The associations of Western returned scholars of Suzhou New District and Shanghai Pudong New District kick off strategic cooperation on Nov 18. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]
The Western Returned Scholars Association of Suzhou New District was established on Nov 18, local media outlets reported.
It is a non-profit organization voluntarily formed by overseas returnees from SND. There are 80 original members, nearly 90 percent of which have master's degrees or higher and are working in industries such as biological medicine, new materials, new energy, intelligent equipment, and cultural creativity. About one-third of the members are involved in innovation and entrepreneurship at major industrial parks, colleges and institutes in SND, and serve as the leaders of enterprises.
The association will arrange for members to give full play to their comprehensive intelligence and offer advice related to the economic and social development of SND. It will also liaise with students studying abroad to carry out consulting, academic exchanges, and personnel training activities, as well as invite overseas returnees to conduct exchanges and cooperation in fields such as science and technology, culture, education, and economics, and carry out various types of fellowship activities.
The association also formed a cooperative relationship with its sister association in Pudong New District, Shanghai that same day. The two will focus on jointly improving the ecosystem for overseas returnees, promoting the coordinated development of industrial and innovation chains, and building a brand for people-to-people diplomacy.
Two projects introduced by the association were signed at the ceremony, with one focusing on the diagnosis and detection of glycosylated hemoglobin and the other focusing on new-type medical waveguide energy technology.
SND has always placed emphasis on attracting overseas returnees and has set up a number of national and provincial entrepreneurship parks for them. The district is now home to more than 4,000 overseas returnees, mainly involved in emerging industries such as new materials, new energy, and bio-pharmaceuticals.
