International Strategic Technology Alliance (ISTA) was founded in 1995. ISTA is an international collaboration and partnership platform among 24 renowned tertiary education institutions in China and the world in fostering applied R&D, technology transfer and commercialization of technologies and products.

ISTA was established with great support from the Ministry of Education of China to leverage the expertise of renowned tertiary education institutions worldwide. It promotes intellectual exchange and cooperation among its member institutions in applied research and downstream commercialization. It also provides an open platform for the exchange of best practices and enhances the international networking and collaboration of the members.