Cities thrive with universities, and universities grow stronger with cities. This symbiotic relationship is vividly embodied in the partnership between Guizhou University (GZU) and Guiyang-Gui’an, the economic powerhouse of Guizhou Province.
In 2021, the provincial government prioritized "strengthening Guizhou University," paving the way for a 2022 strategic cooperation agreement between GZU and Guiyang. Over three years, they launched 49 collaborative projects under the "Four Sectors Integration" framework (employment, industry, research disciplines, and entrepreneurship), signed 33 university-enterprise agreements, and established 31 practice bases. Today, GZU ranks among China’s top 90 universities, while Guiyang-Gui’an leads in GDP growth, population inflow, and graduate retention.
"GZU’s talent fuels regional development," said Hu Zhongxiong, CPC Committee Secretary of Guiyang. "We will deepen collaboration for greater impact."
University-Enterprise-Government Synergy Boosts Employment
In 2023, a joint job fair by GZU, Huawei, and local authorities attracted 140 employers. Over three years, university leaders visited 345 enterprises, organized 53 job fairs, and provided 36,366 job openings. A remarkable 18,806 graduates chose to stay in Guiyang, surpassing retention targets.
R&D Drives Industrial Growth
So far, GZU has:
Developed Guizhou’s first legal AI model with Huawei, securing RMB 20M in industry-research contracts.
Deployed 73 PhDs as "tech specialists" to local firms.
Co-founded big data innovation centers and supercomputing labs with industry partners.
Focused on key sectors, GZU has also undertaken 521 tech projects (worth RMB 238M) with leading enterprises like Huawei and iFlytek.
Disciplinary Strengths Enhance Local Specialization
As a national "Double First-Class" university, GZU has:
Incubation Fuels Entrepreneurship
GZU’s science park has incubated 142 tech firms, securing 830 contracts (worth RMB 700M). A standout success is Guizhou Xishan Technology, a big data leader with 100+ software copyrights, which contributed to China’s FAST Telescope project.
The university also co-hosted innovation contests like the "Zhifu Cup" tech transfer roadshow, China-ASEAN student startup competition, and "Zhuchuanghui" innovation competition, accelerating industry-academia collaboration in talent development and commercialization.
"We will further strengthen government-enterprise ties, retain top talent, and bridge technology with industry," said Yang Wei, GZU’s CPC Committee Secretary. "Our goal is to provide unwavering intellectual support for Guiyang-Gui’an’s growth."
Editor: Zhang Chan
Chief editor: Li Xufeng
Senior editor: Ding Long
Translator: Du Xiaorui
