News & Stories

Led by scholars from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a research team has discovered that, since the early 2000s, both sea surface temperature changes near the equator and the associated atmospheric adjustments over the Pacific have accelerated markedly—becoming a key driver of the increasingly rapid loss of Arctic sea ice during autumn. The findings highlight that, under ongoing global warming, climate linkages between distant regions are far more dynamic and complex than previously understood.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today showcased its award-winning inventions, which were recognized at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). The University's 62 participating teams won a total of 62 accolades, including 13 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 20 Gold Medals, 20 Silver Medals, and 9 Bronze Medals. This year's achievements set a new record for the University and make it the highest-awarded higher education institution in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is pleased to receive approval from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government to establish two new research centers under the third InnoHK research cluster, SEAM@InnoHK. The research centers will focus respectively on renewable energy and storage, as well as power semiconductors and related applications. These centers aim to drive innovation in green and low-carbon energy transition and advanced manufacturing, thereby supporting Hong Kong's alignment with the national 15th Five‑Year Plan's priorities on sustainability, while strengthening the city's strategic role in the new wave of global technological advancement.The two new HKUST-led research centers include:

A research team led by Prof. SUN Jianwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has achieved a groundbreaking advance in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. The team has developed an air-stable chiral phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective approach to synthesize enantioenriched S(IV)-stereogenic vinyl sulfinamides—an under-explored class of organosulfur compounds with promising antiviral activity.

Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, CLP Holdings Professor of Sustainability, and Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been named the 65th Rankine Lecturer by the British Geotechnical Association (BGA). Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in geotechnical engineering, the Rankine Lecture represents a pinnacle of recognition in the field. Prof. Ng is the first Chinese scholar to be selected since the lecture’s inception in 1961, and the first Asian scholar to receive this honor since Prof. Kenji ISHIHARA of Japan delivered the lecture in 1993.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today launched the NeuroCare Community Project (the Project), a five-year initiative to enhance early detection of Alzheimer’s risk for Hong Kong’s elderly who need support. Working with over 40 community centers under more than a dozen non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and in collaboration with Tung Wah College (TWC), the Project aims to screen 6,000 community-dwelling elderly aged 60-75, shifting the focus from late-stage diagnosis to proactive, community-based care.With the rapid aging of Hong Kong’s population, it is projected that by 2039, individuals aged 65 or above will account for over 30% of the total population, making early intervention for cognitive health an urgent necessity. 

Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed CarGAP, a groundbreaking chemo-optogenetic tool that uses vitamin B₁₂ and green light to precisely control gap junctions, the microscopic channels enabling direct cell-to-cell communication. This innovation allows on-demand closing and opening of these intercellular bridges, providing unprecedented spatiotemporal control over vital molecules and electrical signals. Demonstrated in both mammalian cells and living fruit flies, CarGAP provides a powerful new way to study development, immunity, and neural activity, with far-reaching potential for understanding disease mechanisms and advancing regenerative medicine.

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made a breakthrough discovery in understanding the molecular machinery of RNA silencing. The team uncovered how the human enzyme DICER achieves highly precise processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), advancing gene regulation research and offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer, immune disorders, and genetic diseases.