Dr Feng Fei, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, led a delegation comprising members of the People’s Government of Hainan Province, Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration and Hainan Satellite Data and Application Research Center to The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) today (11 September). The delegation met with Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President; Professor Sham Mai-har, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research); Professor Kwan Mei-po, Head of Chung Chi College and Director of the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS); Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, Dean of Social Science; Professor Jiang Liwen, Acting Dean of Science and representatives from CUHK. During the visit, the two parties exchanged views on cooperation and innovation in the space industry. CUHK and Hainan Satellite Data and Application Research Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly establish an international cooperation model of “R&D in Hainan + Promotion in Hong Kong”, aiming to build an international satellite data hub, foster cross-border cooperation and develop an integrated platform that connects industry, academia, research and application.

The MoU was signed by Professor Sham Mai-har, Professor Kwan Mei-po and Mr Gao Yong, Director of the Strategic Development Division of Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming and Dr Feng Fei.

According to the MoU, both parties will leverage the ISEIS to establish the Hong Kong Satellite Data Center (Hong Kong Center). In support of the national strategy for international cooperation in space, the Hong Kong Center will promote the satellite data resource sharing, technological collaboration and industrial synergy between the mainland and Hong Kong. Leveraging Hong Kong’s global partnership networks, the Hong Kong Center will bring China’s remote sensing data, technical standards and application achievements to the global stage, enhancing the global competitiveness of the nation’s satellite data.

The Hong Kong Center will serve Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the rest of the world, playing a vital role in areas such as disaster management and carbon neutrality. In the future, both parties will initiate multiple collaborative projects. In addition to advancing the development of the Hong Kong Center and the International Satellite Data Sharing Hub, they will deepen international cooperation and trade in satellite data, promote application demonstrations and technology dissemination, and jointly cultivate space talent with a global perspective.