News & Stories

Chemists at the School of Science of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have recently made a significant breakthrough in photocatalysis by unveiling a “super” photoreductant, marking a major advancement in organic synthesis. Quantum dots (QDs) hold great promise as photocatalysts for promoting photoredox chemistry, however, their application in photocatalytic organic transformations has lagged behind that of small molecule photosensitizers due to the limited understanding of their photophysics. While various studies have explored the generation of hot electrons from QDs as a strategy to enhance photoreduction efficiencies, achieving effective hot-electron generation under mild conditions has posed a significant challenge.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today inaugurated the Otto Poon Center for Climate Resilience and Sustainability (CCRS), a transformative initiative designed to accelerate research, innovation and policy solutions in climate resilience and sustainable development. Established through the generous support of Ir Dr. Otto POON, Founder of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation, the Center unites HKUST’s world-class expertise in climate science, advanced modeling systems, artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy and sustainable policy to deliver scalable and actionable strategies for governments, industries, and communities worldwide.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held a flag-raising ceremony on campus this morning to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Officiating guests included Mr. QIN Hong, Counsellor of the Policy Research Department of the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR; Dr. John CHAN, HKUST Pro-Chancellor; Ms. Edith SHIH, HKUST Council Vice-Chairperson; Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; and other senior management.  Took place at the center of the HKUST Piazza for the first time, the ceremony was attended by over 200 students, alumni, and their families, with an additional 30,000 people joining the livestreaming online. The audience witnessed the solemn moment as the National Flag, Regional Flag, and University Flag were hoisted in front of the Red Bird Sundial Sculpture, symbolizing aspirations for Hong Kong's continued prosperity and stability under the nation's support.

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) 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.

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.