TusStar, the start-up hub run by Tsinghua Holdings' subsidiary Tus-Holdings, has taken another step forward in its bid to foster a global network of incubators by agreeing a strategic partnership with Polihub.

PoliHub is the startup incubator affiliated to Italy's largest technical university, Politecnico di Milano, and houses projects of various industries from hi-tech to design, gaming to social networks, mechanics to informatics security, and medical devices to energy.

Politecnico di Milano President Ferruccio Resta visited TusStar in Beijing on Feb 23, where the two sides held discussions on issues including technology transfer and talent development and signed a cooperation agreement.

Officials from TusStar and Polihub attend a signing ceremony confirming the strategic partnership between the two sides in Beijing on Feb 23.

The deal between TusStar and Polihub is part of a wider cooperation between Tsinghua University and Politecnico di Milano that will see the two schools jointly build a Sino-Italian Design Innovation Hub in Milan. The project was confirmed during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Feb 22 in Beijing.

Officials sign an agreement confirming a deal to establish a Sino-Italian Design Innovation Hub in Milan at a signing ceremony in Beijing on Feb 22.

Collaborating with Politecnico di Milano on the Sino-Italian Design Innovation Hub will offer Tsinghua University, a globally renowned center for art and design, great opportunities to benefit from Politecnico di Milano's resources and expertise. Tsinghua hopes to use the project as a springboard to promote design innovation and to create opportunities for educational, research and cultural exchanges between the two universities.

The cooperation between Polihub and TusStar will offer a further boost to the new hub, which will work closely with the two incubators to transfer research achievements made by the two universities into profitable businesses and help nurture innovative entrepreneurs and start-ups in the design industry. The hub will also support the wider development of the Chinese design industry and help China's culture, art and design go global.

Established in 1999, TusStar is experienced in university technology achievements transfer and innovation services and has already established an extensive global network of incubators in countries including US, Canada, Switzerland, Italy and Australia.

"The cooperation between Polihub and TusStar will largely promote the university industry development of Politecnico di Milano," said Resta.