China’s entrepreneur-funded universities, like Fuyao University of Science and Technology (FYUST) and the Eastern Institute of Technology, are attracting global scholars as part of a push for technological self-sufficiency. FYUST, founded with $10 billion from billionaire Cao Dewang, boasts faculty with prestigious international honors and expertise in cutting-edge fields. These institutions aim to bridge global talent with national strategies, nurturing research excellence and industry collaboration. However, long-term sustainability faces challenges, including financial stability, regulatory hurdles, and increasing scrutiny of academic collaborations with China.
China’s rising number of entrepreneur-funded universities are making a name for themselves by attracting world-class scholars, aligning closely with the nation’s efforts to achieve technological self-reliance, experts have noted.
One notable example is Fuyao University of Science and Technology (FYUST) in Fuzhou. Founded with a staggering $10 billion donation from billionaire Cao Dewang, chairman of the glass manufacturing giant Fuyao Group, FYUST began enrolling students this year. Its inaugural faculty roster boasts 15 academicians from around the world, specializing in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, life sciences, and materials science.
“The university currently has 302 faculty members, with 71.2 percent having overseas study or work experience, including 15 academicians and 56 scientists ranked in the top 2 percent globally,” said FYUST vice-president Xu Fei in a recent interview with Xinhua.
FYUST has successfully attracted top-tier academics from China and other countries, including North America, Europe, and Japan. Canadian professors are particularly well-represented, alongside scholars from the UK, Germany, Austria, and Japan. Many of these faculty members hold prestigious honors, such as fellowships in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the UK’s Royal Society, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Japan Academy. Several have also held positions at globally renowned institutions, including Cambridge, Toronto, Ulm, and Tohoku universities, according to FYUST’s website.
Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, believes the influx of foreign scientists and their intellectual property could help China close the technological gap with the US and Europe. “It will help Chinese universities to internationalise in a context where Chinese academics are more and more isolated from the rest of the world,” he observed.
This trend of billionaire-backed universities has been growing, with a shared mission of supporting national strategies, tackling technological challenges, and nurturing talent to advance China’s industries. For FYUST, this involves integrating students into laboratory work as early as their second year and promoting hands-on learning through collaborations with industry. FYUST President Wang Shuguo envisions undergraduates earning doctorates within eight years, preparing them for advanced research roles in their mid-twenties. This approach, he said, aims to cultivate young talent with both theoretical expertise and practical experience.
Another example is the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Ningbo, established by semiconductor tycoon Yu Renrong with a 46 billion yuan ($6.36 billion) investment. After focusing on doctoral programs for three years, EIT welcomed its first undergraduate cohort this year. Its website highlights the presence of over 90 principal investigators leading research projects, including 15 academicians, 23 fellows of prestigious international academic bodies, and 53 professors with experience at top-200 global universities.
Pioneering this model is Westlake University in Hangzhou, which has also drawn leading scholars from abroad. Italian mechanical engineer Marco Amabili, an international member of the US National Academy of Engineering, founded a lab at Westlake’s school of engineering in 2023. Other prominent hires include Belgian mathematician Thierry De Pauw and Chinese statistical physicist Lei-Han Tang, who joined last year.
Despite their success in attracting talent, the long-term sustainability of these universities faces potential challenges, such as shifting policies and funding issues, according to education experts. Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Beijing, noted that offering competitive salaries helps these institutions recruit exceptional faculty. However, he added, “Public debates persist regarding their educational positioning. Under China’s current regulatory framework, achieving a differentiated development path from China’s top public universities is no easy task.”
Another concern is whether these universities have sufficient financial reserves to sustain long-term, research-driven growth, Xiong said.
Rory Truex, an assistant professor at Princeton University, highlighted that China’s competitive salaries and research funding come at a time when Western universities face budget constraints. This creates an opportunity for China to strengthen its position in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. However, he cautioned, “In the current US political climate, joining a Chinese university carries risks, increasing the likelihood of government scrutiny.” He added that the history of the “China Initiative” has made American researchers more hesitant to participate in Chinese talent programs.
The China Initiative, launched in 2018 during US President Donald Trump’s administration, targeted Chinese academics in the US suspected of economic espionage but was widely criticized for racial profiling and excessive prosecution. The program was discontinued in 2022 under President Joe Biden.
As China’s entrepreneur-funded universities continue to grow, they stand as bold experiments in blending global academic excellence with national strategic goals. However, their success will depend on their ability to navigate policy, funding, and international collaboration challenges in the years to come.
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