HKUST-HKUST(GZ) 20 for 20 Cross-Campus Collaborative Research Scheme Officially Launched and Call for Proposals
With the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) jointly fund the HKUST – HKUST(GZ) 20 for 20 Cross-Campus Collaborative Research Scheme, aiming to promote further collaboration between researchers of the two campuses in cross-disciplinary and frontier fields, the coordinated development of free exploration and organized research, and the diversity of the collaboration between the research teams of the two campuses.
An information session of the 20 for 20 Scheme was held both online and offline on the morning of 18 October. Professor Lionel M. Ni, President of HKUST(GZ), Professor Tim Kwang Ting Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development of HKUST, and Professor Wu Kaishun, Associate Vice-President (Research) of HKUST(GZ), attended the information session which Professor Cheng host. The success of the information session means that the HKUST-HKUST(GZ) 20 for 20 Cross-Campus Collaborative Research Scheme was officially launched and call for proposals, and a new chapter for the comprehensive and in-depth research collaboration between the two campuses.
Professor Ni said it is the common vision of the two campuses that the faculty and students carry out research work and study closely together, and the Scheme is the best platform for research collaboration between the two campuses.
Professor Cheng said that the research collaboration between the two campuses is mainly in the sharing of central research and development facilities, collaboration on research projects, and joint nurturing of students and postdoctoral fellows, and this 20 for 20 Scheme is a significant practice in making the two campuses develop together.
Professor Wu encouraged HKUST(GZ) faculty members to team up with HKUST faculty members actively. He expected that the 20 for 20 Scheme would deepen the close collaboration between the two campuses in research and talent cultivation.
HKUST-HKUST(GZ) 20 for 20 Cross-Campus Collaborative Research Scheme
The Scheme is funded by HKUST with HKD 10,000,000 and HKUST(GZ) with CNY 10,000,000, expecting to support at least 20 collaborative research projects this year, so it is also called the “20 (Million) for 20 (Projects) Scheme”. Research teams will carry out multi-dimensional research collaboration via the 20 for 20 Scheme to promote the all-round coordinated development of education, talent, and scientific research between the two campuses. The expected deliverables are as follows:
- -Jointly undertaking several research projects on frontier technology
- -Jointly applying for several national and provincial key and major projects
- -Jointly nurturing several postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows
- -Jointly organizing several workshops and symposiums
- -Transformation and application of scientific research outputs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA)
Promoting the In-depth Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong Collaboration in S&T Innovation
Innovation is rooted deeply in HKUST’s genes. Since establishing HKUST(GZ), the University has closely aligned with the development orientation of “HKUST 2.0”. Based on the successful development experience of HKUST in the past 30 years, combined with the characteristics of cross-disciplinary and geographical advantages in the geometric center of the GBA, the HKUST(GZ) actively carried out several Guangdong-Hong Kong S&T innovation collaboration projects, working closely with HKUST in research projects, laboratory construction, and academic exchanges. For example:
- -Professor Chu Xiaowen of the Information Hub jointly undertakes a Collaborative Research Fund project of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong with HKU and CNHK titled ‘Automating Distributed Machine Learning: Algorithms and System Optimization’.
- -Professor Qi Ye of the Society Hub jointly undertakes the research project, “粤港澳大湾区背景下香港绿色金融中心建设的制度分析与政策设计”, funded by the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office with HKUST.
- -Professor Wen Weijia of the Function Hub undertakes the research project, “微流控生物微球/囊制备关键技术及产业化”, funded by the HKUST-Kaisa Joint Research Institute (HKJRI).
- -Professor Liu Ming and Professor Ma Jun of the System Hub were both awarded the HKUST-Bright Dream Robotics Joint Research Institute (HBJRI) University-Industry Collaboration Projects (Batch 11, the Rhird Round of 2022).
- -Professor Tsung Fu-Gee of the Industrial Informatics and Intelligence Institute jointly established the HKUST-HKPC Joint Research Lab for Industrial AI and Robotics with HKUST and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), which has been funded and initiated 12 research projects.
- -Professor Harry Shum Heung-Yeung, the Chairman of the HKUST Council, was invited to deliver a speech on the Smart Integrated Lower Airspace System (SILAS) at the Cross-Technology and Digital Economy Forum 2023 held by HKUST(GZ).
- -The Symposium on Latest Advances in Marine Land Development Technology, jointly held by HKUST and HKUST(GZ), invited academicians and well-known scholars from the Mainland and Hong Kong to discuss the construction and development strategies of marine land.
- -The Chinese Scholars Industry Engineering (CSIE) 2023 hosted by the Industrial Informatics and Intelligence Institute of HKUST(GZ) invited Chinese experts and scholars from HKU, PolyU, and other universities to exchange.
According to the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the GBA should implement the innovation-driven development strategy in great intensity, deepen innovation cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and build an open community for coordinated innovation in the region that encompasses integrated development, to develop a globally influential international innovation and technology hub.
HKUST(GZ) will continue to deepen the research collaboration with HKUST, take the 20 for 20 Scheme as a significant starting point, and effectively promote S&T innovation collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong in research team visits and exchanges, joint nurturing of talents, joint research on key technologies, and academic discussions.
