Academic brainchild

SHANGHAI'S groundbreaking Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in northeastern Yangpu district is the vision of Woo Chia-wei, Shui On adviser and president emeritus of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, although he insists it was a collective effort.

Professor Woo said the idea was originally conceived for Hong Kong, but the government showed no interest. Believing in the concept, he found an ideal location in Shanghai and, more importantly, people willing to listen.

'I was looking at the district of Yangpu. As an academic I wasn't thinking business. I thought, 'Why is this area looked down on in the city?'' he said.

'Yangpu has 14 universities. I couldn't understand why the universities and the community had not worked closely together with vision and character.'

He submitted a paper in January 2002 to Shui On Group chairman Vincent Lo Hong-shui. Mr Lo liked the idea, and approached the Shanghai government, which was in a transitional phase at the time. Within three months, new leaders including Chen Liangyu (now party secretary) and Han Zheng (Shanghai mayor) approved the KIC project.

Professor Woo said the project was a collective effort.

'Vincent Lo realised right away that the preserved Jiangwan Stadium should be restored and better utilised. It was [Shui On vice-chairman and chief operating officer] Wilfred Wong's idea for a sunken piazza to link up with the underground MRT and provide a central hub. And John Kriken at [design firm] Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and [Shui On chief planner] Albert Chan drafted the master plan.'

With the first phase of the KIC nearing completion, he remains actively involved in the project as senior adviser but is no longer working full-time for Shui On.

'I promote the project to universities and the hi-tech community wherever I go, and have succeeded in bringing major organisations ... into the hub. The whole idea is so exciting,' he said.