The International Strategic Technology Alliance (ISTA) held its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in November 2024. Founded 29 years ago by PolyU and 14 renowned Chinese tertiary education institutions, ISTA is dedicated to fostering applied technology transfer and commercialisation. Through continuous collaboration and networking development, ISTA has extended its membership to 31 institutions and 6 individuals across Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, the UK and the USA.
During the AGM, representatives from member institutions gathered to deliberate on future strategies for deepening member connections and enhancing inter-university cooperation, such as applying research funding for joint translational research projects, and organising training courses certified for Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) for talent development. Currently, ISTA is the only accredited member organisation in the Greater China region of the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP) to provide accredited RTTP courses.
On the same day, ISTA hosted a forum titled “Innovation Without Borders: Navigating Local Realities and Opportunities in a Global Context,” where experts from the University of Cambridge, Duke University, and the ATTP shared their successful technology transfer experiences and discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on technology transfer. The full-house event attracted over 100 leaders, academics and technology transfer talents, and was livestreamed to a global audience.
Later in the day, ISTA members visited the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) to explore collaboration opportunities for their start-ups and spin-offs to incubate at HKSTP and expand into overseas markets. They interacted with thriving start-ups currently incubated at HKSTP, and visited the Experience Centre and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited, one of PolyU’s InnoHK centres located at the Hong Kong Science Park.
Prior to the visit, three start-up teams from ISTA member universities had received conditional offers for HKSTP’s Ideation Programme for a soft landing, while seven student start-up teams were fast-tracked into the Techathon+ Competition. These ten start-up teams are set to participate in the Hong Kong Techathon+ Finale in January 2025 to further understand the innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong, and explore international business opportunities.
Looking ahead, ISTA aims to strengthen ties among member institutions, promote regional technology transfer collaborations, and nurture talents to advance and accelerate technology transfer endeavours, working towards a more innovative future.
