Scottish university transforms student union into £30m digital hub

The University of Strathclyde is to transform its former student union building into a sustainable digital hub following a multi-million donation by a former student.

A £30m contribution by Dr Charles Huang, founder of private equity firm Pasaca Capital Inc, will see the university’s former union on John Street, Glasgow, become a hub for advancing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum.

Located within the Glasgow City Innovation District, the building will also house an innovation and entrepreneurship hub and a social innovation hub.

Scheduled for completion in 2026, the refurbishment of building, named the Charles Huang Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre (CHATIC) in recognition of Huang, will emit around 67 per cent less carbon when compared to a new build.

CHATIC will become a “critical mass of companies and innovation support organisations” and will offer community engagement facilities that will deliver better economic and social impact, the university said.

The building, which has been empty since the university’s union moved to Richmond Street in 2021, will provide additional facilities for advancing health technologies, 5G communications, industrial AI, finTech, quantum technologies and space research.

Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of Strathclyde University, 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."

The donation is part of a larger £50m donation Huang made through his foundation to Strathclyde in 2021, which has already supported a number of endeavours including the establishment of The Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards, which provides funding to early-stage entrepreneurs.

Huang gained his MBA from Strathclyde in 1989 and his PhD in marketing in 1994.