NC State in China Journal
May 28 - Louis Martin-Vega
Our day started with a one-hour drive from the hotel through Beijing traffic to the Tsinghua Science Park. One cannot help but comment on the variety of transportation modes that are still common on the avenues and streets of this metropolis. The mix of bicycles, new cars, buses and trucks that somehow are able to collaborate enough to each reach their destinations says as much about the organization and discipline that underlies this society as it does about the vibrant growth of its economy.
Upon arriving at Tsinghua University Science Park (TUSP) it is clear why this is considered to be the “Silicon Valley of China.” Started in 1994, it is now the home to more than 400 research and development centers and related facilities for companies such as Google, NEC, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Microsoft and many others. It is a very modern and attractive complex that houses more than 20,000 employees currently producing about $3 billion in revenue for their China based operations.
The morning session consisted of a China and North Carolina R&D Trends roundtable discussion, which provided our NCSU/RTP delegation and a delegation of Chinese government and business leaders to exchange perspectives on innovation and commercialization. It was during this session that the chancellor provided the attendees with an overview of NC State and the vital role that it plays in the economic development of RTP and North Carolina.
The presentations provided considerable insight on the reasons behind the tremendous economic progress that has been made in China over the last 20 years. While this growth has been fueled primarily by China’s manufacturing capability, it is clear that significant investments are now being made to establish China as a worldwide leader in innovation. The booming economy in China is also fueling a significant “returnee phenomena” that has brought back many academics, researchers and business people who are contributing to R&D growth and venture capital creation in this economy.
Shortly before noon the NCSU team left to visit Tsinghua Uniuversity where we were first greeted by President Gu Binglin, who had visited NC State just three weeks ago, and his key administrative team. Tsinghua University has a lovely campus that blends ancient and traditional architecture with very modern facilities in a botanical garden setting with about 500 species of trees and plants on the campus.
Considered the “MIT of China,” Tsinghua University is home to over 28,000 full-time students (15,000 graduate and 13,000 undergraduate students) all of whom are literally housed on the campus in a complex known as “dormitory city.” Its confines also house elementary, middle, and high school facilities and housing for a large number of the faculty. During the afternoon the chancellor, accompanied by deans Solomon, Lomax, Martin-Vega and Vice-Provost Li, made a presentation on “Educating Students for the Global Economy” to a number of students and faculty that was followed by a lively question and answer session. Tours of their new nanotechnology research facility and visits to various departments and programs to follow up on future faculty and student exchange opportunities rounded out the rest of the afternoon.
Tomorrow, we begin the day at Peking University.
Chancellor Oblinger and NCSU delegation with Michael Chen, NCSU graduate and General Manager of Red Hat China.
Chancellor making a presentation at Tsinghua University Park
President Gu of Tsinghua University meeting with the Chancellor