Chinese students of South East University-Monash in Suzhou and visiting postgraduate students from Australia met in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in April to take part in an Australian Government supported entrepreneurs’ boot camp. The Suzhou event followed a two-day program of site visits in Shanghai to entrepreneurship incubators in Fudan University’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Science and Technology Incubator (Shanghai), and Tongji University’s FabLab O, and the Zizhu Entrepreneurship Incubator, Zizhu National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. The site visits showcased the impressive innovation effort and entrepreneurial drive that exists within China today.
The Australian delegation was facilitated by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and was led by Dr Paul Wood ATSE. The boot camp was hosted by South East University-Monash in Suzhou and focused on introducing research students to the principles required to succeed in a competitive innovation‐led world, with a particular focus on Chinese-Australian relationships. Chinese and Australian post-graduate students worked together on real world projects aimed at empowering them to become business leaders of the future.
The boot camp was opened by Australian Consul General to Shanghai, Mr Graeme Meehan, and facilitated by Dr Buzz Palmer, CEO of STC Australia and Director of Entrepreneurship at Monash University. Participating institutions included Monash University, South East University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and the University of Technology Sydney. The four day event was truly a great experience for all.
Thanks go to the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, Fudan University’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Science and Technology Incubator, Tongji University’s FabLab O, the Zizhu Entrepreneurship Incubator, South East University-Monash Graduate School and Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District Admin Committee for making this visit such a success.