San Diego-based business leader and philanthropist Aiiso Yufeng Li (Jeff) and his wife DongDong Li (Doreen) have once again demonstrated their commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering with a generous $3 million gift. This latest donation celebrates the Jacobs School’s dedication to empowering researchers to translate their groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications.
The gift has resulted in the naming of a physical space on the first floor of UC San Diego’s Franklin Antonio Hall as the Aiiso AL21 Space. Currently housing the UC San Diego Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE), this space serves as a hub for engineers, computer scientists, and other innovators to collaborate and advance their research from the laboratory to the marketplace. The IGE is a joint initiative between the Jacobs School of Engineering and the Rady School of Management, highlighting the interdisciplinary approach to fostering entrepreneurship at UC San Diego.
Dean Albert P. Pisano expressed his gratitude for Jeff and Doreen’s continued support, emphasizing their shared passion for advancing healthcare technology for the public good. The couple’s generous gift underscores the importance of entrepreneurship, mentorship, education, and support in driving innovation and commercialization efforts within the university.
Jeff Li, the founder of AL21, a global biotech company specializing in in vitro diagnostics, sees the Aiiso AL21 Space as a place where entrepreneurs can come together to learn, collaborate, and inspire one another. By creating a supportive environment for aspiring entrepreneurs, Li aims to cultivate a community where individuals can share knowledge, brainstorm ideas, and ultimately drive progress in their respective fields.
In addition to providing a physical space for collaboration, the Jacobs School of Engineering has implemented shared research labs known as collaboratories within Franklin Antonio Hall. These labs facilitate interdisciplinary research by bringing together teams with diverse research interests to work side by side. Furthermore, the entrepreneurship institute located on the first floor serves as a valuable resource for researchers looking to commercialize their innovations, offering guidance, resources, and support to help bring their ideas to market.
The Li family’s philanthropic contributions to the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering have been instrumental in supporting various initiatives and programs. With over $29 million in donations since 2021, the Li family’s generosity has had a significant impact on the university’s research, education, and innovation efforts. From department naming gifts to donations supporting specific research areas, the Li family’s contributions have helped advance the Jacobs School’s mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Overall, the Li family’s latest gift to the Jacobs School of Engineering exemplifies their commitment to supporting the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. By creating spaces for collaboration, providing resources for commercialization, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, the Li family’s contributions are helping to drive innovation and make a lasting impact on the UC San Diego community.
