The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Zhejiang University (ZJU) signed collaboration agreements and opened the Joint Laboratory on Natural Products and Toxicology Research on 15 January 2007. Four collaboration agreements were renewed or signed to deepen the long-term academic partnership between these two major universities of China. Prof. Zhang Junsheng, Chairman of ZJU Development Committee, and Prof. Yang Wei, President of ZJU, led a 16-member delegation to CUHK.
CUHK and ZJU renewed their university-wide collaboration and student exchange agreements to strengthen research co-operations as well as academic and student exchanges. They also agreed to establish the Joint Laboratory of ZJU and CUHK on Natural Products and Toxicology Research and the Joint Centre for Advanced Photonics Research of CUHK and ZJU.
The Joint Laboratory of ZJU and CUHK on Natural Products and Toxicology Research will build a database of natural drugs and biotoxins and develop new drugs to treat major diseases like cancers and viral infections. Prof. Fung Kwok-pui, Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry of CUHK, and Prof. Wu Ping, Director of the Institute of Natural Drugs and Biotoxins of ZJU, are directors of the joint centre.
The universities also intend to establish the Joint Centre for Advanced Photonics Research of CUHK and ZJU. CUHK and ZJU are both strong in photonics. The field of advanced photonics has tremendous R&D potential in functional capabilities and novel applications, and contributes to virtually every scientific and engineering discipline.
CUHK and ZJU have enjoyed a long partnership. The Joint Research Centre for Biomedical Engineering was established in 1999 and student exchanges began in 2003.
Zhejiang University, founded in 1897, is a top-ranking comprehensive research university in Mainland China. It is also a key institution listed in the '211 Project' and the '985 Plan'. Agreements between the universities represent CUHK's close partnership with a leading national university. The joint centres will excel in medical and scientific research and serve as crucial platforms for extending their achievements to benefit the wider Chinese community.