With twenty years of continuing education and ten years of perseverance, on November 19, 2025, the 10th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum was grandly inaugurated at the University Hall of BNBU. Under the theme “Bay Area Innovation Surge: BNBU Nurturing Talents for 20 Years, A Decade of Fu Chong Launching a New Dawn”, and coinciding with the 20th anniversary of BNBU’s founding, the forum brought together nearly a thousand participants, including business leaders from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, distinguished alumni, government representatives, faculty, and students, to jointly explore the contemporary issues of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Under the guidance of the Zhuhai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, this year’s forum was hosted by BNBU and coordinated by the BNBU Innovation Centre. With ten years of commitment, the Fu Chong Forum has become one of the key platforms for youth innovation and entrepreneurship exchange in the Greater Bay Area.
Group Photo of Guests at the 10th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum
(From left to right) Prof. Ye Huajun, Dr. Wang Ying, Director Ruan Hang, Deputy Secretary Xie Minghua, Vice President Pan Jianxin, Dr. Brian Gu, President Chen Zhi, Dr. Ko Pui Shuen, Associate Vice President Huang Yu, Mr. Isaac Zhang, Prof. Chen Zhong, Executive Director Lu Hongzhou, and Mr. Wang Qian (alumnus).
01 20 Years of Talent Nurturing, 10 Years of New Beginnings
In his opening address, Prof. Chen Zhi, President of BNBU and Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities, reflected on the development of both the University and the Forum. “These ten years,” he remarked, “have witnessed the Forum’s growth from its nascent stages to maturity—a decade of uniting entrepreneurial forces and passing forward the spirit of innovation. More importantly, it has been a decade of witnessing the boldness, experimentation, and pioneering spirit of the youth in the Greater Bay Area.”
Looking to the future, President Chen Zhi offered three hopes for the young students: “First, always insist on your originality of innovation—explore the unknown with curiosity and push boundaries with the courage to lead; second, cultivate a strong sense of patriotism—integrate personal aspirations into the development of the Greater Bay Area and the nation, and find your place in this age; third, stay grounded and take solid action—face challenges with perseverance on the path of innovation, and strive to make your youth count.
He concluded by emphasizing, “BNBU will always be your strongest support.” The University will continue to integrate resources and provide a broader platform and stronger support for youth innovation.
02 Gratitude in Words, Honoring the Founding Spirit
Group Photo at the Gift Presentation Ceremony
(From left to right) Vice President Pan Jianxin, Dr. Brian Gu, Dr. Ko Pui Shuen, Associate Vice President Huang Yu, Mr. Isaac Zhang, and President Chen Zhi of BNBU at the Gift Presentation Ceremony of the 10th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum.
The guests each held a fine brushwork painting created by BNBU students, as follows:
Spring Tidings, Paired in Harmony by Song Siyao (presented to Dr. Brian Gu)
Blooming Chapters by Deng Kaiyun (presented to Dr. Ko Pui Shuen)
Spring Slumber by the Peach Blossom Bank by Tong Xinyi (presented to Mr. Isaac Zhang)
During the keynote sharing session, three distinguished guests from different fields delivered many inspiring ideas.
03 Crossing Boundaries, Lighting the Way Forward
Dr. Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPENG, engaged in an in-depth conversation with Dr. Wang Ying, Associate Professor and Director of the Media Management Concentration at BNBU. Together, they exchanged ideas on topics such as intelligent mobility, industrial transformation, and opportunities for the youth.
Dr. Brian Gu shared his journey of transitioning from the field of biochemistry to the smart automotive industry. Reflecting on his path from a student majoring in chemistry to an executive in investment banking, and then to leading a smart automotive enterprise, he said, “Though the journey of life cannot be pre-planned, as long as you stay curious and embrace change, you will discover beautiful scenery and find joy in the journey.”
When discussing the direction of education in the digital age, Dr. Gu emphasized, “Education should not merely prepare students for a specific career, but should focus on ‘nurturing the whole person.’” He believes that in today’s era of rapid technological iteration, what matters more than mastering specific knowledge is cultivating the ability to learn, the mindset to solve problems, and the resilience to adapt to change. “This fundamental quality education is extremely important for our young people.”
On the topic of youth entrepreneurship, Dr. Gu reminded students not to fall into anxiety. “Entrepreneurship knows no order of precedence, nor does it have a set timeline,” he said. “At any stage of life, there are opportunities to start a business and the possibility of success.”
The conversation was exceptionally engaging throughout. Dr. Gu’s rich cross-boundary experience and unique insights brought BNBU students many inspiring ideas on innovation and the future, drawing continuous applause from the audience.
04 Business with Purpose, Culture Passed Forward
Dr. Ko Pui Shuen, Chairman of Kingrich Asia Holdings Ltd. and President of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce, engaged in an in-depth conversation with Wang Qian, a BNBU alumna from the Class of 2010. Together, they shared Dr. Ko’s entrepreneurial journey from Chaoshan to the international stage, along with the life wisdom she has gained along the way.
When asked why she continues to invest in the fields of culture and education, Dr. Ko said, “A person must define how they want to live their life. True value lies in how you use your wealth for the most meaningful purposes.” She shared that she has been deeply influenced by the renowned sinologist Professor Jao Tsung-I, and fully understands the importance of cultural heritage. “My goal is to bring Chinese culture to the international stage and tell China’s story well.”
As the first female president of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce in its 103-year history, Dr. Ko shared the unique advantages of women entrepreneurs: “Women are meticulous and focused. In businesses that require taking one step at a time, details determine success or failure.” She proudly noted that her company employs a large number of women. “I have never felt that there is anything men can do that women cannot,” she said. “On the contrary, women often excel in the finer details.”
Addressing aspiring student entrepreneurs, Dr. Ko encouraged them to seize the opportunities in the new era of high-quality development. “As part of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong is attracting talent through its Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and Talent Admission Scheme,” she said. “I hope you will take full advantage of the opportunities this era offers to build your careers.”
The conversation was filled with warmth and insight throughout. Dr. Ko Pui Shuen, through her remarkable life journey, embodied the true meaning of “business with purpose,” setting an inspiring example of an entrepreneur for BNBU students.
05 Data-Driven Innovation, A New Era for Culture and Tourism
Mr. Isaac Zhang, CTO of Smart Cultural Tourism Business at Invengo and a BNBU alumnus from the Class of 2012 majoring in Statistics, delivered a keynote talk titled “When Statistics Meets Culture, Tourism, and Intellectual Property.” As a role model for young people, he shared how the data analysis skills have enabled him to accurately identify market demands in his entrepreneurial journey. A chance encounter led him and his team to identify a pain point in product authentication—the stamp-collecting passport products for the Shanghai World Expo lacked anti-counterfeiting measures. Drawing on their expertise, they applied RFID technology to develop a smart anti-counterfeiting passport product, marking the beginning of a new chapter in smart cultural tourism.
Today, the Invengo team has provided smart cultural tourism solutions to over 20 renowned scenic attractions, including Shanghai Disneyland and Chimelong, serving more than one billion visitors in total. Behind every success lies unwavering persistence and innovation. “Stay curious and dare to explore across boundaries,” Mr. Zhang said. Zhang exemplified the innovative spirit of BNBU students through his own journey, demonstrating to the audience the boundless possibilities at the intersection of data technology and the cultural tourism industry.
06 A Decade of Fu Chong: Thanks to You
At the 10th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum, Mr. Lu Hongzhou, Executive Director of the BNBU Innovation Centre, delivered a speech on behalf of the Centre, extending sincere gratitude to all parties who have supported the Forum’s development over the years. He also presided over the award presentation ceremony.
The Forum specially featured a tribute segment titled “A Decade of Fu Chong: Thanks to You”, inviting representatives of the Forum’s founders, including Jia Fan, Ao Ri Qilang, and Lin Hong from the BEEPLUS team, along with Huang Yun, the designer of the Forum’s logo, and Ms. Lin Meiyu, who played a key role in bringing the Forum to fruition to come on stage. They each received a special 10th anniversary commemorative gift presented by Professor Pan Jianxin, honoring their contributions in building the Forum.
(From left to right) Huang Yun (alumnus), Lin Hong (alumnus), Ms. Lin Meiyu, Professor Pan Jianxin, Jia Fan (alumnus), Ao Ri Qilang (alumnus)
The development of innovation and entrepreneurship education would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of frontline faculty members. The BNBU Entrepreneurship Mentorship Team, with their profound expertise and approaches, continues to provide comprehensive guidance for students’ projects. While fulfilling their teaching responsibilities, they making contributions to the University’s innovation and entrepreneurship education. The Forum held an award ceremony to honor the outstanding mentor teachers of the past year. The list of award recipients is as follows:
Faculty of Business and Management: Wang Peng, Li Yunhua, Xin Ling, He Meng, Hu Chenguang, Huang Qingfeng
Faculty of Science and Technology: Ji Yanyan, Du Xinwei, Fan Wentao, Liang Zhiwen, Ge Mingming
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Han Ziqi, Lan Xiaomeng, Xu Xiaying
Faculty of Culture and Creativity: Wang Xi, Liang Haiyong
(From left to right) Dr. Hu Chenguang, Dr. Liang Zhiwen, Dr. Xu Xiaying, Dr. Fan Wentao, Dr. Wang Xi, Dr. Wang Peng, Dr. Li Yunhua, Dr. Ge Mingming, Ms. Ji Yanyan, Professor Ye Huajun, Director Lu Hongzhou
The Forum also continued the tradition of the Alumni Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program. This year, five distinguished alumni were officially appointed as the third cohort of Alumni Entrepreneurship Mentors: An Jiale (Class of 2012, Food Science and Engineering), Dr. Isaac Zhang (Class of 2012, Statistics), Lang Qixu (Class of 2012, Culture, Creativity and Management), Xia Tian (Class of 2013, Accounting), and Wang Yaodong (Class of 2016, Public Relations and Advertising). Through project guidance, experience sharing, and resource connection, they will continue to give back to their alma mater and support the entrepreneurial journeys of their fellow students.
(From left to right) Professor Chen Zhong, Xia Tian (alumnus), An Jiale (alumnus), Dr. Isaac Zhang (alumnus), Wang Yaodong (alumnus), Director Lu Hongzhou
The Forum also specially invited representatives of the second cohort of Alumni Entrepreneurship Mentors to attend. They are: Wang Qian (Class of 2010, Statistics), Guo Jianpeng (Class of 2011, Applied Economics), Wu Tong (Class of 2012, Finance), Zhou Kaiming (Class of 2012, Finance), Chen Xuejiao (Class of 2014, Applied Economics), and Lin Hong (Class of 2016, Accounting).
The 10th Fu Chong Youth Entrepreneurship Forum has concluded successfully. Yet the dreams of youth and stories of innovation have only just set sail. We believe that these vibrant new forces will merge into the development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At this time next year, we invite friends from all sectors to gather once again at Fu Chong, and embark on the next feast of ideas together!
Forum Hosts:
Zhu Rongyan, Class of 2025, Media Management Concentration (Postgraduate)
Li Siqi, Class of 2025, Communication Studies Concentration (Postgraduate)
Guest Interview Hosts:
Dr. Wang Ying, Associate Professor and Director of the Media Management Concentration at BNBU
Mr. Wang Qian, BNBU Alumnus, Class of 2010, Statistics Major; Compliance Officer, Yin Qian International Trust License, Hong Kong