The Renewal of Industrial Parks in China: Case studies in Suzhou

About the Project

This PhD research aims to explore the future of industrial parks in the Yangtze River Delta and to provide a vision for new urban-industrial complex. Industrial parks have played an important role in facilitating industrialisation and urbanisation in China in the past thirty years. In return, the Integrated City-Industry Development mode has been considered important in China’s New-Type Urbanisation. While due to the transformation of socio-economic structure, the arising of emerging technologies and the upgrading of affiliated industries (e.g., artificial intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and low-altitude economy, etc.), some existing industrial parks need to be renewed. This has also been considered as one of the key tasks in the Action Plan for New-Type Urbanisation in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and thereafter.

A mixed-methods research is designed to explore the interrelationship between “traditional & emerging technologies – the corresponding socio-economic activities and lifestyles – spatial layout of industrial parks”. Case studies of real-world industrial park projects located in the Old Town of Suzhou (Gusu District) and in Suzhou Industrial Parks (SIP) will be conducted to test and further verify the relevant renewal strategies and business models. Innovative renewal strategies and the relevant design-renovation-operation/management proposals will also be tested and evaluated.

It is expected that some findings from this research would help re-envision urban-industrial complex in future and thereby inform the renewal of the existing industrial parks.

Key Words: Industrial Parks; Urban Renewal; Urban-industrial Complex; Industrial Upgrading; Low-altitude Economy.

The PhD candidate will be capable of working closely with our government and industrial partners.

Supervisors:

• Principal supervisor: Dr Bing Chen (XJTLU)
• Co-supervisor: Professor Yu Song (XJTLU)
• Co-supervisor: Dr Olivier Sykes (UoL)

Requirements:

A Master's degree with Merit and a Bachelor's degree with first-class or upper second-class honors are required for PhD admissions. Exceptional candidates holding only a Bachelor's degree may be considered on an individual basis in certain disciplines.

Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above, if the first language is not English. This position is open to all qualified candidates irrespective of nationality.

Degree:

The student will be awarded a PhD degree from the University of Liverpool (UK) upon successful completion of the program.

Funding:

The PhD studentship is available for three years subject to satisfactory progress by the student. The award covers tuition fees for three years (currently equivalent to RMB 99,000 per annum). It also provides up to RMB 16,500 to allow participation at international conferences during the period of the award. The scholarship holders are expected to conduct the majority of their research at XJTLU in Suzhou, China. However, they may apply for a short-term research visit to the University of Liverpool if the project requires it.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are advised to email bing.chen@xjtlu.edu.cn the following documents for initial review and assessment (please put the project title in the subject line).

• CV
• Two formal reference letters
• Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
• Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
• Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available