Griffith University was well represented in the recent 2019 AUSTRALIA–CHINA Science, Technology, Commercialisation and Innovation Forum, which occurred in Chonqing, China from 21-23 January.
The forum had over 400 attendants and was quite successful at furthering partnerships between China and Australia, to improve global communities. Dr Xu Jie, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Brisbane, discussed the forum being of “great significance in promoting China-Australia and China-Queensland cooperation on science, technology and trade, enhancing industry-academia-research synergy.”
Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) Professor Sheena Reilly was chair of the advisory committee for the Biomedicine & Health sub-forum, which also included Professor David Ellwood, Head of School of Medicine, Professor Nicholas Buys, Dean (Learning and Teaching) and Professor Lennert Veerman. Professor Buys, chaired one of the Biomedicine and Health sessions, which featured Professor George Mellick, Head of School of Environment and Science, Associate Professor Yun Jiang Feng from the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery and Associate Professor Carl de Wet who is a join appointment between the School of Medicine and the Gold Coast University Hospital. Speaking of the value of forums like these Professor Buys said they “significantly raise Griffith University’s reputation not only research, but also in learning and teaching.”
With a strong presence from peer institutions like Edith Cowan University, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Queensland and Chongqing University the presentations ranged across topics like disease prevention and treatment, artificial intelligence, pharmacological research and big data. Associate Professor Jing Sun from the School of Medicine at Griffith University chaired the sub-forum of Biomedicine and Health and subsequently was invited to deliver a workshop to medical doctors in Chongqing University Affiliated Hospital. She advised that “during the forum we have made a number of important connections and explored potential collaborations in joint research and teaching and learning. We hope collaboration with Griffith University will be strengthened and further developed via the forum discussion, this year and in the years to come”.
The forum is an annual event that provides a stage to share research, organise joint developments and promotes academic exchange in order to improve health and science outcomes around the world.
