ZJU and Ant Financial enter into partnership

On July 4, Zhejiang University and Ant Financial Services Group signed a strategic partnership agreement with a view to mapping out a plan for commercial modes, technological innovation and talent cultivation in the era of digital economy.

WU Zhaohui, president of Zhejiang University, and JING Xiandong, CEO and director of Ant Financial, delivered speeches. HE Lianzhen, vice president of Zhejiang University, and HU Xiaoming, president of Ant Financial, signed the strategic partnership agreement on behalf of their respective sides. Besides, the Information Technology Center of Zhejiang University and Alipay signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish the Smart Cloud Laboratory.

“The signing of this agreement marks a brand new start for future cooperation. New technology has brought in its wake new changes in finance. It is thus of immense significance to establish partnership. Hopefully, both sides will carry out substantial cooperation, put forward novel ideas, create new mechanisms and make milestone achievements,” said WU Zhaohui.  

“Sci-tech companies thrive on deep cooperation with universities. By the same token, they provide an avenue for the fusion of market and practice for the development of universities. This cooperation is very concrete and substantial. I hope that it will become a paradigm for cooperation between top-notch universities and world-class sci-tech companies all over the world,” said JING Xiandong.

ZJU and Ant Financial will join forces in the domain of financial technology, including the establishment of a financial technology research center, the creation of a high-caliber bank for financial technology cases, and the promotion of international exchange programs. Meanwhile, they will also develop a standard system framework for financial technology, launch joint doctoral and post-doctoral programs, establish an Ant Financial—ZJU internship base, and promote the construction of a smart campus.