HKUST and Fudan Elevate Strategic Collaboration to Build Global Hub for New Engineering Innovation 

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Fudan University today announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership aimed at establishing a global academic exchange and innovation hub in new engineering disciplines. The enhanced collaboration was unveiled at the inaugural Xianghui International Frontiers Forum, held at HKUST’s Clear Water Bay Campus.

The event brought together over 200 top scientists, young scholars, and institutional leaders from nearly 10 countries and regions. A key highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on academic exchange and talent cultivation between Fudan University’s Xianghui Institute and the College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, and HKUST’s School of Engineering.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Hong K. LO, HKUST’s Dean of Engineering, and Prof. ZHAO Dongyuan, Dean of the Xianghui Institute and College of Smart Materials and Future Energy at Fudan University, under the witness of Prof. Tim CHENG, HKUST’s Vice-President for Research and Development, and Prof. WANG Yuanyuan, Vice President of Fudan University.

Key Collaboration Highlights:

•    New Engineering Focus: The partnership will prioritize cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields, including artificial intelligence, smart materials, and chemical energy.
•    Joint Initiatives: The institutions will co-establish the “Fudan-HKUST Xianghui International Frontiers Forum” as a regular platform for academic exchange, alongside faculty exchanges and shared research platforms.
•    Talent Development: The agreement includes student exchange programs, joint research training, and specialized summer courses for graduate students.
•    Regional Integration: The collaboration will leverage the unique advantages of Shanghai and Hong Kong, promoting technology incubation in the Yangtze River Delta and Greater Bay Area.

“Science knows no borders, and cooperation knows no limits. We aim to nurture young talent through the academic nourishment of both cities, collectively cultivating future forces to address global challenges,” said Prof. Wang Yuanyuan, Vice President of Fudan University. “By combining our strengths, we can create transformative solutions that benefit both society and the scientific community.”

“This partnership represents a powerful confluence of the distinguished capabilities of HKUST and Fudan University, merging their collective prowess in fundamental research with their shared legacy of innovation and technology translation,” said Prof. Tim Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development at HKUST. “By building a bridge between Shanghai and Hong Kong, we are not just connecting two leading universities; we are creating an integrated ecosystem for discovery and talent cultivation that will accelerate breakthroughs for the world's most pressing challenges.”

The leaders emphasized that establishing a regular, high-standard international mechanism for research collaboration will facilitate the deep integration of technological innovation and talent development, serving the national innovation-driven development strategy and global scientific frontiers.

Shanghai-Hong Kong Collaboration: A New Blueprint for Innovation

This collaboration builds a technological innovation community between two high-level universities. Fudan University has vigorously advanced its new engineering disciplines, establishing six new schools and building a comprehensive innovation system spanning “basic research-technological development-industrial transformation.” Its Xianghui Institute, a special zone for basic research, has already recruited 21 distinguished scholars. HKUST, leveraging its profound engineering expertise and extensive international network, has made major breakthroughs in fields like artificial intelligence and sustainable energy, consistently leading regional innovation.

Deep-Rooted Collaboration for Global Impact

Since signing their first university-level agreement in 1998, the two institutions have achieved fruitful results over more than two decades. This new phase of cooperation will establish a regular coordination mechanism to promote high-level academic exchanges, research collaboration, and the cultivation of young talent.

Gathering of Luminaries at Inaugural Forum

The inaugural “Xianghui International Frontiers Forum” was jointly hosted by HKUST, Fudan University, and the Shanghai Orient Nexus Group. The event was also attended by Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST’s Provost, and Mr. LUO Xiangjun, Chief Director of the Shanghai Orient Nexus Asia-Pacific Talent Exchange and Development Center. The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Prof. FAN Zhiyong, HKUST’s Chair Professor of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, and Prof. ZHAO Dongyuan, Dean of Fudan University’s Xianghui Institute.

Themed “Openness, Collaboration, Innovation,” the forum featured luminaries such as Prof. Michael GRÄTZEL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), known as the “father of dye-sensitized solar cells”; Prof. Lars SAMUELSON (Lund University), a pioneer in nanomaterials; and experts including Prof. Yang Peidong (University of California, Berkeley), Prof. CUI Yi (Stanford University), Prof. DUAN Xiangfeng (University of California, Los Angeles), and Prof. CHEN Xiaodong (Nanyang Technological University).

The forum featured sub-forums on Chemical Frontiers, Smart Materials Frontiers, and Interdisciplinary Frontiers. To foster the next generation of scientists, the event launched the “Xianghui Poster Award” and a “Young Talent Exchange Session,” promoting the transformation of scientific achievements and an open, collaborative international research ecosystem.