Following a global recruitment process and a rigorous selection process, the University of Macau (UM) has appointed Dr Claudia Xu Jian as its new vice rector (administration), effective from 13 September 2021. Dr Xu has over 25 years of experience in administration, strategic planning, and innovation management, and has established close partnerships with the academia and industry. Prior to joining UM, Dr Xu was the chief commercial officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

UM Rector Yonghua Song expressed heartfelt welcome to Dr Xu. He says Dr Xu has excellent leadership skills and is familiar with the development of university policies, innovation process, and technology commercialisation. He is confident that Dr Xu will bring new ideas and impetus to the university and take it to the next level. Dr Xu thanks UM’s trust in her ability and hopes to use her management experience in the academia, business, and science and innovation, to contribute to a better academic, research, and working environment for the university and to the realisation of the shared vision and mission of all UM members.

Dr Xu holds a PhD degree from the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (French name: Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse). She was the energy specialist of McKinsey and the business development manager of Bechtel (Asia Pacific), Hong Kong. She joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 2000, where she was responsible for technology transfer and commercialisation, industrial collaboration, IP management and patent licensing, and incubation of tech start-ups. She served as the director of HKUST’s Technology Transfer Center and CEO of HKUST R and D Corporation Ltd. Prior to joining UM, she was the chief commercial officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, responsible for building and promoting the ecosystem for innovation entrepreneurship and commercialisation of science and technology in Hong Kong, and has established close partnerships with the academia and industry in the region and beyond. She also served as the chair of the Technological Achievement Award category of Hong Kong Awards for Industries, member of the Smart City and Digital Connectivity Task Force under the HKTDC Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area Committee, founding member of Hong Kong Industry-University-Research Collaboration Association, and member of the Advisory Committee on Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong for the Intellectual Property Department of HKSAR Government (2011- 2014).