HKUST Establishes Von Neumann Institute to Spearhead AI Innovation

Echoing the HKSAR Government’s strategy to develop artificial intelligence (AI) as a core industry, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announced the establishment of the Von Neumann Institute (VNI). This pioneering research institute is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating embodied intelligence, generative AI, and advanced supercomputing to drive new quality productive forces in the evolving era of AI. 

The Von Neumann Institute (VNI) is named in honor of John von Neumann, “the father of modern computers” and a pioneering figure in computing whose architectural principles continue to influence modern AI algorithms. VNI will be led by Prof. JIA Jiaya, Chair Professor in HKUST’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, a renowned expert in computer vision and AI, and the founder of Unicorn SmartMore. Building on HKUST’s strong foundation in AI and Prof. Jia’s extensive industrial network, the Institute is committed to creating a complete ecosystem by strengthening partnerships between industry and academia. It also aims to nurture the next generation of AI talent through outreach programs in secondary schools.

Vonnex: Showcasing the Future of Robotics

The opening ceremony today was attended by Mr. Paul CHAN, Financial Secretary of HKSAR; Dr. Pál KERTÉSZ, Consul General of Hungary in Hong Kong; Ms. Clara CHAN Ka-Chai, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC); Prof. Harry SHUM, HKUST Council Chairman; Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; and Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost. A highlight of the plaque unveiling session was Vonnex, an AI robot developed by Prof Jia’s team. Vonnex demonstrated its smooth operation and multi-modal perception system, capable of simultaneously processing visual, tactile, and acoustic information, showcasing the potential of robotics technology. 

Financial Secretary Mr. Paul Chan said in his opening address, "This Government believes in the immense potential of AI. It is our goal to integrate AI across industries under an “AI+” strategy. The Von Neumann Institute brings together people and resources from multiple domains, including the HKUST, SmartMore and the HKIC, and more, which gather academic excellence and strong foundational research, entrepreneurial experience, as well as an extensive network of companies and investors.  We hope that the Institute will become a platform that creates new pathways for application scenarios and commercialization of AI, thereby contributing to Hong Kong’s evolving innovation ecosystem and advancement in AI.”

HKIC CEO Ms. Clara Chan stated, “As patient capital representing the HKSAR Government, the HKIC supports the industrialization of cutting-edge technology and participation of investee companies in furthering AI advancement, transformation and implementation in Hong Kong. By partnering with HKUST to establish the VNI, SmartMore Group fulfills the commitment it made in its strategic agreement with the HKIC, which includes promoting industry-university-research collaboration and talents nurturing. I look forward to the VNI’s contribution to incubate and nurture more unicorns, and to the more comprehensive development of AI ecosystem, by way of AI innovation and application.”

HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry Shum said, “Establishing the VNI is HKUST’s strategic response to help Hong Kong develop into an international innovation and technology hub. By integrating policy leadership, industrial demand, capital support, and scholarly creativity, we will assemble world-class talent and tackle the frontiers of AI through genuine interdisciplinarity. I am confident that VNI will serve as a beacon for AI research and a springboard for industrial renewal—advancing knowledge, fueling innovation, and enriching lives across Hong Kong and beyond.” 

Focusing on Five Key Areas of AI

Prof. Jia Jiaya elaborated that VNI, as a centralized, collaborative, and resource-intensive research institute, will focus on five key areas of AI:

•    Developing next-generation multimodal AI systems capable of processing diverse data types like images, audio, and text.
•    Enhancing logical reasoning in AI to create trustworthy and reliable solutions. 
•    Pioneering robotic intelligence for human-like motion control and interaction.
•    Creating realistic virtual ecosystems through AI-driven 3D understanding and generation.
•    Leveraging large-scale models to transform healthcare and improve treatment outcomes. 

Further details are available in the appendix.

Nurturing Future AI Talent 

VNI is also launching the "AI Explorer: AI School Education Program" with the support of HKIC.  This program aims to ignite students’ curiosity and cultivate a new generation of thinkers and innovators ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges and positively impact Hong Kong society. It will feature inspiring talks, classes on AI and popular science topics, and hands-on demonstrations in HKUST and SmartMore’s labs. Students and teachers from St. Paul’s Convent School (Secondary Section) and St. Paul’s Co-educational College who attended the ceremony expressed strong interest in participating.  

VNI also plans to train over 100 PhD students and engage faculty from various disciplines, equipping HKUST graduates with both cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and practical industry expertise.