A former student union in Glasgow will be developed into a £30m digital hub.
Strathclyde University's former union on John Street is set to become the Charles Huang Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre (CHATIC) with the generous contribution from former student Dr Charles Huang.
Huang is a global business leader and the founder of private equity firm Pasaca Capital Inc., and the donation is part of a larger £50 million fund he gave through his foundation to the university in 2021.
READ MORE: Covid test businessman makes incredible gift of £50m to Strathclyde University
Once it is complete, CHATIC will provide more research facilities for health technologies, 5G communications, AI, FinTech and space research.
Refurbishment of the 10-storey structure is expected to be completed in 2026 and is expected to emit around 67% less carbon than a new build.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, the principal and vice-chancellor of Strathclyde, said: “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.”
The £50m donation from Dr Huang also contributed to building the university's Stephen Young Institute for International Business and funded two professorial chairs.
His money supported the establishment of The Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards and The Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship Programme.
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.”
Dr Huang gained his MBA from Strathclyde in 1989 and his PhD in marketing in 1994.
Among its recent ventures is the Innova Medical Group, which developed the rapid lateral flow tests used in Covid testing programmes worldwide.
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