Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) has renewed cooperation with the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC). The two sides signed a strategic collaboration framework agreement on June 14 and jointly unveiled the Optics Valley Integrated Circuit (IC) Innovation Platform Alliance, with You Zheng, president of HUST, appointed to head it.

In his speech, You stressed that the purpose of the establishment of the alliance is to serve the national strategies and raise the core competency of OVC's IC industry. HUST created relevant majors in semiconductors as early as 1960. In 2020, the university's IC science and engineering discipline was set up and recognized as a first-level discipline.

In 2021, HUST built an independent IC college, and is now capable of leading new alliance construction.

Liu Jie, secretary of OVC's working committee, highlighted the two side's longstanding partnership over the past 30 years. About 100,000 HUST graduates have chosen to work or start businesses in the valley.

The framework agreement stated that OVC and HUST will join efforts in national strategies, major scientific facilities, core technological bottlenecks, key technology commercialization, talent cultivation, emerging businesses, future industries, and international prospects.

Other founding members of the alliance include the Hubei Semiconductor Industry Association, National Advance Storage Industrial Innovation Center, and Hubei's key laboratories.