The University has established a number of research institutes and centres to identify and provide focus for particular research emphases at HKUST. All cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries, and provision is made for the full range of research and specialised research services from developmental and applied work to the most basic of investigations. These centres and institutes, together with the academic departments, provide students with a wide range of excellent research opportunities at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels, from basic research in single disciplines to projects in applied research with the collaboration of several departments. Descriptions of the research units established at this time follow.
Research Centre
Director : Jay-Chung CHEN, BS Cheng Kung; MS, PhD Calif lnst of Tech (Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
The Research Centre has been established to undertake multidisciplinary, contractual and applied research, the results of which may lead more directly and quickly to implementation and economic benefit. Some objectives are to conduct mission-oriented scientific, engineering, industrial, and management research rel- evant to Hong Kong's technological and socio-economic development; establish and manage research facilities that are critical to the need for development of technology in Hong Kong; incubate critical technologies required by government and industry;
establish research and scientific databases; provide institutional management and planning support for research to faculty members; co-ordinate collaborative overseas research programmes; and develop and maintain research sponsorship and contrac- tual relationships.
The Research Centre conducts a programme of wide-ranging R&D initiatives to maintain its research vitality and to inject cutting-edge technology into its research.
Research topics and projects are chosen with the collaboration and assistance of faculty members. The selection process gives consideration to the impact of research results on the local community, availability of the University's skills for conducting outstanding research, involvement of graduate students and academic faculty, and potential to strengthen existing areas of activity or to build areas of future research strength.
The following list provides examples of technology and research initiatives of the Research Centre:
Environment
Hong Kong Ecosystem Databank and Processing Centre Hong KonglPearl River Delta contaminated sediment research Pollutant source identification; air quality index and prediction Abatement of diesel air pollution
Landfill modelling lmmobilised microalgae Energy
Boundary-layer wind tunnel
Productive electrochemical desulphurisation of flue gas Software and instrumentation for power plants Damage assessment technology for power systems Seawater scrubbing of SO,
PFA landfill modelling Electric vehicles
Effect of electromagnetic fields on humans Revegetation of pulverised fly-ash lagoons Infrastructure
Building systems Geotechnical engineering Bridge engineering Coastal engineering Transportation systems Airports and harbours Other research areas Software engineering Manufacturing Textiles Plastics
Herbal medicines Science Park development Finance
Geographical information Shock and vibration
Office of Contract and Grant Administration
Director : To be announced
This Office helps University faculty and staff in the development and opera- tion of research and development contracts and grants sponsored by industrial,
governmental, business and philanthropicorganisations. Information about potential sources of funding is distributed and assistance provided in the preparation of proposals that meet established criteria for review and evaluation. When sponsored funds are obtained, budgets are established and assistance supplied to assure that contract and grant requirements are satisfied. Complex issues of intellectual property development, proprietary rights, contractual restrictions, and operational coordina- tions are administered to support faculty, staff, and students in achieving maximum scholarly benefit from available funds.
Technology Transfer Centre
Director : To be announced.
The Technology Transfer Centre is dedicated to bringing new and better technology to accelerate the social and economic development of Hong Kong. The involvement of University faculty and facilities to evaluate, develop, commercialise, produce and market new products and processes is the goal. The creation and licensing of patents, software and copyrights is part of the process. The expansion of existing industries and the incubation and support of new industries to produce and market new products is another part of the process. The economic utilisation of technical achievements of the University for the benefit of Hong Kong is the organisational goal of the Technology Transfer Centre.
Biotechnology Research Institute Director : J. Tze-Fei WONG, BA, PhD Toronto
(Professor and Head of Biochemistry)
The mission of the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) is to assist Hong Kong in its economic development, and in so doing contribute to the economic well- being of the Asia-Pacific region, through the research, development and training of specialists in biotechnology. The biotechnological industry worldwide is entering into a period of unprecedented growth opportunities. Besides the rapid scientific ad- vances that are bringing a constant stream of new processes and products, the business environment of the industry is also undergoing dramaticchanges in the form of increasing globalisation, as new entrants, both national governments and corpo- rations, seek participation. The founding of BRI could not have come at a more opportune time, to help Hong Kong strive to become one of the important centres of biotechnology in the world.
Biotechnology covers a wide range of fast-growing areas of economic importance. The four research areas that have been targeted for development by BRI are :
1. Biomedical instrumentation and diagnostics 2. Drug delivery and development
3. Agricultural and environmental bioengineering 4. Genetic engineering
The activities of BRI include the recruitment of biotechnology related faculty, the purchase of equipment, the planning and construction of facilities, and the launching of research projects in the targeted areas.
Hong Kong Telecom lnstitute of Information Technology Interim Director : Professor Donald A. George, BEng McGill; MS Stanford; ScD
Massachusette lnst of Tech
(Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs) This lnstitute has been founded with a grant of $100 million from Hong Kong Telecommunication Limited. The concept of the lnstitute is based on the recognition that in the future there will be no economic development, no industry or commerce, no service or manufacturing capability of any significance without the full utilisation of telecommunication and information technology. All schools at the University are expected to be involved in the research activity of this Institute.
Undergraduate scholarships and postgraduate research assistantships are offered through the Institute, and certain members of the academic faculty are designated as Fellows.
Research in the University's schools and departments receive support in fields such as optical devices and materials, high-frequency electronics and optoelectronics, video signal processing, and information processing.
Materials Characterisation and Preparation Centre Director : Professor David J. BARBER, BS, PhD Bristol
(Professor of Physics)
The Materials Characterisation and Preparation Centre is a central facility for the synthesis, study and testing of new materials and materials needed for in-house or collaborative research projects. The Centre constitutes an important resource which provides state-of-the-art instrumentation, organises workshops and training, and is a focal point for interdisciplinary research. The facility serves academics in all the Science and Engineering departments and is also available to external clients from other tertiary institutions, government bodies, and private industry. During 1993 the Centre will move to larger premises in the Phase II building, thus enabling the scope of facilities to be expanded to meet more fully the needs of the growing research community of staff and graduate students.
Microelectronics Fabrication Centre
Director : Tai-chin LO, BS National Taiwan; MS, PhD Univ of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign
(Senior Lecturer, Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
The mission of the MFC is to provide capabilities for the fabrication of microelectronic devices and integrated circuits in support of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. Particular objectives for technology develop- ment include novel semiconductor devices, higher speed transistors and ICs, innovative microsensors and microactuators, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
To achieve the objectives, half of the phase I 495-sq.metre-Centre is devoted to Class 1,000 clean rooms (containing less than 1,000 particles larger than a half micrometre per cubic foot of air) where state-of-the-art microelectronic processing equipment is located. The Centre's clean rooms are divided into four basic fabrication modules, namely, photolithography, thermal diffusionhhin-film deposition, drylwet etching and metallization.
While the centre is closely associated with electronics engineering, research- ers in other disciplines have also found microfabrication techniques highly valuable for various applications. Research projects from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Bio- chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and other engineering fields will be encouraged.