- University joins government-backed investment platform to commercialize research
- Fund targets early-stage hard-tech startups despite undisclosed fund size
Nanjing University has become the first university in Jiangsu province to directly invest in a dedicated technology commercialization venture fund, marking a new step in China’s efforts to translate academic research into commercially viable businesses.
The Nanyong Technology Commercialization Venture Capital Fund (南雍科技成果转化创业投资基金) was recently registered in Nanjing by Nanjing Innovation Capital Group, Nanjing University and Nanjing’s Qixia District.
The partners did not disclose the fund’s target size or individual capital commitments.
Nanjing University’s research strengths
Positioned as an early-stage deep-tech investor, the fund will focus on startups in areas including AI, robotics and automation, and semiconductors, leveraging Nanjing University’s research strengths to accelerate the commercialization of technologies with strong intellectual property and growth potential.
The initiative marks the first time Nanjing University, one of China’s most prestigious “Project 985” institutions, has directly contributed capital to a market-oriented venture fund.
More active role as a LP
While the university has previously supported technology investment through various channels, the new vehicle represents a more active role as a limited partner investing alongside government-backed capital.
The fund is designed to bridge the so-called “last mile” between laboratory breakthroughs and industrial deployment, supporting promising research projects before they reach commercial scale.
Over 135 billion yuan in AUM
The launch builds on Nanjing Innovation Capital Group’s broader technology commercialization strategy. Through its “4+N” industrial fund cluster, the state-backed investor oversees 52 funds with 135.65 billion yuan ($18.9 billion) in assets under management as of February 2026, against a planned total fund size of 200 billion yuan.
The investor says it has backed more than 100 university spin-offs and technology transfer projects, many of which originated from research at Nanjing University.
