希腊知名报刊《To Vima》专访港科大（广州）校长倪明选教授
编者按
继香港科技大学（广州）校长倪明选教授于2024年10月率团访问希腊后，港科大（广州）与雅典大学、雅典国家技术大学和帕特雷大学等高等教育机构建立起校际伙伴关系、就学生交换、共同研究等推进深入合作，互动交流引起了媒体的高度关注。
近日，希腊知名报刊《To Vima》记者Ioanna Soufleri博士就港科大（广州）的办学理念、融合学科教育创新、协同粤港澳大湾区战略发展、港科大（广州）对欧对希战略合作等话题，对倪明选校长进行了书面专访。8月2日，专访全文在《To Vima》全球英文版（与《华尔街日报》合作）上发表。
以下是专访全文，截取自《To Vima》官网：
HKUST(GZ): A Rising Force in Global Science and Innovation
By Dr. Ioanna Soufleri
President of HKUST(GZ), Lionel Ni, shares how the university is transforming education, driving applied research, and forging deep academic ties with Europe—especially Greece—while aligning with China’s broader scientific and innovation agenda.
In this exclusive interview, the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Lionel Ni, discusses the mission and vision of one of China’s most dynamic new research institutions. He elaborates on HKUST(GZ)’s role within China’s broader scientific rise, the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary education, and its growing collaborations with European academic institutions—particularly in Greece. From its rapid development to its efforts in applied AI, sustainability, and global partnerships, HKUST(GZ) stands at the forefront of the next generation of international universities.
According to the latest Nature Index data, China is a global leader in science and it seems to be getting higher and higher in fields like physics, environmental science, chemistry, biology, health science. What is your recipe of success? Strategic planning and investment, human talent, something else?
Thank you for your question.
It is true that China has made rapid progress in developing science and technology in previous decades while it still needs to improve its overall innovation ecology and system. Behind such success, I must say China is a diligent learner, as reflected in the saying, “Clumsy birds must start flying early,” which emphasizes the importance of hard work.
Strategic planning, such as the Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area initiatives, is vital for national development. A closer look at these policies reveals a strong commitment from the government to invest in education, as talent cultivation is the foundation of all progress. At HKUST(GZ), we align with this strategy by investing in both software and hardware, providing our students with a world-class environment for learning, research, and living. Additionally, we collaborate with industry to establish an innovation zone around HKUST(GZ).
Talent cultivation, especially in STEM, is essential—not just for the government but also for parents. Many parents view education as a transformative investment for their children, a belief that holds true both in China and globally. To prepare future leaders in science and technology, we have developed interdisciplinary programs. Collaboration is also essential, and we actively partner with global institutions to enhance our research capabilities, supported by the Greater Bay Area policies.
China emphasizes applied research to tackle environmental and healthcare challenges. HKUST(GZ) leads in areas like carbon neutrality while building world-class research infrastructure with advanced laboratories.
As we know, AI thrives on computing power, algorithms, and data. The launch of DeepSeek, an open-resource large language model, has opened up tremendous opportunities for global learning and AI empowerment. At HKUST(GZ), we share this same spirit, focusing on the development of intelligent agents and the cultivation of talent. Our goal is to share our experiences with the world to promote inclusive scientific advancement.
Does your educational system encourage science learning? From what age are children in China being taught science?
Yes, science education is fundamental in cultivating critical learning abilities. China’s educational system promotes science learning from a young age, introducing concepts in primary school around ages 6 or 7. This emphasis continues through high school, where STEM subjects are encouraged for students pursuing related careers. The Gaokao, our national college entrance exam, underscores the importance of science education. At HKUST(GZ), we nurture the next generation of scientists and innovators.
China’s modern education has evolved since 1949, with significant reforms beginning in 1978. By 1992, guidelines mandated nine years of compulsory education, ensuring students aged 6 to 15 received a solid grounding in natural sciences. A national strategy initiated around 1995 focused on economic rejuvenation through advancements in science and technology to meet the growing demand for skilled workers.
Today, students in middle school study subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology, laying a strong scientific foundation. At HKUST(GZ), we enhance this foundation with innovative, interdisciplinary programs that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges. In order to achieve this goal, we are committed to world-wide recruitment when building our faculty team. We create an attractive working environment on campus, as I mentioned previously. It is essential for us to draw from both domestic and international sources to provide diverse perspectives and the latest advancements in science and technology to our students.
The scale of HKUST (GZ) is impressive by Greek and even by European standards. Could you please give us some data on the scale of the investment, the time it took to develop the campus in its present form, the number of academic and administrative personnel and the number of students it receives per year?
HKUST(GZ) is located in Nansha, the geographic center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The University strives to become a high-level world-class research university with Chinese characteristics. In line with this vision, the University has been built to global excellence standards, featuring top-tier research facilities, campus environment and distinguished faculty. The Central Government and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, along with local governments and relevant departments at all levels in the Chinese mainland, have endeavored to secure optimal resources and favorable policies for the establishment and development of HKUST(GZ).
With such big support from the governments, Phase-I of HKUST(GZ) was fully constructed within only two years. In September 2022, HKUST(GZ) held the opening
ceremony and welcomed its first batch of postgraduates. Phase-I includes central research area, residential and service blocks, sports village and north residence. Phase-II，currently under construction, will significantly increase campus capacity to accommodate more students and providing cutting-edge facilities—including academic complexes, research building, industry-academia-research building, sports center, student dormitories and residential college.
The HKUST(GZ) community aims to consist of 800 faculty members, 4000 undergraduates and 6000 postgraduates within 10 years. HKUST(GZ) has become a magnet for attracting top talents from tip-top universities and research institutions from around the world, including academic heavyweights from HKUST, 46 of whom are on the latest list of the World’s Top 2% scientists by Stanford University. By the end of 2024, HKUST(GZ) had recruited over 300 faculty members, while the student body had steadily expanded to 2,700, comprising individuals from 22 countries and regions worldwide.
What are the main academic and science objectives of HKUST(GZ)?
Talent cultivation is a university’s fundamental mission, and each university’s unique talent cultivation model shows its competitive edge. As a cross-disciplinary university, HKUST(GZ) equips students with knowledge, skills and competence, aiming to nurture talents who can provide innovative solutions to the complex challenges and developmental issues facing human society.
HKUST(GZ) is actively exploring educational reform. Our initiatives include integrating AI technology with education, employing project-based learning and promoting blended learning.
Established in 1991, HKUST is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence and impactful knowledge transfer. Under the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework, HKUST(GZ) and HKUST maintain a consistency in high academic standards on faculty and program quality, while creating great synergy by sharing resources and complementing each other’s strengths. Two campuses work closely on research collaboration and student/faculty exchange programs. Since the opening of HKUST (GZ) in 2022, nearly 1,300 students have spent up to a semester in enrichment activities spanning internships, cultural exchanges, industry visits and competitions on each other’s campuses.
Does HKUST(GZ) take specific steps to translate scientific advances in useful products? And, if yes, what are those?
How to demonstrate the impact of scientific research? While academic publications remain important, the true benchmark lies in translating scientific advances into useful products—driving industrial advancement, boosting economic growth, and fostering regional prosperity. This is what HKUST(GZ) is committed to achieving. The University nurtures and empowers more innovative enterprises with independent intellectual property and core competitive edges through an innovative knowledge transfer concept of “industry-academia-research-application-investment” integration. To translate scientific advances in useful products, HKUST(GZ) has taken the following steps.
HKUST(GZ) has established the Office of Knowledge Transfer, which is responsible for planning, implementing, operating, and regulating knowledge transfer-related issues at all stages, and formulated a series of measures to efficiently promote knowledge transfer.
Besides, HKUST(GZ) is dedicated to building a thriving innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem around the University, facilitating the incubation and growth of tech-startups and unicorns. In less than three years, HKUST(GZ) has incubated over 150 faculty and student startups at various stages. Among these, more than 70 have been registered as companies – 46 registered in Guangzhou. This reflects our close interaction with the local community.
The HKUST(GZ) Innovation and Technology Transfer Base is a milestone in the development of the University’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. This base jointly established by Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, the Nansha District People’s Government of Guangzhou, and HKUST(GZ), was inaugurated in September 2024. In the initial phase, it is projected to support the development of the innovation zone surrounding HKUST(GZ) and deliver approximately 20,000 square metres of premium facilities alongside professional incubation services over the next five years.
Last but not least, HKUST(GZ) spares no effort to build nationwide and global platforms to accelerate the flow of innovative resources, with INNOTECH as a striking example. INNOTECH is an annual event which shows the latest achievements of HKUST(GZ), HKUST and alumni from both campuses in sci-tech innovation and industry-academia-research collaboration. INNOTECH also serves as a vital platform for the transformation of sci-tech achievements and for innovation and entrepreneurship exchanges. Since its first launch in 2023, the “INNOTECH” event attracts hundreds of tech startups, investors, VCs, and leading companies from the industry each year, to gather at HKUST(GZ) for exhibitions, roadshows, and collaborations. In 2025, INNOTECH attracted over 140 cutting-edge innovation projects. Hundreds of investment institutions and industry-leading companies gathered at HKUST(GZ), with over 2,500 attendees in total. It has become a flagship event for scientific innovation that leads to regional influence throughout the Greater Bay Area.
HKUST(GZ) already has an MoU defining your collaboration with Patras University. Is collaboration with Greek and European universities part of your strategic planning and what may be a next step towards this direction?
I’m especially grateful for the warm welcome we received last October when I led a delegation to Greece. I met senior management teams of the National Technical University of Athens, the University of Athens, and the University of Patras, and our discussions with Greek scholars and scientists were incredibly productive. Besides University of Patras, we’ve also signed MoU with NTUA. Under this MoU, HKUST(GZ) and NTUA are negotiating a student exchange agreement. We are also exchanging framework agreement paper with University of Athens.
European universities are known for offering high-quality and affordable higher education. They’re generally very open and place a strong emphasis on international cooperation. The relationship between China and Europe in terms of cultural exchange and higher education collaboration goes back a long way. Since our establishment three years ago, HKUST(GZ) has prioritized building international partnerships, particularly with European institutions. We are committed to ensuring our university is as open and inclusive as those in Europe by cultivating students with international perspectives, offering exchange and study abroad programs, and welcoming international students to our campus during both regular semesters and summer programs. Additionally, we also encourage our faculty members to collaborate with international scholars and institutions. Strengthening ties with universities in EU member states, particularly in Greece, is a key part of our international strategy.
Looking ahead, we aim to deepen these relationships by exploring joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and student programs. Collaborations like these not only enhance the academic experience for our students and faculty but also contribute to a global exchange of ideas and innovations. We’re excited about the potential these partnerships hold and look forward to what we can achieve together.
What are the expected outcomes of such collaborations?
By signing agreements with top Greek universities, we’ve set the stage for a really exciting collaboration. The agreements outline several key areas where we can work together to build and strengthen our relationship.
Firstly, we’re looking at the mobility of faculty and staff, which means there’ll be opportunities for our educators and administrators to visit and learn from each other. Similarly, we’ll facilitate exchanges for both graduate and undergraduate students, offering them unique international experiences.
We’re also excited about collaborating on research initiatives, co-authoring publications, and launching joint startups. By combining our expertise, we can achieve groundbreaking work and share valuable insights. Additionally, participating in seminars and academic meetings is on the agenda, which will enrich our academic communities and inspire new ideas.
Exchanging academic materials and information will further enhance our teaching and research capabilities. Finally, we’re considering special short-term academic programs that can benefit both institutions.
To conclude, this collaboration promises to open up a wealth of opportunities for innovation and learning, benefiting not just our universities, but also the broader academic and research communities.
Science is a global endeavor and collaborations among scientists from different nationalities are a time-honored tradition. Given that since last January, USA has exhibited a most volatile political environment creating tensions with China, Canada, the EE, etc., do you believe that these tensions will affect in any way the advancement of academic and scientific collaboration between China and Greece, or other European countries?
China is committed to fostering academic partnerships globally, including with Greece and other European nations. At HKUST(GZ), we believe that open communication, inclusivity, and balanced development are essential for human progress, rather than isolationism and protectionism. We respect different cultures and actively encourage talent exchange and research collaboration worldwide.
Chinese researchers embody a traditional virtue of resilience, allowing us to adapt remarkably well to various political environments. This spirit of resilience has spurred innovation, leading to breakthroughs and new patents, especially in fields such as robotics, semiconductors, materials, energy, software, and AI.
For instance, DeepSeek has significantly reduced the cost of applying large language models, thereby igniting Chinese passion for innovation and entrepreneurship while contributing to the global AI landscape. China is actively developing an innovative ecosystem that encompasses policy, market, and research with substantial investments being attracted to AI infrastructure.
AI is transforming education by emphasizing practical skills and multidisciplinary integration, which is especially relevant in developing countries where AI can help address economic challenges.
International talent is crucial for enhancing China’s AI competitiveness, making collaboration with Europe vital for talent exchange. Attracting talent is a priority for Chinese institutions, and high-tech companies are actively recruiting globally. This influx of talent supports startups, with universities facilitating the translation of research into practical applications that align with real-world needs. Companies often invest in research projects, creating a beneficial cycle of talent, research, and funding between academia and industry.
At HKUST(GZ), we promote diversity and inclusiveness. The collaborative spirit and adaptability of scientists foster continued collaboration and innovation within the global scientific community. Challenges often drive innovation, and our students are resilient and capable. Given time and opportunities, they are poised to achieve remarkable results.
