Strathclyde To Get New £30m Digital, Entrepreneurial and Social Engagement Hub

Study in UK: The former student union building of the University of Strathclyde is all set to be transformed into £30m Digital, Entrepreneurial and Social Engagement Hub.

With the support of a successful alumnus donor, a former student union building of the University of Strathclyde at John Street will be turned into a digital, entrepreneurial and social engagement hub.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde, commented, “I am delighted that CHATIC will facilitate new opportunities to: partner and innovate with industry; enhance research capabilities by actively developing our research leaders of the future; grow entrepreneurial and social innovation opportunities open to staff, students and the wider community; and, it will create opportunities for our students to engage with industry research partners. We are hugely grateful to Charles for his very generous contribution to this project and are delighted to recognise this through the naming of the new building.”

Lina Tullberg, CEO of the Charles Huang Foundation, said, “We are thrilled to see our donation to the University of Strathclyde come to fruition and meet with Dr Charles Huang’s original objectives. The CHATIC is the last piece of the programmes funded by the donation, with the other elements progressing well.”

Strathclyde’s New Hub Details

To recognize the £30 million contribution to the project by alumnus donor Dr Charles Huang, the building will be named the Charles Huang Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre (CHATIC). The alumnus is the founder of the private equity firm Pasaca Capital Inc. He is a global business leader and his firm was part of a bigger donation he gave to the University of Strathclyde in 2021 which is the biggest ever philanthropic gift to the university.

CHATIC is sitting at the heart of Glasgow City Innovation District. It will offer more research facilities for advancing 5G Communications, Health Technologies, Quantum Technologies and Space research, and Industrial AI, FinTech. CHATIC will also house a Social Innovation Hub and an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub.

The building is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The idea is to refurbish the 10-storey, 5,535 square metre building but also retain the building as it holds memories of former students of the university. This building was built in 1959 and it will emit around 67% less carbon when compared to the new building.

The building has been empty since 2021 when the union moved to its new building. Some part of this building incorporates the combined heat & power district heating system of the university. The building will have cutting-edge research and community engagement facilities, innovation support organisations, and a critical mass of companies.

“The development of CHATIC will complement a number of other projects within Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) – including Love Loan and Candleriggs Square. The £50m donation from Dr Huang also enabled the creation of the Stephen Young Institute for International Business, funded two professorial chairs in the Institute and supported the establishment of The Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards and The Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship Programme,” reads the official statement.

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