Chinese Star of ‘American Factory’ Documentary Splurges $1.6 Billion to Build Tech University

The Heren Charitable Foundation and the Fuzhou government have signed a strategic cooperative frame agreement on the construction of a science and technology university to cultivate applied and technical talent, the foundation recently said. Photo: IC Photo

The Chinese star of Oscar-winning documentary “American Factory” is now turning his attention to education and plans to build a university with the goal of cultivating applied research and technical talent to bolster China’s self-sufficiency, seen as crucial in the country’s increasing tech rivalry with the U.S.

The Heren Charitable Foundation, which was founded by Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd. Chairman Cao Dewang who also leads the project, recently announced the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement (link in Chinese) for the university’s construction with the city government of Fuzhou, which is located in East China’s Fujian province.