical Technology, Calilia, Mindray Medical and JF Healthcare. The dinner meeting focused on investment opportunities and challenges in the Sino-British health sector.

Before the forum, delegation members had a guided tour at the BioCRF (GZ), while Professor Robert Qi Zhong and Dr. Guangyan Kan provided background information about the lab.