News & Stories

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced the signing of strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with three leading affiliated hospitals of Zhejiang University School of Medicine: The First Affiliated Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, and Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. This landmark collaboration will focus on research, talent development, medical education, and international exchange, aiming to jointly nurturing clinical scientists and medical professionals with international perspectives and cutting-edge innovative capabilities. This partnership seeks to accelerate the translation and application of high-level clinical research outcomes and promote high-quality development of healthcare across both cities.

A team led by Prof. Larry LI, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), along with PhD student Jungjin PARK, has developed an AI-enabled augmented reality (AR) platform for immersive learning. This platform offers students virtual laboratory experiences, enabling them to practice experiments and grasp key concepts and theories in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Their innovative solution recently earned the Silver Award in the Immersive Experiential Learning category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2025, often regarded as the “Oscars” of education.

“STEAM Day@HKUST”, organized by the Center for Global and Community Engagement under the School of Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is taking place from January 22 to 24, 2026, on campus. The opening ceremony held today marked the launch of 130 activities and programs designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) among more than 5,000 participants throughout the three-day event.Now in its third edition, this event has grown to be the University’s largest popular science initiative. It provides an experiential learning platform for primary and secondary school students to explore STEAM through interactive and hands-on experiences, in alignment with the primary school curriculum reform in the 2025-26 academic year.

Researchers from the School of Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have pioneered a mechanical bond strategy to create quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSSEs) for lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). This marks the first use of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to achieve high-performance battery operation, harnessing the unique chemistry of interlocked systems to enable safe, stable, and high-energy-density LMBs.

Researchers at the School of Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world’s first Sub-Zero Celsius elastocaloric freezing device, capable of reaching temperatures as low as -12℃. This represents a significant milestone in expanding green solid-state elastocaloric refrigeration technology into the global freezing industry, offering a promising solution to combat climate change and accelerate low-carbon transformation of the global freezing market. The findings have recently been published in the international journal Nature, under the title “Sub-zero Celsius Elastocaloric Cooling via Low-transition-temperature Alloys”.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various chronic diseases and cancers, including neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic syndrome. Gently extracting a single mitochondrion from within a living cell—without causing damage and without the guidance of fluorescent makers—has long been a challenge akin to threading a needle in a storm for scientists.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been appointed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to lead the international "Hong Kong Operation Robot" project for the Chang'E-8 mission. The project will unite global aerospace scholars and experts to develop a multi-functional lunar surface operation robot. Equipped with a mobile charging station and capable of dexterous operations, the robot is designed to make significant contributions to the nation's lunar exploration missions.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and GPTX Investment Management Limited (GPTX簡坤投資), a leading Hong Kong-based digital investment firm, have established a strategic partnership to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, healthcare, and other related multi-disciplinary fields through the HKUST UniVenture Program. This collaboration aims to incubate student-led, technology-based startups by providing investment support, business mentorship, industry networking, and partnership development—further enhancing HKUST's thriving innovation ecosystem.