Education builds bridges across borders, and youth connects the world. Recently, Mr. He Fan, Chairman of Octone Foundation, and Ms. Zhang Gong, Vice Chairwoman, donated RMB 500,000 to Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) to establish the He Fan & Zhang Gong International Cooperation Development Fund, dedicated to empowering young students in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to expand global horizons and engage with cutting-edge international academia.
This donation embodies Octone Foundation’s core mission: Empower Youth, Connect the World. The fund operates in full compliance with SYSU’s education development foundation regulations and the special fund management rules, upholding the principles of standardized operation, dedicated use, and full transparency. The Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of SYSU serves as the implementing body, overseeing program execution, fund management, and progress reporting to ensure every contribution directly supports youth development.
Over a four-year period, the fund will focus on two flagship programs:
1. Special Scholarship for Overseas Exchange: Each year, 15 outstanding undergraduate students will receive financial support for semester or academic-year exchange programs abroad, helping them experience diverse cultures and strengthen global competence.
2. International Academic Launch Program: Each year, one faculty-student team (3+ members) will be supported to participate in high-level international academic conferences, seminars, and short-term visits (7–15 days), covering STEM, humanities, social sciences and other frontier fields. Funding includes registration fees, travel and accommodation, with a maximum grant of RMB 50,000 per team.
Message from the Chairman
Mr. He Fan, Chairman of Octone Foundation, stated: Youth are the hope of our future and the ambassadors of cultural and academic exchange. Through this fund, we hope to open a window to the world for outstanding students, allowing them to learn, explore and grow on a broader platform. The Foundation firmly believes that real empowerment lies in creating opportunities and broadening horizons for young people. We look forward to these young talents returning with insight and responsibility, contributing to society and the country with their knowledge, and becoming a new generation of talents with vision, passion and ability.
Representatives of Sun Yat-sen University expressed sincere gratitude to Octone Foundation and the donors. The fund will strongly enhance undergraduate international education, enrich overseas learning experiences, and help cultivate a new generation of talented students with global vision, patriotic spirit and innovative capacity.
Rooted in Hong Kong, Octone Foundation has long been committed to nurturing young talent and advancing international academic and cultural exchanges. From supporting youth development in Hong Kong to promoting cross-border collaboration in the Greater Bay Area, the Foundation believes broad vision and global exposure are essential to youth success.
This donation is more than financial support—it is an investment in the future of youth. Moving forward, Octone Foundation will continue to serve as a public welfare bridge, partnering with universities, research institutions and public welfare organizations to build more platforms for international exchange, enabling more young people to embrace the world with confidence and realize their full potential