CUHK and SUSTech launch Technology and Innovation MBA (TIMBA)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) have jointly launched the Technology and Innovation MBA (TIMBA) programme, marking a new milestone in the development of technology-focused business education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Aligned with the national innovation-driven development strategy, the TIMBA programme is designed to address the evolving needs of the GBA. By fusing CUHK Business School’s international business expertise with SUSTech’s cutting-edge scientific research, the curriculum focuses on high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and new energy.
Combining business expertise with technological innovation
Established in 1963, CUHK Business School brings a legacy of business education, management research and international business, supported by extensive industry connections and a robust alumni network. In response to the changing business landscape, the School continues to innovate its pedagogy and develop programmes that blend business theories with emerging technology.
A leading research-intensive university based in Shenzhen, SUSTech has ranked first among Chinese mainland universities in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings for six consecutive years. It is renowned for its research capabilities and extensive experience in industry-academia collaboration.
Professor Zhou Lin, dean of CUHK Business School, said: “Technology is the engine of transformation, while talent remains at the helm. As the GBA accelerates its development as a global hub for technological innovation, CUHK Business School is delighted to partner with SUSTech to launch the TIMBA programme. This collaboration responds to the evolving needs of the regional economy and marks a new chapter in developing high-level, interdisciplinary management talent.”
Professor Jin Li, vice president of SUSTech, said: “Building on the GBA and connecting the academic expertise and innovation resources of the two universities, our mission is to develop interdisciplinary talent who can lead at the intersection of technology and business. They will combine technological depth with industry insight and financial acumen, enabling them to navigate complexity and drive transformation in a rapidly changing world.”
The programme will also connect Shenzhen’s technology and industrial ecosystem with Hong Kong’s international business and financial environment, giving students a cross-border perspective on technology commercialisation, industry development, and capital markets.
The TIMBA curriculum is structured around four areas:
- Business management
- Data and intelligent decision-making
- Emerging technology insights
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
The curriculum builds a strong foundation through core courses in strategic management, finance, marketing, and innovation and technology management. Students can customise their learning with electives in generative AI, business machine learning, blockchain, embodied intelligence, and microelectronics innovation. To provide a global and strategic edge, the programme also features overseas study visits, entrepreneurial finance, and courses on national technology and innovation strategies, and technology ethics.
Commencing in autumn 2027, the two-year programme will be delivered in Chinese on a part-time basis. For more information, please visit the programme website.