News & Stories

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been appointed by the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO), a collaborative partnership hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific, to spearhead a regional research consortium focused on digital health innovation. This prestigious appointment, secured through a competitive process, underscores HKUST’s global leadership in policy research under the theme “Leveraging Digital Health Technologies and Data to Strengthen Health System Outcomes.”

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) contributed to global conversations at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025, also known as Summer Davos, held in Tianjin, China, from June 24-26, 2025. This 16th Annual Meeting, themed "Entrepreneurship for a New Era", welcomed a record-breaking attendance of approximately 1,800 leaders from government, business, academia, as well as innovators and representatives from international organizations, media, and civil society. HKUST Associate Vice President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer) Dr. KIM Shin Cheul; Prof. Alex HE, Acting Director of HKUST Institute for Public Policy; and Prof. SU Hui, Chair Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Global STEM Professor, were invited to attend the event. 

For many, sticking to familiar paths feels safe and comfortable. But not for the trailblazers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). They are not just thinking outside the box—they are pushing boundaries and aiming for the skies—quite literally. At HKUST’s Low Altitude Economy Research Center (LAERC), researchers are revolutionizing the future of urban airspace to support HKSAR Government’s policy in promoting the low-altitude economy. Their mission? Harnessing the groundbreaking Digital Twin technology—a virtual replica of the physical world—to transform drone management, airspace control, and infrastructure monitoring.  Spearheaded by Professor Jack CHENG of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, this innovative technology is set to unlock unprecedented potential for the low-altitude economy.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has shone in the second round of Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme launched by Innovation and Technology Commission’s (ITC), securing grants for seven teams – the highest number among local institutions.  The seven funded projects encompass a diverse array of innovative research and development efforts. Three projects focus on health and medical innovation, addressing areas spanning diagnostics, medical treatment and gene therapy.  Three others focus on AI chips, semiconductors and their materials, while the remaining one explores novel displays and optoelectronic technology.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) President Professor Nancy IP attended the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) 29th Annual Presidents' Meeting (APM), hosted by University of California, San Diego from June 22-24. The three-day conference, themed “Human Longevity in a Changing World: Innovation, Education, and Leadership for a Resilient Future”, uniting global academic leaders and experts to discuss the future of longevity and artificial intelligence (AI) research. In light of the dual challenges posed by aging populations and increasing chronic diseases, President Ip joined distinguished university leaders, including President Kohei ITOH, Keio University; Vice-Chancellor and President Peter HØJ, The University of Adelaide; and Prof. LU Yanqing, Vice-President of Nanjing University, to share insights on how AI can advance research and innovation focused on longevity and improve quality of life across various disciplines.

A recent study by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) reveals a looming climate crisis: the world could face heightened risks of “precipitation whiplashes” – violent swings between extreme droughts and floods – as early as 2028. This research, led by Prof. LU Mengqian and Dr. CHENG Tat-Fan of HKUST’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, attributes the escalating risk to climate-driven intensification of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) events. This large-scale pattern of tropical intraseasonal climate variability is now propagating faster due to global warming. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, pave the way for improved subseasonal forecasts, i.e., two to six weeks in advance, enabling timely decision-making in disaster preparedness and management, and helping to enhance food and water security, energy management, and infrastructure resilience.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Provost Prof. Yike GUO has been named "Leader of the Year 2024" in the Education/Professional/Technology and Innovation category from Sing Tao News Corporation for his transformative contributions to education and technological innovation in Hong Kong. The award ceremony, held last Friday, was graced by Mr. Paul CHAN, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, as the Guest of Honor. The event celebrated outstanding leaders across five categories for their significant contributions to Hong Kong’s development.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has received a record of nearly 20,000 non-local undergraduate (UG) applications for the 2025/26 academic year, competing for approximately 800 places. This represents a remarkable 40% year-on-year increase in applications from international students, with candidates from more than 85 countries and regions, including Germany, France, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the UAE, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.