Over 100 Professors Launch Startups: Xi’an Jiaotong University Forges a Golden Era of Hard-Tech Innovation

Looking at Hard-Tech Innovation, It Is Inevitable to AddressXi'an Jiaotong University(hereinafter referred to as Xi'an Jiaotong University).

Over the past century since its founding, this university has achieved more than 100 “firsts” in scientific research fields both domestically and internationally: it established China’s first Institute of Engineering Thermophysics; launched the nation’s first academic programs in steam turbines, automotive manufacturing, refrigeration and cryogenics, and compressors; developed China’s first large-scale general-purpose electronic computer and the first digital processing chip with independent intellectual property rights; and pioneered the Unified Strength Theory based on twin shear stress on the international stage.

From the perspective of investors, this low-profile yet highly capable university is also a significant source of investment opportunities. “In the field of robotics, in addition to the well-known entrepreneurs from Harbin Institute of Technology and Beihang University, alumni of Xi’an Jiaotong University represent a force that cannot be overlooked,” stated a hard-tech investor in an interview. Moreover, the university is producing a growing number of scientist-founders.Since 2021, professors from Xi’an Jiaotong University have increasingly embarked on entrepreneurial ventures, establishing more than 150 technology-based enterprises in Shaanxi Province.

World-class universities take it as their mission to cultivate outstanding talent.

To date, more than 200 alumni of Xi’an Jiaotong University have been elected as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Since the university’s relocation, it has supplied over 290,000 professionals to the nation. Among them, 89 academicians were either trained by or have worked at the university. The institution has produced six recipients of the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” Meritorious Medal and four winners of the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award.

“This is a place where one can set down a quiet desk in an otherwise restless world.” This is the most accurate appraisal of Xi’an Jiaotong University. The university’s motto—“Diligent Study, Sincere Aspiration, Resolute Action, and Loyal and Considerate Service”—has influenced generations of XJTU alumni.

Meanwhile, within the talent development framework of Xi'an Jiaotong University,Talent Introductionrepresents the most significant and impactful achievement. In recent years, Xi’an Jiaotong University has selected over 700 young top-tier talents, recruited more than 500 professionals from outside the university, and seen over 280 selections into national “Four Young” or higher-level talent programs.

“Xi’an Jiaotong University has very high requirements for recruiting talent,Either at the international forefront in basic research, or at the industry cutting edge in engineering and technological R&D capabilities.“, and aligns with the nation’s strategic needs,” said Wang Hefeng, Director of the Office for High-Level Talent at Xi’an Jiaotong University.

In the talent selection process, Xi’an Jiaotong University invites experts from related disciplines (“broad peers”) at renowned domestic universities to conduct interviews; meanwhile, the university also fully accounts for differences across disciplines and carries out precise peer reviews by “narrow peers” via correspondence based on specific disciplinary directions.

Recruiting high-level talent is only the first step. In order toLet Talents Fully Unleash Their Potential, on the basis of fully implementing the tenure-track system, Xi’an Jiaotong University has adopted an independent Principal Investigator (PI) system, granting recruited talents autonomous authority in defining research directions, building platforms, utilizing funds, forming teams, and training students. Meanwhile, guided by innovation capability, quality, and contribution, the university adheres to a system that integrates comprehensiveness with key priorities, quantitative with qualitative assessments, annual reviews with contract-term evaluations, and individual performance with team achievements, thereby accommodating both “all-around champions” and “specialized experts.”

In addition, Xi’an Jiaotong University has established special funds to support outstanding young talents. On one hand, the university provides fixed-amount support based on different disciplinary categories; on the other hand, young talents can propose research platform needs according to their research attributes and existing research platforms. The university organizes expert evaluations to provide targeted support, ensuring that newly recruited talents can rapidly initiate world-class research. Meanwhile, individuals with outstanding performance will receive additional research funding awards to encourage continuous production of high-level outcomes and stimulate innovation and creativity.

This virtuous cycle has enabled Xi’an Jiaotong University to attract a cohort of renowned experts and scholars celebrated both domestically and internationally in the fields of basic research, applied research, and interdisciplinary integration, thereby establishing a highland for innovative talent in western China.

The core element in facilitating the translation of scientific and technological achievements into productive forces is people. However, in China, experts engaged in technology transfer services are a scarce talent.

Precise project matching is inseparable fromTechnology BrokerBy acting as an intermediary. On the one hand, technology brokers need to connect with university scientific and technological resources, target scientific and technological achievements that are intended for transformation and have market prospects, help researchers connect with relevant enterprises and sales channels, and facilitate transformation. On the other hand, technology brokers also need to understand market demands and industrial development trends, so as to accurately match achievements with demands.

A seasoned technology transfer professional, leveraging their in-depth industry knowledge, must not only understand the work of researchers but also grasp the applications of their projects. In facilitating the commercialization of research outcomes, they should guide enterprises in shaping their future development strategies and driving industrial upgrading and transformation.

“Valuation of achievements, modes of cooperation, resource matching, investment and financing, legal services, and even pitch coaching—successfully navigating this ‘step’ is a long and arduous process that requires completing a substantial amount of specialized and complex work, often necessitating the collaborative efforts of a technology brokerage team,” said Hou Ying, Assistant to the Director of the National Technology Transfer Center at Xi’an Jiaotong University and a technology broker, in an interview.

How to Cultivate Technology Brokers?

At Xi'an Jiaotong University“Selection, Training, Deployment, and Management”Within the talent development framework for technology brokers, educational institutions first established a competency model to facilitate candidate selection based on defined “talent profiles.” Subsequently, through an integrated approach comprising a proprietary theoretical and practical curriculum, the development of in-house training materials with independent intellectual property rights, hands-on mentorship at practical training bases, and a “headquarters-plus-regional” mentoring mechanism, a cohort of outstanding technology transfer professionals has been cultivated.

In terms of personnel utilization, Xi’an Jiaotong University adopts a competitive “horse racing” model with dynamic promotion and demotion mechanisms. In terms of management, the university employs an OA system for business operations and a “career development + compensation” approach for personnel management to stimulate staff motivation.

Currently, Xi'an Jiaotong University has established a team57 peoplea dedicated team of technology brokers. They have distinct roles but share a common goal: conducting industry chain research, attracting investment, and promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. Thanks to this team of technology brokerage professionals, Xi’an Jiaotong University has been able to rapidly integrate the innovation end with the industrial end.

Often, academic achievements remain shelved because researchers lack an understanding of how to commercialize their scientific findings. Therefore, one of the most critical roles of technology brokers is to identify and evaluate innovative outcomes within universities, assisting researchers in advancing technology transfer through three stages: proof of concept, seed incubation, and angel-stage maturation.

At the Forefront: Technology BrokersUnlocking Technological Achievements and Revitalizing Existing ResourcesOver the past three years, technology brokers from the International Technology Transfer Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University have conducted more than 1,600 visits to scientists’ teams, cumulatively collecting over 1,100 scientific and technological achievements available for commercialization. It is reported that the team has sorted out more than 30,000 existing technological achievements and established a catalog of achievements at Xi’an Jiaotong University.

Following the discovery of innovative achievements, Xi’an Jiaotong University facilitates concept validation to help these innovations take the first step across the “Valley of Death” in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

In 2018, Xi'an Jiaotong University established the first among universities nationwide"Proof of Concept Center". Through the National Technology Transfer Center platform, the Concept Verification Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, in collaboration with government-backed capital, initiated and established a micro-seed concept verification fund focused on areas such as biotechnology and environmental protection, as well as new materials.

This fund focuses on small-scale early-stage technology investments and professional management, with investment amounts falling within the micro-seed range, typically between 100,000 and 200,000. The investment cycle for projects is generally around one year, with the targetFocus on conceptual prototypes or prototype units, with technology transfer conducted on a case-by-case basis as each becomes mature.。

Proof-of-concept centers provide seed funding for early-stage research that cannot secure support through conventional channels, thereby bridging the gap between pure academic research and startups funded by angel investors or venture capital.

Within the ecosystem for translating scientific research achievements into practical applications,Governments and enterprises are key forces driving the deep integration of technology and the economy.. Under government guidance, leading enterprises have achieved broad coverage across the industry, enabling stable development of the industrial chain and steering its overall direction; although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot match large corporations in financial and human resources, they are the most dynamic elements within the innovation ecosystem.

Therefore, Xi’an Jiaotong University’s original technological achievements and their spin-off enterprises are actively maintaining close ties with external innovation factors through the specialized and market-oriented precision services of technology brokers, while exploring new models of university-enterprise and university-local government collaboration.

InSchool-Enterprise CooperationIn this regard, Xi’an Jiaotong University has established a collaborative model featuring “one center, one incubator, two focal areas, and one shared platform” (the “1121” model). This is achieved by enabling enterprises to establish joint innovation centers on campus, with the enterprises taking the lead in conducting collaborative research aimed at addressing key core technologies.

Over the past five years (2018–2023), Xi’an Jiaotong University has “joined forces” with more than 1,100 enterprises in Shaanxi Province to collaboratively tackle common technical challenges hindering industry development: It co-established the “Shaanxi Institute of High-End Machine Tools” with Qinchuan Machine Tool Group, developing and manufacturing a series of products including 1,500 mm aspheric surface grinders, worm grinders, and CNC gear grinders; it co-established the “Research Center for Preparation Technology of Refractory Metal Tubes and Special-Shaped Components” with Jinduicheng Molybdenum Co., Ltd., creating a proprietary technological “invention chain” spanning from key molybdenum materials to final products; and it co-established the “Xi’an Jiaotong University–Sirui Copper-Based New Materials Industry Innovation Center” with Shaanxi Sirui Advanced Materials Co., Ltd., to jointly conduct breakthroughs in key technologies...

Meanwhile, Xi’an Jiaotong University has established a free “open licensing” system for patents targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), selecting 300 high-value patents to be made freely available to SMEs across the province. To date, licensing agreements have been signed for 227 of these patents, deeply integrating innovative achievements with SMEs in Shaanxi Province.

InUniversity-Local Government CollaborationIn this regard, Xi’an Jiaotong University has proposed a new collaborative model of “enclave innovation, offshore incubation, and repatriated development.” The university, together with local governments across Shaanxi Province, is jointly promoting the translation and commercialization of innovations. Examples include the establishment of the “Xi’an Jiaotong University–Yulin Financial Research Institute” in partnership with Yulin City; the co-founding of the “Shaanxi Provincial Engineering Research Center for Magnesium-Based New Materials” with Fugu County of Yulin City; and the joint development of an enclave sci-tech innovation center (incubator) with Hanzhong City. Moreover, research achievements from multiple scientific teams represented by Academician Qiu Aici, Academician Guan Xiaohong, and Academician Sun Jun have been successfully translated and implemented in various cities throughout Shaanxi Province.

In addition, the National Technology Transfer Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University has established 17 branch offices in cities such as Hanzhong, Yan’an, and Weinan; dispatched 19 technology brokers; conducted surveys of more than 1,500 local enterprises; identified over 760 technological needs; promoted more than 1,100 scientific and technological achievements; and facilitated 101 university–local government and university–enterprise collaboration projects.

Whether through deep integration with enterprises or the enclave incubation model, these approaches have accelerated exchanges between Xi’an Jiaotong University’s scientific research and external stakeholders, while enhancing the risk resilience of research outcomes during the translation process, thereby achieving mutual benefits.

Overall, innovative talent, technology transfer professionals, capital forces, external enterprises, and government support are all critical factors enabling Xi’an Jiaotong University to build its innovation ecosystem. If this ecosystem is viewed as a closed loop, Xi’an Jiaotong University sits at the center: on one hand, innovative talent and technology transfer professionals drive the university’s overall achievement transformation efforts; on the other, the involvement of government, capital, and enterprises accelerates the successful commercialization of these achievements.