On April 1, 2019, the 5th council meeting was held in Singapore, marking the first time the meeting convened in the city-state. It addressed issues on the agenda while strengthening collaboration among the four partners. Attendees included Dr. Wu Yechun, Vice President of SCUT; Prof. Lam Khin Yong, Vice President of NTU Singapore; Mr. Xu Hui, Vice Director of the CSGKC Construction Office; and Mr. Ang Boon Peng, Vice President (Strategic Collaboration) of CSGKC Joint Co. Mr. Sun Xuewei, Vice Director of Guangzhou Development District Administrative Committee, delivered an address at the meeting. The Executive Director of CSIJRI, Prof. Yu Long, the Vice Director, Prof Chan Siew Hwa, and other representatives were also present.
Prof. Lam Khin Yong warmly welcomed all participants, while Mr. Sun Xuewei emphasized that the Guangzhou Development District places great importance on China-Singapore cooperation. He noted that China is transitioning into an innovation-driven economy, with initiatives like the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative further enhancing collaboration in innovation and technology. CSIJRI, as a landmark project established under the witness of the leaders of China and Singapore, will benefit from favorable government policies to ensure its sustainable and smooth development. The institute aims to become a sustainable and innovative research hub.
During the meeting, the Council reviewed the past achievements and financial reports and made decisions on future development. The Council evaluated CSIJRI's work and achievements, setting new requirements for the next stage and suggesting improvements to future development plans. It was emphasized that CSIJRI should seize historic opportunities to innovate its operational mechanism and contribute to strengthening technological cooperation between China and Singapore.
On April 3, CSIJRI held a communication session with project teams from NTU Singapore to gather feedback and discuss ways to support their work.
During their business trip to Singapore, the CSIJRI management team, led by Dr. Wu Yechun, Co-Chair of the Council, visited several leading research organizations to learn from their research collaboration and operational models. These included the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERIAN), the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), as well as One-North and the National Research Foundation (NRF).
