On 28 September, the 4th G60 Yangtze River Delta Sci-Tech Innovation Valley Talent Summit was successfully concluded in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The Summit is a landmark and an influential talent exchange activity in the Yangtze River Delta. Leaders from nine cities in the Yangtze River Delta region gathered together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the development of industry-education integration in the era of digital economy, and to promote the establishment of a deeper mechanism for universities’ research and knowledge exchange with industry in this region.

Professor Tao Wu, Vice Provost of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering (FoSE), was invited to attend this summit as the university's representative, and he shared the achievements and experiences of Sino-foreign universities in creating high-level talent gathering platforms and cultivating international talents in the areas of industry-education integration, taking UNNC as an example.

Professor Wu pointed out during the summit that the establishment of the China Beacons Institute spearheaded by UNNC is a shining example of the integration between industry and education. Professor Wu said, “The three key scientific research areas of the China Beacons Institute, intelligent manufacturing, green chemicals and energy, and life science and healthcare, not only reflect the international research advantages of UNNC, but also provide talent and scientific support for the development of Ningbo’s ‘246’ clusters.”

In addition to the China Beacons Institute, UNNC has always been at the forefront of universities in terms of industry-education integration. In recent years, UNNC has actively promoted domestic and international scientific research and knowledge exchanges, promoted the flow of technology between universities, scientific research institutions and enterprises, and provided support for the industrialisation of academic achievements. For example, the UNNC Li Dak Sum Incubator, which opened in 2017, has built an international innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and is designed to develop talent based on the university’s advantageous global talent and business resources, focusing on innovation entrepreneurship education and startup incubation and development.

In addition, UNNC also cooperates with local industrial platforms, such as the "Hefeng-Nottingham Innovation Design Lab" established in cooperation with Hefeng Creative Industrial Park, which has made outstanding contributions to industry-education integration, and has won many internationally renowned design awards including the iF Product Design Award, International Design Award, and the European Product Design Award.

In terms of international talent cultivation, Professor Wu also stated that UNNC has successfully introduced the teaching quality assurance system of the University of Nottingham and has made full use of its international advantages to unlock the potential of researchers through the introduction of international academic teams, the import of international scientific and creative resources, and the implementation of the international management model.

In the past 18 years, UNNC has sent nearly 20,000 graduates out into further education or employment. 30% of graduates who choose further study enter the world's top 10 overseas institutions, and 60% study in the world's top 50 universities. More than 90% of the graduates who choose to study overseas return to China after completing their studies.

Professor Wu said, "In the future, UNNC will continue to integrate international science and innovative educational resources, deeply cooperate with local industries, play the important role of an international platform for international talent import and contribute to the development of Ningbo, Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country with international higher education strength."