Since its birth in 1998, MSRA has established nine joint research labs with top universities on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, five of which have become key labs as named by the Chinese Ministry of Education as part of the "Great Wall Plan" between MSRA and the ministry. To share experience and best practices on running joint labs and research results, the first joint-lab symposium was held in Hong Kong on Dec. 1. Overall, the nine joint labs are home to some 50 computer scientists, have completed 70 projects, published 400 papers, and developed over 700 Ph.D. students. Harry Shum said at the symposium, "The joint labs are an open collaboration platform between universities and MSRA. It has become a successful new model for university-industry research cooperation to accelerate first-class research work and to cultivate high-quality talent".