Saddle Up for Unbridled Development in the Year of the Horse

Channeling the dynamic spirit of the Year of the Horse, HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP unveiled a forward-looking development roadmap to members of the media at the University’s spring reception on March 2. She highlighted HKUST’s enduring “can-do” spirit, its strategies for sustaining future growth, and its commitment to contributing to the nation’s economic and social development.

Renewal and growth

The timing of the reception was particularly auspicious, taking place against the backdrop of the 14th National People's Congress and the rollout of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, alongside celebrations marking HKUST’s 35th anniversary and the symbolic significance of the Year of the Horse.

“In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes forging ahead with determination and striving for continuous self‑improvement—values that resonate strongly with HKUST's can-do spirit,” said President Ip.

The elegantly crafted festive couplet displayed on the event banner perfectly captured this momentum: "Galloping into its 35th anniversary, HKUST ushers in a new chapter in the Year of the Horse.”

Forward momentum 

At the event, President Ip reaffirmed HKUST’s determination to excel in the local, regional, and global higher education landscape. 

"The University will continue to advance the vision set out in its Strategic Plan 2031, by further strengthening our international competitiveness, attracting and retaining top talent, and driving innovation and knowledge transfer in strategic areas,” she said.

She also pledged to respond proactively to the needs of Hong Kong and the nation, underscoring HKUST’s readiness to contribute to the city’s education and innovation agenda and to actively promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

Among the many highlights shared with the media was HKUST’s continued focus on promoting strategic research that will facilitate economic and societal growth in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. 

The message to attendees was clear: by helping to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for higher education and health and medical innovation, HKUST is accelerating innovation and knowledge transfer across strategic domains, including AI, medical and biotechnology, the low-altitude economy, aerospace science and technology, and deep‑space exploration.

Global talent 

Highlighting faculty achievements in 2025, Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost, shared that more than 200 HKUST scholars had been named among the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in 2025, including 14 scholars ranked among the world’s top 10 in their sub-fields for single-year and career-long impact. 

Additionally, 12 scholars were listed among the Highly Cited Researchers 2025, while around 30 scholars received international accolades, including the prestigious Future Science Prize, often referred to as “China’s Nobel Prize”, as well as recognition from the New Cornerstone Science Foundation under the Tencent Group.

Continued progress in faculty and student recruitment was also highlighted. Since 2022, more than 160 scholars from leading universities worldwide have joined HKUST, bringing the total faculty count to nearly 600. The number of non-local undergraduate students admitted in the 2025/26 intake amounts to nearly half of the funded places allocated by the University Grants Committee (UGC) that year, underscoring HKUST’s growing international appeal.

Research excellence and innovation ecosystem

Leveraging its strong talent pool, Prof. Tim CHENG, Vice-President for Research and Development, reported that HKUST secured over HKD279 million for six major projects under the UGC’s Areas of Excellence Scheme, Theme-based Research Scheme, and Strategic Topics Grant in 2025/26. This sum is the highest total funding among local institutions. The University also led the sector with seven projects awarded in the second round of the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme.

To bolster its research capabilities, HKUST is upgrading its critical infrastructure, including the development of Hong Kong’s largest H800 SuperPOD and the city’s largest liquid-cooled data center. Prof. Cheng also outlined the University’s “AI + X” framework, positioning AI as a key enabler of cross-disciplinary innovation across areas such as medicine, finance and beyond.

The University also continues to champion start-up incubation, having supported over 1,900 startups to date. Through dedicated platforms like the Red Bird Innovation Fund as well as strategic partnerships across the Yangtze River Delta and Greater Bay Area, HKUST remains a powerhouse for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Public health and medical research

Regarding the School of Medicine, President Ip said that HKUST plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the HKSAR Government in the first quarter of the year. This MoU is expected to cover key areas, including program accreditation, resources for an integrated medical education and research complex, faculty recruitment, and funding arrangements.

President Ip also shared that HKUST is conducting a global search for the Founding Dean of the School of Medicine and has established a Steering Committee to provide strategic direction and ensure preparations proceed efficiently.

With the School of Medicine becoming an integral part of HKUST’s expanding ecosystem of innovation, research excellence, and talent development, the spring media reception underscored the University’s momentum as it gallops ahead, determined to respond to the aspirations of Hong Kong and the nation, and to further consolidate its standing as a world-class university.