Discoveries for Impact
HKUST is home to many important institutes committed to advancing policymaking through interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Each organization applies cutting-edge research and technological innovation, bringing together academia, industry practitioners, and policymakers in Hong Kong and beyond.
Contributing to Policy and Transformation
The World Sustainable Development Institute was established in September 2024 in collaboration with the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and the World Academy of Sustainable Development Limited (WAOSD), to tackle the multi-faceted challenges of sustainable development.
The Institute for the Environment (IENV) collaborates with many academic, industrial, and environmental non-governmental partners to conduct research into improving the environment of Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, and beyond.
The Center for Applied Economic Social and Environmental Research (CAESER) applies rigorous quantitative analysis of social, economic, and environmental issues to promote economic growth, social advancement, and environmental sustainability.
Advancing Energy and Smart City Solutions
The HKUST Energy Institute (IENV) engages in transformative research encompassing energy generation, storage, distribution, efficiency, and policy. The institute hosts the annual Energy Institute Technology Showcase, bringing together scholars, investors, entrepreneurs, and government leaders to showcase emerging technologies and promote affordable, clean energy practices.
The GREAT Smart Cities Institute partners with corporations and government bodies to apply smart city technologies to city-scale challenges to sustainable living. One of the major achievements includes the creation of an innovative Adaptive Traffic Control System that optimizes traffic signal control at intersections and is currently being rolled out across Hong Kong.
Supporting Green Technology Entrepreneurship
The HKUST Entrepreneurship Center holds many incubation programs for start-ups providing coaching, training, mentorship, and funding for ambitious innovators.
The Dream Builder Incubation Program assists startups in rapidly developing their proof of concept and prototype, helping turn entrepreneurs’ dreams into reality in just a year.
The Future Ecopreneur Programme fosters innovation and entrepreneurship within the Green Technology and Sustainable Development sectors in Hong Kong.
The HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition contributes to sustainable development in the innovation and technology sector by offering an integrative learning experience, preparing students to build their own companies or commercialize their existing inventions.
Benefitting Our Community
In response to the omnipresent health risk of air pollution, HKUST professors launched the Personalised Real-Time Air Quality Informatics System for Exposure – Hong Kong (PRAISE-HK) app. This award-winning app combines multiple data streams with urban air quality monitoring system to provide an accurate and personalized analysis of the air quality in a two-meter space around the user.
HKUST is also undertaking Hong Kong’s largest research project on extreme weather prediction and landslide early warning system, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable earlier preparation and greater resilience.