HKUST Tops in Areas of Excellence and Theme-based Research Schemes 2024-25 with Highest Funding among Local Universities | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Three research projects led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) were awarded a total funding of HK$212.5 million by the Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme and the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) 2024/25, the highest funding amount among all local universities. It also marks a record-high result for the University. 

The three studies cover a wide array of aspects, including a frontier and human-centric AI and robotics technology for geriatric care, the development of “Hong Kong Coastal Twin” for management of extreme weather on coastlines, as well as a technological approach to enhance Hong Kong’s role in sustainable supply chains. 

Congratulating the research teams, HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP said, "Our record-breaking achievements in AoE and TRS exemplify the University's unwavering commitment to research excellence. It’s not just a testimony to the talent of our faculty, but also to the synergy with our Guangzhou campus, as two of the awarded projects are jointly undertaken by faculty members from both HKUST and HKUST(GZ). The success reflects the growing collaboration between our campuses, which play a crucial role in fostering groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and technological innovations for the betterment of Hong Kong and beyond.”

HKUST Vice-President (Research & Development) Prof. Tim CHENG also expressed his pride in the teams’ achievements. “The recognition of HKUST by RGC’s two most prominent funding schemes is a remarkable achievement. The three awarded projects, all driven by cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and data science, demonstrate HKUST's successful efforts in promoting the integration of technological innovation and our research to drive breakthroughs in emerging fields. As we anticipate the establishment of more world-class research facilities on our campus in the coming years, our faculty will be better equipped in their pursuit of knowledge in addressing the growing complexities of global challenges,” he said. 

The three research projects are:

The three winning teams delivered a presentation on their research projects during a media briefing organized by RGC today. They shared the objectives of their research, the methods they used, and the potential impacts of their work. 

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology  
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of June 2024, HKUST members have founded 1,747 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).