China National Space Administration Promotes Cooperation between M.U.S.T. and Sun Yat-sen University

Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of Macau University of Science and Technology, and President Liu Liang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, led the university management and scientific research specialists on a visit to China National Space Administration (CNSA). The delegation was received warmly by Administrator Zhang Kejian and Deputy Administrator Wu Yanhua. Joining the M.U.S.T. delegation at the reception was a delegation from Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) led by President Luo Jun.

Group photo of CNSA representatives, M.U.S.T. delegation and SYSU delegation

Administrator Zhang Kejian expressed warm welcome to Chancellor Liu Chak Wan, President Liu Liang, the rest of the M.U.S.T. delegation and to the SYSU delegation led by President Luo Jun.

Chancellor Liu Chak Wan expressed appreciation to Administrator Wu for making time to meet with the M.U.S.T. delegation. With the great guidance and support of the CNSA and the Macao S.A.R. Government, M.U.S.T. established the Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, China National Space Administration, to provide scientific support for national deep space exploration projects and make contributions to the international science innovation center of the Greater Bay Area and Macao’s diversified economy and sustainable development. Last year, when we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, Macao’s first science satellite project, Macao Science 1, found home at M.U.S.T., which has greatly empowered investment of Macao universities in the area of science and technology innovations and set up a new model of cooperation between Macao and the mainland in science and technology innovation.

President Liu Liang gave a report with regard to the involvement of M.U.S.T. in national Change’e projects, Tianwen-1 Mars exploration projects, research progresses of the ginseng seeds carried by Shenzhou 10 spacecraft, research progresses of Macao Science 1, and the work progresses of the Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, China National Space Administration. As early as in 2005, the University started to participate in the data analysis and scientific research of Chang’e lunar probe projects, and therefore it was the earliest among all universities in Hong Kong and Macao as well as the one that’s mostly involved in national lunar exploration projects. It has rolled out consecutively a large amount of research work with respect to exploration data analysis of Chang’e 1, 2 & 3, lunar sciences research, asteroids explorations and astronomical observations, which has yielded a series of breakthroughs and high-quality papers published in top journals. In Tianwen-1 Mars exploration project, M.U.S.T. is responsible for the development, production, data processing and analysis of the separable telemetry probe of the Mars orbiter engineering survey sub-system, and has played an important role in China’s first Mars exploration mission. President Liu Liang further noted that M.U.S.T. owns two state key laboratories, the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines and the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, a Laboratory named after a Nobel Prize Winner, the “Biophysical Laboratory for Chinese Medicine”, an Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Center and the Macao Ocean Development Research Center approved by the Ministry of Education of China. He expects the CNSA continues to give support to M.U.S.T. and empower collaborations among elite universities in the Greater Bay Area to co-develop and share resources, elevate the level and standard of cooperation in areas such as astronomy, space science, medicine and ocean sciences and drive synergetic innovation and cooperation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in national strategic development areas.

Vice President Tong Ka Lok explained the far-reaching outcomes produced by the Macao Science 1 satellite in the local science and technology scene and relevant industries, and in the science and technology industries of the Greater Bay Area, as well as the importance of taking advantage of the Greater Bay Area as a bridge for international cooperation.

Director Zhang Keke of the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences gave an introduction to the development and research progresses of Macao Science 1 and the proposal for development of Macao science satellite systems.

President Luo Jun of Sun Yat-sen University gave an introduction of the missions and significances of The TianQin Project, the national space-borne gravitational-wave exploration project, at various stages, and expressed interest in engaging in exchanges and cooperation with M.U.S.T. in the field of space sciences. The president expressed hopes that the two universities could rely on their scientific research forces and research platforms to jointly promote the research achievements and impacts of the TianQin Project and the Macao Science 1 to jointly better serve the needs of national strategies. At the meeting, the two parties exchanged ideas with respect to future technologies, aero physics and Chinese medicine, discussed opportunities for future collaboration, and pledged to push forward program development, science development, science and technology transfer and resource integration within the two universities.

Administrator Zhang fully affirmed the significant achievements M.U.S.T. and SYSU made in recent years and the uplifting roles they each played. He agreed that the universities in the Greater Bay Area complement each other with their respective strengths and that it is meaningful for strong universities to join forces and seek collaborations, which represents the strengths of national systems. He thus expects that the two universities could cooperate and develop high-standard, high-level and high-tech collaborations so as to jointly make contributions for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and for national development. Administrator Zhang pledged that the CNSA would continue to give support to Macao and M.U.S.T. to contribute to in-depth implementation of One Country, Two Systems. The CNSA would continue to encourage and enable the Macao science and technology community to participate in national space engineering projects, exert Macao’s strengths as a free harbor under One Country, Two Systems, and fully exert the leading role of space exploration through science and technology in the national Belt & Road initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy.

Other members attending the reception include Chief Engineer Liu Yongde of the CNSA, Director Li Guoping of the Department of General Administration, Director Pan Aihua of the Department of Science and Technology and Quality Control, Director Xu Hong Liang of Department I, Director Deng Ge of Department II, and Director Meng Hua of the News and Information Center of the CNSA, Vice President Tong Ka Lok of M.U.S.T., Vice President Jiang Zhihong, Vice President Pang Chuan, Vice President Kwong Ying Wa, University Council Member Chen Jimin, Director Zhang Keke of the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Prof. Zhang Kang from Faculty of Medicine, M.U.S.T., and Director Zheng Yue of the Institute of Advanced Technologies, SYSU, Standing Deputy Director Tu Liangcheng of TianQin Center, Part-time Prof. Zheng Min of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Prof. Ye Xianji of School of Physics and Astronomy, Vice Dean Lian Junxiang of the School of Advanced Technologies, Associate Researcher Duan Huizong of School of Physics and Astronomy, and Chief Engineering Zhang Lihua of China Spacesat Co. Ltd., China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.