Since its establishment in 1995, ISTA has pursued steadfast directions in the promotion of academic technology development and transfer through various strategies, leveraging on individual members' strength and collective wisdom on policy and international exchange platforms.

Under the guidance of the Executive Committee, the Alliance has sustained development in the following key aspects.

• Promoting Applied R&D Bases and Activities

  With outstanding research capabilities and talents across its members, ISTA promotes the development of applied research projects and their downstream commercialization in both local and regional contexts. A good number of projects undertaken by ISTA members received support under strategic Chinese national programs such as the 863 Projects, 973 Projects and the National Natural Science Foundation Scheme, with also marked achievement in inter-university co-operation throughout the years.

• Improving Knowledge Management for Innovation Value

  An active platform exchanging practices and difficulties in knowledge and intellectual property management was developed to maximize the potential of applied research output of the ISTA members. With international participation from both academics and the industry, members were given the opportunities to appreciate and share the best practices of knowledge management, addressing issues related to technology commercialization strategies, university spin-off management system, patent application supporting mechanism, intellectual property management, corporate governance, etc. With further government support such as that from the Technology Development Center of the Ministry of Education, ISTA members are in an excellent position to continuously improve their knowledge management and application of technology for regional growth.

• Enhancing International Networking and Collaboration

  ISTA constantly gains exposure for its members to tap onto the rich world of international financial market opportunities and interactions with international counterparts of the Alliance. In addition, international organizations such as Australian Technology Network (ATN), European Consortium of Innovative University (ECIU) and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) valued ISTA as the best partnership network of its kind in the region.

• Stimulating Regional Development

  ISTA members had taken up their institutional social responsibilities with active contribution to academic-industrial-social clusters for regional development. Study missions were organized in association with ISTA meetings in search for opportunities of collaboration between institutions and the industry. High-level forums on technology commercialization, university spin-offs, and academic-industrial collaborations had been held.