The SIDI project has been listed explicitly in the Guidelines of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Shenzhen in Building a Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, as well as one of Shenzhen’s “Ten Cultural Facilities in the New Era”. Following the principles of high starting points, high standards and high efficiency, this project aims to build an international, high-level, innovative design institute that focuses on practice. It is expected to deliver well-trained creative and design professionals to meet the urgent human resources needs in the city of Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It will serve as the training hub for professionals, the platform for research translation, as well as the high-end think tank for the development of the creative and design industries.

The plan for SIDI will be implemented in two phases. The Institute of Design and Innovation was inaugurated as planned in April 2020 under the Southern University of Science and Technology (IDI-SUSTech), as the first step towards the establishment of an independent research and learning institution: SIDI. Capitalizing on the educational resources of SUSTech, the IDI will actively prepare and explore areas such as education program and curriculum development, teaching model design, faculty building, global cooperation, and collaboration with research institutions and industries. 

In joint efforts with global leading universities, IDI offers a comprehensive suite of academic programs at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels, as well as continuous training and education programs for company employees to support the development of the creative and design industries in the GBA. It is currently recruiting faculties from all over the world, with Prof. Thomas Kvan, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Melbourne, being appointed as the Dean of IDI. 

According to the plan, after a transitional period of three to four years and with the approval by the Ministry of Education, IDI-SUSTech will be turned into the stand-alone higher education institution, SIDI, by 2024 when a permanent campus will be completed. The campus design will be decided through an international tender to solicit proposals. Driven by design, creativity, innovation and internationalization, SIDI will become an intelligent, creative and green campus powered by technology. Upon completion, it will be a world-leading practice-oriented, interdisciplinary design institute.