Annual Report, 2019 - 2020

- • 11111 ~ • - E 11111 - • 11111 ~ • - E 11111 - • 11111 ~ • - E 11111. ~ ~ ~ A. ~ ~ A. ' ~ A - ~ A. -. - • - • - •. U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6 U 11 U 6. u u u u u u. HKUST Annual Report 2019-2020. 11 u 6 u 11 6 u 11 u 6 11 u 6 u 11 6 u 11 u 6 11 u 6 u 11 6 u 11 u 6. The HKUST logo is a symbolic identity of the University depicted by the golden head of wisdom above an open book of knowledge and the flask/ tower symbol to represent science, engineering and technology, and communication and management. Inspired by the logo, the cover design of HKUST Annual Report 2019-2020 features graphics mimicking the logo’s pictorial symbols to convey our endless pursuit of knowledge and impact on society through the many accomplishments and developments achieved over the past year.. Behind the Cover. STATEMENT OF VISION To be a leading University with significant international impact and strong local commitment.. Global. National. Local. To be a world-class university at the cutting edge internationally in all targeted fields of pursuit.. To contribute to the economic and social development of the nation as a leading university in China.. To play a key role, in partnership with government, business, and industry, in the development of Hong Kong as a knowledge-based society.. HKUST’S 5 CORE VALUES • Excellence, Integrity, and Academic Freedom. • Global Vision and Local Commitment. • Can-do Spirit. • Inclusiveness, Diversity, and Respect. • 1-HKUST. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY a To advance learning and knowledge through. teaching and research, particularly. i. in science, technology, engineering, management and business studies; and. ii. at the postgraduate level; and. b To assist in the economic and social development of Hong Kong.. (The Laws of Hong Kong: Chapter 1141). CONTENTS 4 CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD. 6 PRESIDENT’S REPORT. 10 LEARNING FOR LIFE. 18 LAB TO MARKET. 28 CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. 34 LOCAL TO GLOBAL. 38 BEST-IN-CLASS OPERATIONS. 40 SUSTAINABLE HORIZONS. 43 GOVERNANCE. 44 AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS. 46 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS. 48 FACTS AND FIGURES. 52 APPENDICES. – Court, Council and Senate. – Advisory Committee. – Senior Faculty Appointments & Professor Emeritus. – Finance. – Internal Control and Risk Management. CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD. As a forward-looking University, we are fully conscious of the paramount importance of continuing to seek growth by seizing every opportunity to explore and network with the outside world. The signing of a framework agreement between the National Development and Reform Commission and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao on deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation has provided an opportune time for HKUST to establish a new campus in Guangzhou. The great opportunities and tremendous potential of the Greater Bay Area will open the way for the University’s further advancement. With a state-of-the-art campus and a unique cross-disciplinary approach to education and research in place, HKUST(GZ) will embrace a diversity of talents, bringing remarkable vitality to the development of the University, and boosting academic exchange and communication between Hong Kong and other cities in the region. By adopting synergistic academic and organizational frameworks across HKUST and HKUST(GZ), the disciplinary and cross-disciplinary activities of our Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses can both be capitalized upon and resources would be more effectively used to promote synergy and collaborations in education and research activities.. While ready to venture out to explore all the new opportunities resulting from the new campus, the University will continue to fully pursue endeavors in Clear Water Bay, where our foundation lies and our core values are embedded, with every effort made to fulfill our mission. As an indication of this, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, HKUST has maintained its leading position. in a range of areas. Our frontier research and innovation work, such as those developed to fight against coronavirus and transform the world through science and technology, are having great local and international impact in their contribution to improving the wellbeing of mankind. In addition, the joint Executive MBA (EMBA) program delivered by Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and HKUST Business School remained among the top in the global Financial Times EMBA Ranking for the tenth time. All these achievements are testimony to the dedication hard work of the University’s faculty, staff, and students.. Amid the fast-changing world that we live in and HKUST is helping to transform, the Council, as the supreme governing body of the University, remains committed to steering HKUST’s overall strategic direction. Through the strategic planning and risk assessment processes, the University’s performance has been reviewed, taking into consideration the external environment as well as our stakeholders’ aspirations and expectations. To further enhance university governance and accountability, the Council took the initiative to revise the Guidelines and Code of Practice for Council Members which outline the code of conduct and responsibilities of Council Members in our conduct of Council businesses. In addition, considering the importance to ensure proper governance of the Guangzhou campus, the Council has formulated a governance framework that outlines the duties and responsibilities of respective parties in managing HKUST(GZ). A designated Committee has also been set up for the Council to oversee matters related to the establishment and operation of the new campus.. With our 30th anniversary approaching in 2021, HKUST can take pride in the University’s remarkable achievements over the past three decades. In line with our mission, HKUST has been successful in attracting, recruiting, and nurturing top talents from around the world while creating opportunities for education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer, resulting in significant impact on the economic and social development of Hong Kong and beyond.. 4. In closing, I would like to thank my fellow Members of the Council and Court, the University Administration, faculty, students, and alumni for their ardent support over the years, and their commitment to move HKUST further forward. I would also like to express my gratitude to our donors for their generosity in reinforcing our efforts to advance the University’s development to our next stage. With your support, we will strive with our utmost steadfastness to sharpen our vision, to attract more and more leading academics from around the world, and to educate the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators, and continue to move energetically toward our mission.. Chairman, University Council MR. ANDREW LIAO CHEUNG-SING GBS, SC, JP. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 5 CHAIRMAN'S FOREWORD. Following a year of unprecedented events and challenges in Hong Kong, it is an opportune time to take stock of our community that we all care so deeply for, and look into the future, from the perspective of our shared beliefs and values.. PRESIDENT’S REPORT. Since mid-2019, societal development within Hong Kong has caused deep divisions across the entire city. Following multiple episodes and vandalism on campus, we introduced measures to enhance campus security to protect the well- being of individual members as well as to maintain the proper operation of facilities and laboratories. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the world, affecting many millions of lives, health authorities, policy-makers, scientists and innovators around the world have been racing to curtail the spread of the virus. Members of HKUST have stepped up and made noteworthy contributions to help find solutions. In this Annual Report, we dedicate space to highlight the University’s efforts in this area.. Dedication, Support and Appreciation: Indeed, many colleagues have been working literally around the clock in the past year to coordinate and support campus-wide challenges in health, safety, education, research, physical and mental well-being, career opportunities, operations, services, in-person assistance in Hong Kong and Mainland, and much more. They deserve appreciation and gratitude from us all.. Faced with all these issues and needs, there has been additional demand on resources, both human and financial. Supported by generous donations received recently, and further matched by a government grant last year, HKUST has been able to weather the financial challenges so far. Even though some of our facilities have had to close for certain periods, we have continued to fully maintain them so that the campus will be in good shape when the situation permits all members to return. In order to offer direct assistance to students facing personal difficulties, a COVID-19 Student Hardship Relief Fund has been set up with donations made by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters, here and overseas. Thanks to this support and these caring efforts, dozens of students have been offered financial assistance. I take this opportunity to thank members of the HKUST community for coming together to help each other.. Academic and Beyond: Meanwhile, our activities in academic endeavors, including teaching, learning, research, and knowledge transfer, have continued, though some have to be adjusted in major ways. For example, international exchanges between faculty and between students have been severely affected, and can only be resumed when the worldwide pandemic has stabilized. We are continuing to adapt and optimize teaching arrangements, based on the valuable input from our colleagues and students, through technological support and multiple innovative arrangements. Many research projects, ongoing and new, are being proactively supported and facilitated, with our faculty earning support in multiple major government-sponsored programs, including InnoHK and the Theme-Based Research Scheme. A growing number of private enterprises are also seeking and supporting close collaboration with HKUST in multiple areas, motivated by mutual interest in advancing frontiers of science and technology, which will help propel Hong Kong and the region to innovate and to transform its societal and economic landscape.. 6. Strategic Positioning: In addition to these ongoing activities, major development is taking shape as we draft the new Strategic Plan for HKUST’s future. Leading universities promote cross-disciplinary research directions in part because of their implications on addressing major societal challenges. As both scope and integration of our research and educational endeavors evolve, we naturally expect a broadened range of activities that include not only the blue sky, curiosity-driven efforts that have formed the core of our program, but also more mission-encouraged research spurred by the grand challenges facing humanity. Nurturing both curiosity-driven and mission-encouraged pursuits is critical for the future of the University and the development of academia as a whole. . HKUST is well-positioned to fulfill our institutional ambition by leading efforts to both: (1) pursue curiosity-driven investigations on topics in any discipline, whose ultimate impact may not be initially apparent (e.g., discovery of black holes, the double helix, fractals and strange attractors, the invention of the transistor), and (2) mount mission- encouraged, multi-faceted responses in systematic ways to identified challenges of great magnitude (e.g., space exploration, human/machine coexistence, public health, and global warming), whose success requires expertise from various disciplines. However, these two conceptual frameworks lead naturally to different degree programs and underlying academic structures.. Our Guangzhou campus, HKUST(GZ), due to be operational in 2022, creates an exceptional opportunity for such efforts to be systematically developed, with new physical space, financial support, and more faculty and students engaged in a number of cross-disciplinary thrusts. The “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework that we advocate places emphasis on our expansion in both physical and conceptual domains. It is our expectation that academic breakthroughs will arise while collaboration and integration will be promoted between campuses, including facilities and services, policies and mechanisms, and professional standards. We envision a Unified System that supports complementary academic structures and non-overlapping degree programs and promotes a healthy mix of curiosity-driven and mission-encouraged academic. and related activities. Most importantly, the individual campuses in Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou will enable faculty and students to find the best atmosphere in which to follow their passions and fully develop their interests.. Our Living Lab: The year also brought the conclusion of the HKUST 2020 Sustainability Challenge, a self-initiated eco-masterplan. This has led to notable campus-wide waste reduction, energy-saving initiatives, and sustainable approaches. Further efforts through the “Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab” and its dedicated University funding have elevated and encouraged many students, faculty, staff and alumni to join together to turn ideas into action and implement them on our beautiful campus. Ideas and efforts will be expanded to cover both campuses in Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou under the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” vision.. Self-Expectation: The entire world has been challenged by increasingly intense debates and disagreement on matters of critical importance to the future. Even though information can travel at the speed of light without barriers, countries and regions are struggling with growing disparities in lifestyle, belief, culture, socio-economic development and political inclination. While the environment around us is evolving, our commitment to support an open, understanding, and intellectually stimulating campus remains unwavering. We must identify and uphold shared principles and values, by exercising individual and institutional integrity, by respecting diverse views and opinions, by promoting our international standards, and by forging a positive spirit. We are determined to contribute our utmost efforts to the future of Hong Kong and beyond.. President PROF. WEI SHYY JP. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 7 PRESIDENT'S REPORT. UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT. Prof. Nancy Y. IP Vice-President for Research and Development. Prof. Lionel M. NI Provost. Mr. Mark HODGSON Vice-President for Administration and Business. Prof. Wei SHYY President. 8. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 9 PRESIDENT'S REPORT. INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM. Establishing the Next-Generation of Sustainability Innovators. To address the critical issue of sustainability of the marine world, the School of Science introduced the BSc in Ocean Science and Technology, the first degree program of its kind in Hong Kong. The program provides cross-disciplinary knowledge and first-hand experience of issues and developments related to conservation and management of ocean resources and will help to answer the need for professionals in areas ranging from marine biotechnology and ocean exploration to environmental consultancies.. Seeking to further increase future sustainability talents and awareness in the community, the Interdisciplinary Programs Office’s Minor Program in Sustainability was approved to start from Fall 2020. The program will give more students the chance to gain eco-insights across disciplines and broaden problem-solving approaches.. Bringing Big Data Insights to Science. Boosting the use of big data beyond computer science, planning for the School of Science’s BSc in Data Analytics in Science moved ahead over the year. With growing demand for capabilities to draw insights from the deluge of information now becoming available to scientists, this joint endeavor involving the School’s five Division/Departments aims to equip students with the skills to apply practical mathematical and data analytical techniques to apply these techniques to a scientific area. Science students of 2020-21 intake can opt for this new major program in their year 2 in 2021-22.. LEARNING FOR LIFE 2019-20 was a year that highlighted the University’s adaptability and dynamism as it pressed ahead, amid unforeseen events, in advancing its student learning experience across all fronts and especially online. Deepening Understanding of Human Nature. A Minor Program in Psychological and Behavioral Science was launched over the year, jointly offered by the Division of Social Science under the School of Humanities and Social Science and Departments of Marketing and Management under the School of Business and Management. The program, developed in response to students’ feedback and requests, enables learners to apply the principles of psychological and behavioral science in their personal, professional, and civic lives.. Research Beyond Traditional Boundaries. The first cohort of creative minds whose areas of exploration do not fall into established research postgraduate degree offerings were admitted to the MPhil/ PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area). The programs, offered by Interdisciplinary Programs Office, will involve students working with a minimum of two co-supervisors from different areas. In other PhD joint supervisions, arrangements with Guangzhou Metro Group Co. Ltd, Shenzhen Bay Lab, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratories in Zhuhai and Guangzhou will allow doctoral students to widen their research perspectives.. Building Up Skills and Mindsets for Society’s Emerging Needs. The University’s taught postgraduate studies enable professionals to upgrade their skills, or develop new ones, with the start of two interdisciplinary programs indicating the increasing need for skills that span more than one field in today’s market. The MSc in Data-Driven Modeling, jointly. 10. offered by the Department of Physics and Department of Mathematics, equips students with modeling skills essential in the information technology sector to facilitate smart decision-making for businesses and services. The MSc in Financial Technology, the first of its kind in Hong Kong and Mainland China, develops the fintech capabilities needed to use novel technologies and financial innovations to improve traditional financial services. The program is jointly run by the Schools of Science, Engineering, and Business and Management.. The University also approved two more taught postgraduate programs to be launched in 2020-21. The MSc in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship is a unique program jointly offered by the Schools of Engineering and Business and Management to enable entrepreneurs or those with an entrepreneurial idea in mind to build a strategic technical advantage into their product and gain access to advanced facilities and skills for prototyping and launching their product. The MSc in Finance integrates the previous MSc in Financial Analysis and MSc in Investment Management into a new program covering all the critical areas in investment management and financial analysis to prepare students for new challenges in the financial sector.. A Doctor of Business Administration program was also approved for launch in 2021-22 to develop the research capabilities of senior practicing executives and assist them in applying research methodologies and business theories to important issues they face in their business settings.. HKUST(GZ) PILOT SCHEME. The Pilot Scheme was rolled out in preparation for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) campus in Nansha, due in mid-2022. The scheme enrolls research postgraduate students at the Clear Water Bay campus to start conducting the cross- disciplinary research that will be the hallmark of the new campus (see P.34). The first cohort of 109 students joined in 2019-20.. The Senate approved postgraduate research programs developed in 15 thrust research areas for HKUST(GZ)’s four Academic Hubs. The programs will adopt an innovative approach through cross-disciplinary education and research, with an individualized curriculum design that can respond more quickly to the world’s fast-changing developments and social and economic needs. Students will study at the Clear Water Bay campus under the Pilot Scheme while the Guangzhou campus is under construction.. Four core courses on research methods and design thinking were also developed under a cross-disciplinary active learning pedagogy to be adopted at the future campus.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 11 LEARNING FOR LIFE. SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS. Scholarships are a way of the University to diversify its educational reach by recognizing students’ academic and non-academic achievements across numerous different areas. Total funding for scholarships awarded to all undergraduate and postgraduate students was around $95 million, an increase of 9% compared with the previous year.. Non-academic scholarship programs launched over 2019-20 included recognitions for arts, music, and more, students in financial need or facing obstacles in chasing their dreams, and for those taking actions to serve for social good. In addition, 28 elite student athletes received Alumni Endowment Fund Athletic Awards. Overall, 355 non-academic awards, collectively worth $4.9 million, were offered.. In tertiary-wide competitive scholarships, the University once again drew keen interest from international students. Under the Hong Kong government’s Belt and Road Scholarship scheme, 15 awardees (20%) joined HKUST from Vietnam, New Zealand, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, among others. In locally focused schemes, 10 HKUST students were recognized under the Hong Kong government’s Innovation & Technology Scholarship scheme and through D. H. Chen Foundation Scholarship, which aims to nurture insightful leaders.. The University introduced the HKUST RedBird PhD Scholarship Program to recognize the academic performance and research capacity of outstanding PhD candidates. Externally, HKUST continued to secure the highest number of awardees in the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme among the UGC-funded universities, attracting 64 out of 250 (26%) awardees for 2020-21 admission. These Fellowship students hail from. 16 countries and regions and will add considerably to the internationalization of the University’s research student community.. In addition, HKUST was awarded 81 (16%) fellowship places in six taught postgraduate programs in the first cohort of the University Grants Committee’s Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme in 2020-21. The scheme was introduced to encourage local students to pursue further studies in priority areas for the development of Hong Kong.. million $. awarded to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 95 Scholarships. 9%YoY. Awards. 355 Non-Academic Awards. were offered million4.9. worth. $. 12. DEVELOPING A GLOBAL MINDSET. Despite the COVID-19 crisis impacting regular student exchange arrangements from late January 2020 onward, around 890 students studied at partner institutions in our extensive global exchange network in 2019-20 overall, helping them to develop multicultural perspectives and broaden understanding. In addition, the Office of Global Learning worked with university partners to provide virtual courses to replace the University’s credit-bearing summer study abroad experience in non-traditional destinations, such as Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Russia, benefiting a total of 100 students.. use virtual reality to develop such a lab for mechanical engineering undergraduates in the second half year of 2020.. Life Cycle Thinking. Over the year, the Division of Environment and Sustainability launched its Life Cycle Thinking workshops to equip students with the mindset to assess the environmental performance, cost, and trade-offs of products and systems. Such thinking and assessment tools are already used by many multinational corporations. With smart and sustainable designs almost a must for new technical solutions and innovations, the ability to evaluate and quantify whether a novel design idea is genuinely more sustainable than pre-existing solutions has become a significant capability for students to develop (see P42).. Practitioner Input. The University incorporated further real-world insights from industry into students’ learning over the year to broaden perspectives and add greater social relevance. Among these courses, a collaboration between the School of Business and Management and Microsoft in Spring 2020 resulted in Hong Kong’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-centric MBA elective. The course featured Microsoft guest speakers from various operational departments, who shared their experience of how AI can transform business in areas ranging from financial services and human resources management to customer service, and others.. AR/VR and Gamification. HKUST’s technology and innovation strengths enable the University to adapt the latest hi-tech trends into its active learning strategies, as well as to respond to novel circumstances, such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Over 2019-20, Teaching Development Grants administered by the Center for Education Innovation supported four projects focused on the theme of augmented reality (AR)/ virtual reality (VR) and gamification (activities that solve problems by applying game principles and elements). All will use different modes in adopting these approaches. Among them is a proposal to use a digital gaming platform to enliven the learning of probability and statistics in civil engineering. In response to the rising demand for virtual laboratories for online learning, another project aims to. TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY EDUCATION. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 13 LEARNING FOR LIFE. HOLISTIC LEARNING. Sports Development. The Sports Teams Assistance Scheme, under the Dean of Students’ Office (DSTO), provides teams with funding and opportunities to represent HKUST in local and international inter-varsity competitions and elite student athletes with financial support to represent Hong Kong in international competitions. The Scheme supported more than 600 local and non-local students in 66 sports teams and 35 sports in 2019-20. Two elite student athletes were also admitted to HKUST via the newly launched Student Athletes Admission Scheme.. In a significant addition to the water sports center, the University’s new boathouse was prepared for use as a central storage area for boats and equipment, as well as a backup base camp for training and practice, and an avenue to build cooperation between the University and water sports organizations in the community. The boathouse is expected to open in the third quarter of 2020.. Student Life and Wellbeing. To continue to develop students’ full potential amid challenging times, a co-creating program #U2.0 Journey was rolled out in Spring 2020 by DSTO, bringing together students, faculty, and staff members to reimagine the future role of education and drive sustainable transformation under the new normal. Twenty faculty and staff members teamed up with 32 students to co-create the blueprint for. #UniLifeLAB (University Life: Learn Apply Build-on). Guided by a facilitated design thinking process, the teams reframed and redesigned DSTO programs and faculty projects in eight different work areas, including community engagement, leadership development, career education, preventive and emotion first aid, intercultural understanding, interactive e-visuals, sustainable consumption, and business ethics. The process generated 16 new project ideas, with some individual ideas to be implemented in stages in 2020-21. Programs redesigned by the participating teams seek to provide opportunities for students to discover themselves, chart their career paths, and cultivate a positive mindset.. In 2019-20, a total of $6.4 million in financial aid was offered to 212 students experiencing financial difficulties due to prolonged hardship and/or unforeseen events, with an average amount of around $30,000 per student.. 14. PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE. Leadership Training and Career Education. Over 2019-20, 96 members received training and coaching to learn how to lead themselves and others as members of the Redbird Leadership Community. Given the unprecedented events of the year and the limitations placed on experiential learning opportunities, participants demonstrated resilience in continuing their learning through training and coaching online. One gold award, four silver awards, and 69 certificates of completion were earned, recognizing students’ achievements, service, and dedication.. In Spring 2020, all career development programs and consultation sessions moved online due to COVID-19. Online program offerings were increased and made available to students located in different time zones. A total of 81 online programs were conducted and more than 3,000 students took part. . Employability and Internships. HKUST continued to rank highly in the Emerging/Trendence annual Global University Employability Ranking, being placed at No.10 (No.1 in Greater China) in 2019. It also remained a popular campus for employers to search for potential recruits and interns. Despite challenging situations, both of the biannual Career Mosaic job fairs, organized by the University Career Center, took place. The first was held on campus in October 2019 and the second online in May 2020.. To assist students gain early work experience, the Career Center’s Internship Network (iNet) connected potential participants with programs in Hong Kong and worldwide, while individual companies and organizations also offered placements. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iNet Team additionally promoted a virtual internship program, comprising over 40 start-ups and run by a Singapore consulting firm. More than 900 undergraduates are expected to secure internships via iNet over the reporting year. In May 2020, the Innovation and Technology Commission launched a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Internship Scheme, with a total of $8 million allocated to HKUST. By the end of June 2020, close to $6 million had been successfully earmarked, with more than 230 students successfully landing internships through the scheme.. Internships undertaken in Hong Kong over 2019-20 involved a wide range of organizations. For example, biological science students worked with Hong Kong Wetland Park and The Green Earth, an NGO, while physics students interned at two spin-off hi-tech companies, Light Innovation Technology and Acoustic Metamaterials Group, involving the department’s faculty members and graduates.. Meanwhile, new internships partners for humanities and social science students include Tai Kwun and the Hong Kong Heritage Project, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited, and Champion REIT.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 15 LEARNING FOR LIFE. STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Entrepreneurial Moves and Mindset. As an indication of the University’s entrepreneurial enthusiasm, over 3,340 participants engaged in Entrepreneurship Center seminars and workshops in 2019- 20, an increase of 6% over the previous year. . Among many innovative initiatives, the Technopreneurship (Tech-Ship) Program was introduced by the University’s Entrepreneurship Center and Technology Transfer Center in 2020 as a platform to bring together student entrepreneurship development with faculty technologies. The program’s goal is to facilitate partnerships for technopreneurship – an emerging type of entrepreneurship where the use of technology is an integral element of an innovation or solution for any sector. Showing the dynamic nature of the HKUST community, 162 students and alumni became involved, and 14 faculty technologies/research outcomes were put forward in just three months, from April to June 2020, resulting in over 30 technopreneur partnerships.. Regarding on-going opportunities, the Leapfrog Program engaged over 60 students in experiential learning, along with ideas and cultural exchange with overseas students and entrepreneurs over the year. Activities included an exchange learning program in Sydney, Australia, with Macquarie University students, an outreach program also to Australia, where students from HKUST and other local universities visited hi-tech start-ups and explored leading technologies, such as satellite internet of things and quantum computing, and an overseas entrepreneurship program in Bangkok, Thailand.. Competitive Opportunities . In November 2019, the School of Business and Management organized Bizkathon@HKUST, Hong Kong’s first virtual banking hackathon for tertiary students and alumni. The event helped those taking part to prepare for the arrival of virtual banking services in Hong Kong, with alumni mentors and practitioners providing advice to participating teams. In addition, the novel online H^2 Innovation Challenge, a gerontechnology hackathon co-hosted with New World Development, replaced the University’s signature Hackathon@HKUST software and hardware competitions. This year’s Hackathon@HKUST was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The H^2 event attracted 86 entries from student teams at universities in the Greater Bay Area, along with a host of smart aging ideas.. The flagship HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition, now expanded to eight regions across China, serves as an energizing platform for young entrepreneurs to demonstrate their creative ideas for new businesses. In Hong Kong, the 2020 regional contest went ahead in digital form, with its Elevator Pitch and Business Plan Presentation held online in April 2020 and June 2020 respectively. More than 150 teams still participated, nearly 30% more than the previous year, with most teams comprising HKUST students, alumni, faculty, and staff from the Schools of Science, Engineering, and Business Management. The President’s Award, the main prize, went to biotechnology start-up SPES Tech (see P.21) for its cutting-edge hydrogel solutions to advance 3D and organoid culture in biomedical research and assist scientists to better understand the pathology of diseases.. 16. Interactive Real-Time Teaching and Learning. Responding rapidly to the new teaching and learning needs are required as COVID-19 restrictions widened, HKUST became one of the first to switch from traditional in-class teaching to interactive real-time online teaching mode in Spring 2020, meaning teachers taught and learners took their courses via Zoom as scheduled in real time. The move enabled students to continue their studies no matter where they were while safeguarding the health and safety of the University community. In preparation, training sessions took place at the beginning of the Spring Term to introduce faculty members and teaching assistants to video conferencing tools for remote teaching. Advanced features, such as group chat, polling, and breakout groups, helped faculty to enhance interaction with students. This wholesale approach to real-time online classes also helped to break down any psychological barriers among faculty about using technology to enhance teaching and learning, laying a robust foundation to add other advanced technologies to the University’s educational approach.. Student Housing. Hall places were reserved in Summer 2020 in coordination with the Office of the Vice-President for Administration and Business to allow undergraduate and postgraduate students without a home base in Hong Kong with hall offers for 2020-21 to undergo 14 days’ mandatory quarantine on and off campus (see P.39) to allow them to seamlessly transition.. Easing Anxiety. 2019-20 brought two new co-curricular, namely Managing Conflict: for Healthy Relationships and Positive Psychology: The Science of Well-Being to help students cope with the added stress they faced during the time of social incidents and the pandemic. Students were given a safe and intimate environment over Zoom to reflect on how to manage conflict, and to stay positive despite many of their plans and expectations being disrupted.. FIGHTING COVID-19. Strengthening Social Bonds. An “On-Air Café”, organized by Dean of Students’ Office via Zoom in April and May 2020, kept HKUST students in touch with each around the world. Nine online sessions hosted by undergraduate and postgraduate students from different cultural backgrounds took place, with the occasions memorably captured by a master of graphic recordings. Additional online activities, such as a K-pop dance class and online games provided further social and mental support under the overall theme of “Together in Distance, Together We Stand”.. Career Opportunities for Fresh Graduates. With the pandemic creating an unprecedented challenge for graduates, the University’s alumni groups came together to launch the HKUST United program, with over 580 alumni around the world delivering support to over 560 students, with more than 250 jobs and internships referred to students and graduates through our alumni.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 17 LEARNING FOR LIFE. LAB TO MARKET The University’s research endeavors, partnerships, and development of facilities continued to extend its capabilities for discovery and innovation during challenging times. RESEARCH FUNDING TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING. Despite the challenges of the year, HKUST boosted its research endeavors to deliver novel knowledge and technology by gaining cumulative external funding of $ 1.1 billion for 1,469 new and on-going projects in 2019-20.. RGC Funding Schemes. Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council (RGC) and its wide- ranging funding schemes provided an overall total of $197.6 million for 233 new projects. The General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme attracted the most proposals from HKUST faculty and researchers, with 357 and 38 applications respectively. The University’s success rates for the two schemes were 45% and 58%, remaining the highest among all local institutions.. Under the RGC’s prestigious Theme-based Research Scheme, Prof. CHEN Guanghao (Civil and Environmental Engineering) and his interdisciplinary team gained approval for total funding of $30 million over five years for a paradigm- shifting, fully integrated, compact wastewater-to-resource facility. The Collaborative Research Fund exercise saw five University group proposals and two equipment proposals approved for a total of $35.5 million. The group grants will drive life science, chemistry, and physics research spanning muscle stem cells, Alzheimer’s disease, organic solar cells, antibiotics, and superconductors. The equipment grants will enable Prof. QU Jianan (Electronic and Computer Engineering) to build a high-resolution two-photon microscope with adaptive optics for in vivo imaging of brain structures in animals, and Prof. HUANG Xuhui (Chemistry,. Chemical and Biological Engineering) to set up a cluster of over 460 state-of-the-art Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) or molecular dynamics simulations, whole-genome sequencing analyses, and other applications requiring single-precision calculations. Meanwhile, Prof. CHEN Lei (Computer Science and Engineering) received $5.6 million under the Research Impact Fund to develop a product- oriented, domain-specific knowledge base from which both e-commerce firms and customers can benefit.. InnoHK Research Scheme. Through the InnoHK research scheme, a major initiative of the Hong Kong government to turn the city into a hub for global research collaboration, HKUST proposals for two research centers were awarded a total of $805 million. Within the scheme’s Health@InnoHK research cluster, Prof. Nancy IP (Life Science) is set to receive $503.5 million over five years to jointly establish the Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Hong Kong with top- notch institutions including Stanford University of Medicine and University College London. The center will focus on Alzheimer’s disease, a prevalent form of dementia affecting almost 47 million people worldwide. Under AIR@InnoHK, Prof. LI Zexiang (Electronic and Computer Engineering) will be awarded $301.5 million for his five-year project to set up the Hong Kong Center of AI, Robotics, and Electronics (HK CARE) for Prefabricated Construction with University of California, Berkeley and Tsinghua University.. 18. billion. $1.1 of external funding granted to. projects 1,496. Innovation and Technology Fund. Showing significant strides made by faculty in advancing their creativity and enterprise, HKUST submitted 139 proposals to the Hong Kong government’s Innovation and Technology Fund. One third of them, 44 proposals received funding, totaling $ 194.5 million. Among these, Prof. Nancy IP (Life Science) was awarded $12.4 million to comprehensively analyze biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in the Chinese population and Prof. FU Kit-Yu (Life Science) attracted $9 million to explore the inhibition of EphA4 signaling for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders. Prof. YU Weichuan (Electronic and Computer Engineering) will receive $9.5 million to investigate the use of imaging and genomic data to predict metastasis of breast cancer after treatment.. Hong Kong Public Policy Research Funding Scheme. Among HKUST proposals supported by the Hong Kong Public Policy Research Funding Scheme were two topical projects on Hong Kong society and social media, respectively. Prof. Jean HONG (Social Science) received $0.39 million to examine the origins of distrust in a study looking at Hong Kong citizens with different experiences of violence related to the city’s social incidents while Prof. Franziska Barbara KELLER (Social Science) was awarded $0.44 million to study information sharing on social media platforms.. Outside Hong Kong. Funding from beyond Hong Kong was also obtained for individual projects, with Prof. CHEN Yu (Life Science) being awarded $12.3 million from the Ministry of Science and Technology to perform multidimensional analysis of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in the Chinese population. On a collective basis, the University’s established mainland research platforms in Nansha and Shenzhen secured numerous projects. HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute (SRI) was awarded 28 projects, with total funding of RMB68.4 million. Fok Ying Tung Research Institute (FYTRI) in Nansha received funding for 38 government projects and 39 commercial research projects, with a total contract value of RMB57.8 million and RMB44.5 million, respectively.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 19 LAB TO MARKET. PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER DISCOVERY AND APPLICATIONS. HKUST added to its research institutes, centers, and laboratories in 2019-20, building greater capacity to advance emerging areas in biotechnology as well as pressing global issues such as sustainability and aging through an expanding range of partnerships and joint endeavors. To broaden the University’s knowledge transfer capabilities, a number of collaborative innovation platforms were established and agreements drawn up with mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area and other parts of the country (see P.35).. In August 2019, the University announced the establishment of The Li Ka Shing Institute of Synthetic Biology, the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The cross- disciplinary field uses big data from genetics and related fields to explore interactions between biological and non- biological disciplines, including physics, computer science and math, chemistry and engineering. The Institute, supported by a $500 million donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, will seek research breakthroughs ranging from biomolecules to cells, and applications that can be turned into products promoting public health and environmental sustainability.. Recognition of the University’s pioneering work in ocean science led to two major strategic partnerships with mainland institutions. The University was identified by the Qingdao National Lab for Marine Science and Technology to jointly organize the interdisciplinary Center for Ocean Research in Hong Kong and Macau. The Center will seek to tackle challenges in ocean science technology linked to regional and global issues, with sustainable development of the ocean economy, ecosystem, and environment in the Greater Bay Area forming a key priority.. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Lab (Guangzhou) also invited HKUST to establish a Hong Kong Branch, which will focus on interdisciplinary marine scientific research into the health and safety of marine ecosystems in the Greater Bay Area and South China Sea.. Moving from sea to sky, HKUST’s significant contribution to air quality improvements, locally and regionally, received a boost with the setting up of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, led by Jinan University and HKUST and funded by Guangdong Province’s Department of Science and Technology. A major component is a world- leading Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Analytics Laboratory at HKUST, expected to be operational in 2021. This will have trace-level analytical capability to narrow down contributing sources and enable better control and reduction of ozone and particulate matter pollution.. On the healthcare front, the Greater Bay Area Joint Laboratory of Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory System was established with members of the Division of Environment and Sustainability as co-principal investigators, along with other Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou institutions and a private diagnostics laboratory. The Joint Lab will provide a regional platform to address basic and clinical research on infectious diseases, to create better diagnostic tools and treatments, prevention and control strategies. HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute participated in the establishment of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Research Institute of Brain Science, which is shaped around a collaborative partnership of the region’s premier biomedical institutes. Meanwhile, longstanding collaboration between University faculty and a major mainland hospital in Shanghai resulted in the HKUST-Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Joint Research Center for Brain Science to deepen existing research and develop novel therapies that can halt or reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.. Widening scope more generally, HKUST signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guangzhou University to establish a Joint Research Collaboration Fund Scheme, with each university providing $500,000 per year, initially for three years, to support joint research initiatives.. 20. Birth of a Start-up. HKUST biotechnology start-up SPES Tech, which is dedicated to developing next-generation hydrogel solutions for life science, bioprocess and regenerative medicine, demonstrates how the University’s innovation pathway provides valuable step-by-step support to its budding entrepreneurs. Starting from IP protection and receiving the Yeung Wing Yee Entrepreneur Fund and HKUST’s Proof-of-Concept Fund (later repositioned as Bridge Gap Fund), the student team behind the company was accepted for the University’s U*STAR Award, the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities, and most recently the HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund. Through these different schemes, the students gained access to funding, lab resources and equipment, and the highly important impetus of encouragement. SPES Tech has now been offered a place on Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s Incu-Bio Programme.. Regarding social development, research centers directed by School of Humanities and Social Science faculty brought the launch of the Global China Center, seeking to unpack the complexities of China in a global context through multidisciplinary research, and the interdisciplinary Center for Aging Science, focused on understanding health aging and technology-based solutions. The School was also chosen to host the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China’s Hong Kong branch to build collaborations.. FROM PATENTS TO PRODUCTS. When research leads to knowledge and technologies with potential for commercialization, it is then the turn of the University’s knowledge transfer unit to provide valuable assistance in protecting and promoting HKUST intellectual property (IP), transferring knowledge and technologies to industry, and fueling entrepreneurship among the University community.. April 2020 brought the launch of the $5 million Bridge Gap Fund, formerly the Proof-of-Concept Fund, to facilitate technology validation at the pre-commercialization stage through funding support. The fund received 34 applications and supported 11 of the projects up to $500,000 each. Generating further opportunities, the Technology Start- up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU), launched by the Hong Kong government’s Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), attracted 43 applications from HKUST. in the funding exercise in the reporting year, bringing the total number of applications for TSSSU funding in the last seven years to 270. With 14 start-ups recommended to the ITC by the HKUST vetting committee, this brings the total number of HKUST affiliated TSSSU start-ups to 62. Around 70% of the TSSSU start-ups are using HKUST technology, and about 58% of these start-ups have joined incubation programs organized by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited. Majority of the TSSSU start-ups, around 76%, received external funding.. HKUST’s own Entrepreneurship Program for promising early-stage technology start-ups had led to 39 active firms by 2019-20. The year also brought the launch of the HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund with $50 million funding to support early-stage University start-ups. The fund operates a co-investment model and invited venture capital funds, incubators/accelerators, and family offices to participate. Twelve private matching partners are now fully engaged and 12 international advisors are on board. The fund has currently invested in three University start-ups: Dayta AI, D-Engraver Ltd., and SPES Tech (see box below).. Meanwhile, the HKUST Futian Base in Shenzhen was readied for use for R&D activities, entrepreneurship, incubation, and professional training programs. Incubator Blue Bay X got underway on one of the floors and five start-up companies founded by HKUST academics or alumni have moved in.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 21 LAB TO MARKET. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS. Statistical Genomics Insights. 3D Topological Matter Simulation with Ultracold Atoms. Prof. YANG Can (Mathematics) deepened understanding of the architecture of complex traits and diseases in the human genome by developing statistical methods to quantify the regulatory role of genetic variants, identify cell type-specific risk-CpG sites in epigenome-wide association studies, and predict disease risks to stratify high-risk individuals. The methods effectively accounted for confounding factors in biomedical data analysis, greatly improving statistical power in detecting biological signals of interest, and established rigorous theories to guarantee model identifiability and algorithm convergence. These studies have been published in Nature Communications, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics, and Annals of Statistics.. Prof. JO Gyu-Boong (Physics) and his group unveiled the world’s first quantum simulation of 3D topological matter with ultracold atoms, a breakthrough that may eventually lead to the development of less noisy and more robust quantum devices. The team realized a 3D spin– orbit coupled semimetal in an engineered optical lattice filled with ultracold fermions, and observed a collection of singular points (also known as a nodal-line) in the band structure. The topological semimetal with emergent symmetry allows us to detect nodal lines by effectively reconstructing the 3D topological band from a series of measurements of integrated spin textures. The novel detection technique can be applied generally to explore 3D topological states of similar symmetries. The research was published in Nature Physics.. Green Oxidation. The research group of Prof. TONG Rongbiao (Chemistry) reported a unified, efficient halide catalysis for three oxidation reactions of indoles using oxone as the terminal oxidant, namely oxidative rearrangement of tetrahydro- β-carbolines, indole oxidation to 2-oxindoles, and Witkop oxidation. The halide catalysis protocol represented a general, green oxidation method and is expected to be used widely due to advantages including waste prevention, less hazardous chemical synthesis, and sustainable halide catalysis. The work appeared in Nature Communications.. 22. Artificial Eye on the Future. Prof. FAN Zhiyong (Electronic and Computer Engineering) created the first spherical artificial eye with 3D retina, bringing fresh hope to the visually impaired and the potential for humanoid robots to see. The Electrochemical Eye replicates the structure of a natural eye using nanowires and external electronic circuitry to enable high-density sensors on a curved surface. The resulting biomimetic eye prototype has 30 times more sensors on the artificial retina than the human eye and may thus offer sharper vision in the future, along with extra functions such as the ability to detect infrared radiation in darkness. The research was published in Nature.. Rechargeable Liquid Fuels. Prof. ZHAO Tianshou (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and his team developed an environmentally friendly rechargeable liquid fuel to power electric vehicles in minutes, a substantial enhancement on existing battery technology that usually takes hours. The “e-fuel” is carbon neutral if charged with solar or wind energy and can be readily dispatched to the power grid in addition to recharging vehicles. One of the approaches in cross- university research, led by HKUST, is based around the. development of a stable lithium-sulfur battery and its transformation to a flow system (e-fuel). Work is ongoing, with selected results already published in Nature Communications.. III-V Semiconductor Laser Advance. Prof. Kei May LAU (Electronic and Computer Engineering) and her team achieved a significant global optoelectronic advance by developing the first bufferless telecommunication wavelength (1.5 micro-meter) III-V semiconductor lasers grown directly on industry-standard 220-nanometer silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. The breakthrough heralds the way to the long-sought goal of fully integrated silicon (Si)-based photonic integrated circuits with on-chip laser sources, and brings major improvements to the infrastructure of high-speed network communications in data centers a step closer. The findings were published in Optica.. Satellite Estimate Effectiveness. A team comprising Prof. Abhiroop MUKHERJEE, Prof. George PANAYOTOV, and PhD student SHON Janghoon (Finance) measured the extent to which commercial satellite-based estimates affected the value of a government macro announcement, using asset price impact. Their identification relied on cloud cover that prevented satellites from observing economic activity at a few key hubs. The researchers found that some satellite estimates are now so effective that markets are no longer surprised by government announcements, pointing to a future in which the resolution of macro uncertainty is smoother, and governments have less control over macro information. The study won Best Paper Award from the CFA Institute’s Asia-Pacific Research Exchange and CFA Society Melbourne. An article in the Journal of Financial Economics is forthcoming.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 23 LAB TO MARKET. Analyzing Disasters. Prof. Jenny Leigh SMITH (Humanities) co-edited a special “Focus” section on disasters in the history of science journal, Isis (March 2020). The section examined five natural and human- created disasters and ways that science and technology have been used to describe and quantify the scope and scale of these events over the past two centuries. The interpretive analysis by the co-editors focused on the long legacy of contesting science and technology as ways of understanding crises, and the enduring problems of poverty and racial prejudice in the history of disaster mitigation.. (CONT.). Supply Chain Networks and Sustainability. Prof. KIM Yong Hyun (Management) investigated how firms can make their value chain more sustainable and accountable. The study followed on from his prior research on lack of supply chain visibility, particularly companies’ inability to completely trace their production process which is the main culprit behind firms’ inability to promote sustainability practices along their supply chains. In this subsequent study, he looked at when firms disengaged from controversial suppliers and how a high level of supply chain visibility could help firms design a robust and resilient global value chain.. Recommendation Systems in Retail Channels. Prof. LEE Dongwon (Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management) explored how online retailers have chosen to extend the use of recommendation systems from PC-based sites to the mobile channel and whether they provide the same functionality and efficacy. Through randomized field experiments, Prof. Lee showed recommendation systems are more effective in mobile settings, suggesting the higher search cost imposed by the mobile device’s physical constraints could be offset by the recommendation system, which allows users to explore related products in an interactive manner. The study was published in Information Systems Research.. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Social Movement and Identity Change. The year brought the completion of the Community and Population Aging in Hong Kong: An Extension of the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics (HKPSSD) collaborative study, led by Prof. WU Xiaogang (Social Science, Public Policy). This fourth wave of the HKPSSD survey encompassed 2,000 households, 3,407 adults and 412 children, together with a refresher sample survey of 850 households and 1,140 adults. The team analyzed the panel data to explore the social and political consequences of housing ownership, impact of Occupy Central on subjective well-being, and the impact of changing identities and the social movement in Hong Kong over the past decade. Prof. Wu presented findings related to the analysis at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and Haverford College in Fall 2019.. 24. Turbulence Model for Weather Simulation between sulfate and, nitrogen oxides and revealed three formation mechanism regimes corresponding to the three distinct roles that nitrogen oxides play in sulfate production depending on the chemical surroundings. The work, published in Nature Geoscience, offers policymakers new insights into ways to tackle sulfate pollution that lead to improved air quality.. Green Finance Center. Turbulence parameterization plays a critical role in the simulation of many weather regimes. Prof. SHI Xiaoming (Environment and Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering), together with collaborators from the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the US, developed an advanced implicit algebraic model of turbulence to improve the simulation of clouds and atmospheric boundary layer in numerical weather forecast. The research was published in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.. Nitrogen Oxides and Haze. Prof. YU Jianzhen (Environment and Sustainability, Chemistry) led research into the role of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the rise and fall of airborne sulfates in hazy air pollution, providing the first study examining the multiple roles of nitrogen oxides in affecting oxidants that enable this set of chemical reactions. The team developed a conceptual framework to delineate the relationship. Prof. QI Ye (Public Policy) has set out to compare Hong Kong with other green finance centers and identify unique pathways to quality green financial services in the city. Deliverables include policy briefs and recommendation reports, a green finance policy framework, and a road map to guide Hong Kong’s transformation into a green finance center. It also seeks to support green development in the Greater Bay Area. The project is being carried out in collaboration with multiple institutions in Hong Kong and Mainland China and is funded by the Hong Kong government’s Policy and Innovation Coordination Office.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 25 LAB TO MARKET. HKUST faculty members race against time to deliver multiple technologies and give insights to address COVID-19’s impact as the crisis has evolved, and proactively assist prevention, mitigation, and protection to people in Hong Kong and globally.. FIGHTING COVID-19. CHECK Smart fever screening system: Prof. Richard SO (Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics) combined artificial intelligence, real-time tracking of faces, and decision analytics to detect virus carriers at Hong Kong International Airport and other major border points.. TEST Portable diagnostic device: using the latest microfluidic chip technology, Prof. WEN Weijia (Physics) built the world’s fastest portable COVID-19 detector by the time it was launched, reducing the time needed to reliably detect carriers to 40 minutes. It was deployed in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas.. FEB 2020. MAR 2020. TRACK Quarantine compliance: Prof. Gary CHAN (Computer Science and Engineering) developed an automated geo-fencing technology which, when turned into a mobile app and paired with an electronic Bluetooth wristband worn by a quarantined person, could tell whether the quarantine order was being adhered to and alert the authorities if not.. MITIGATE Driverless vehicles: autonomous vehicles designed by Prof. LIU Ming (Electronic and Computer Engineering) and equipped with all-terrain 3D mapping and large-scale visual and sensor navigation reduced human exposure by delivering food and supplies during lockdowns in Mainland China.. DISINFECT Super-effective sanitizer: Prof. YEUNG King-Lun (Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Prof. Joseph KWAN Kai- Cho (Environment and Sustainability) rolled out their non- toxic and environmentally-friendly antimicrobial coating that can kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses within a minute by killing them on contact and preventing them from colonizing surfaces. It has been used to protect schools, elderly homes, government buildings, among other venues, in Hong Kong.. 26. STUDY Impact of mask-wearing: Prof. De Kai (Computer Science and Engineering) co-led an international interdisciplinary team in developing theoretical models predicting the impact of mask-wearing over time, finding universal mask-wearing plays a major role in suppressing the spread or second wave of the virus.. STUDY SARS-CoV-2 transmission mechanism: An aerodynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in two hospitals in Wuhan, Mainland China, by Prof. NING Zhi (Environment and Sustainability), focused on understanding the mechanism of its airborne transmission. Based on findings, the study documented the first real-world evidences of the existence of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol, and provided scientific support to reduce risk of exposure to the virus.. APR 2020. MAY 2020. JUN 2020. IDENTIFY Vaccine target recommendations: Prof. Matthew MCKAY (Electronic and Computer Engineering) and his research team shed light on vaccine targets for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and created a first-of-its-kind web- based platform (COVIDep.ust.hk) for real-time reporting of immune target recommendations for guiding vaccine development.. SEARCH Staying informed: Prof. Pascale FUNG (Electronic and Computer Engineering) led a team of postgraduates and software engineers to build a machine learning-based system with natural language processing question-answering techniques and summarization capabilities for mining scientific literature on COVID-19, helping the medical community find answers to COVID-related enquiries.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 27 LAB TO MARKET. participated. A new 18-month project, in partnership with EDB, started over the year, is now providing workshops on research project methodologies and STEM-related disciplines for primary and secondary school learners. Academy-related activities for school students included building a drivable electric vehicle and an introduction to drone technology, including piloting different drones.. The STEM+E Consortium, comprising the School of Business and Management, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and six secondary schools, continued to raise skills and awareness on environmental protection, technology commercialization, and adoption. Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 students from 11 schools participated in the Consortium’s program from January to May 2020, giving student teams valuable experience of applying STEM to business solutions.. The STEM@HKUST platform (https://stem.ust.hk) continued its role in raising awareness of STEM fields among junior high school students in Hong Kong, offering different kinds of learning materials such as articles and videos covering a wide variety of topics including COVID-19, chirality, water reclamation, and 3D printing.. CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES Activities with the community broadened and deepened as the University built stronger connections with different sectors. Extending STEM Knowledge and Activities. Igniting a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an important part of drawing young people to these fields for higher study and as careers. In line with this, the School of Science formed a Science Busking Team and trained its student leaders in communication and the design and implementation of popular science activities in Fall 2019 in collaboration with Hong Kong Science Museum and HKUST Center for Language Education. With the onset of COVID-19 that affect exchange in person, the team set up an Instagram page in February 2020 to promote science to the public by posting fun fact articles and initiating engagements with followers.. In further science communication ventures, Prof. David BANFIELD (Life Science) participated in Croucher Science Week, organized by the Croucher Foundation, in which 12 of its scholars received science and communication training and then visited primary and secondary schools to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.. Under the Academy for Bright Future Young Engineers, supported by the Bright Future Charitable Foundation, engineering academics continued their 12-month secondary school teacher workshop series on multidisciplinary knowledge in STEM education and how to teach it, in partnership with the Education Bureau (EDB). Some 1,200 teachers from over 300 secondary schools. INSPIRING ENTHUSIASM FOR STEM. 28. https://stem.ust.hk. Raising Eco-awareness. The Department of Ocean Science’s Embrace Blue Lantau project, supported and funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and Environmental Campaign Committee, led to interactive STEM-related teaching and learning aids, and a mobile app for eco-guided tours, to train university students to run activities for the public promoting biodiversity and coastal conservation on Lantau Island. The Department also teamed up with the Hong Kong government’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to co-organize a summer course on marine ecology and conservation for senior secondary school students.. Community discussion on climate change was further energized when the HKUST Institute for the Environment co-organized and coordinated events featuring two co-chairs of the prominent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, together with HSBC and the Environment Bureau and Hong Kong Observatory. The IPCC co-chairs shared findings from its reports on global warming, climate change and land, and the ocean and cryosphere (the areas of the earth’s surface where water is in solid form) with decision-makers and thought leaders over two days in October 2019.. Making Real Change. To provide social service opportunities while adhering to COVID-19 distancing measures, the University’s community service initiative, HKUST Connect, adopted digital platforms to make engagement accessible to University volunteers regardless of where they are physically located. One example was HKUST Global Days of Changemaking 2020, which took place online from April to May 2020, drawing over 550 participants. To foster an “Everyone a Changemaker” culture on campus, students, alumni, faculty members, staff, and family members acted as advocates to call for action on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Actions included the adoption of more than 560 trees in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest to support smallholders and address climate change. Mapathon sessions also took place. These sessions involved over 100 students and alumni from nine cities around the world in assisting humanitarian organizations in the developing world to digitally map their most vulnerable areas for better crisis response.. Regional NGO Partnerships. Beyond Hong Kong, the University’s SIGHT student teams deployed innovative projects with different NGO partners in two Cambodian cities: the MedEasy electronic health record system for mobile clinics with One-2-One Cambodia in Phnom Penh; and a smart road safety project with Homestay Volunteer Teachers Organization in Siem Reap. The SIGHT unit, under the School of Engineering, is an undergraduate innovation platform to inspire students from different majors and backgrounds to devise affordable solutions for global health issues.. IMPROVING LIVES TOGETHER. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 29 CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. Fintech Manpower Study. To address the growing demand for Fintech talent in Hong Kong, researchers at the School of Business and Management completed and shared the findings of a major industry-wide study on “Fintech Talent Development, Competency and Manpower” with industry stakeholders and the media. The first-of-its-kind study, led by Prof. TAM Kar-Yan (Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management), outlines 10 observations about the fintech industry, makes 10 recommendations on talent development, and identifies 13 core competencies for fintech professionals. The findings are based on a series of executive interviews, surveys, validation sessions, and the support and participation of more than 80 fintech organizations.. Executive Dialogues. Partnerships between the School of Business and Management and the Asia Society in Hong Kong led to informative talks on entrepreneurship and corporate management. These included Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA’s inaugural Leadership Series involving a face-to- face discussion with leading entrepreneurs on education trends and economic shifts for future opportunities in the Greater Bay Area; and an online forum featuring three female corporate CEOs who transitioned to the art sector. The “Starting Young, Starting Smart” event encouraged closer ties between entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and India.. WIDENING BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES. Numerous activities to strengthen awareness of local and South China cultural heritage among students and the community took place over the year, organized and assisted by the South China Research Center, under the School of Humanities and Social Science. The Center has played a major role in generating and nurturing Hong Kong’s inventory list of items under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Initiatives in 2019-20 included organizing the first Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival, located in the eponymous centuries-old Catholic Hakka village in Sai Kung; a student-conducted oral history and video project researching different residential groups (elderly, physically challenged, new migrants, among others) in Ngau Tau Kok; and the formation of Hong Kong Tin Hau Festival Association and Hong Kong Cheongsam Association, together with a submission to add the Tin Hau Festival and the cheongsam to the fifth National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.. EXPLORING CULTURAL HERITAGE. 30. Support through donations from the community indicated the strength and diversity of ties between HKUST and the wider society. Under the Hong Kong government’s Eighth Matching Grant Scheme, the University collected a total of $1.147 billion in donations and subsequently received $600 million matching funds from the government, the maximum amount possible under the scheme.. Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. gave a donation to support research and education, including a professorship and joint research institute, while a gift from the Seal of Love Charitable Foundation will see the setting up of the Seal of Love Foundation Student Innovative Service Fund. The University has named a wing of its Academic Building, the Seal of Love Charitable Foundation Wing, in appreciation of the gift. The University also received a donation from the estate of HKUST’s Founding Council Chairman to establish the Sze-Yuen Chung Fund. Sir CHUNG Sze- Yuen, who served HKUST for over two decades in different roles, played a crucial part in HKUST’s establishment and remained a constant champion of the University. He passed away in 2018.. DONATIONS FOR EDUCATION. Regarding campus development, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust pledged a donation to support the construction of the UG Residence. The forward-looking complex will offer more than 1,500 places in four residential buildings to undergraduates from different backgrounds to gain experience of campus living in a smart and sustainable living and learning environment. It will now be named the Jockey Club i-Village, emphasizing the concept of an enterprising global community, with the “i” representing the dual ideas of internationalization and innovation.. H KU. ST A N. N U. A L R. EPO R. T 2019-2020. 31 CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. Fostering an HKUST Community Spirit. To provide insights into a variety of careers and expand vision on possible pathways following graduation, the first Alumni Market under the HKUST Full Circle Program took place on campus in September 2019 to celebrate the creativity and versatility of the University’s entrepreneurs. The Program enables alumni enterprises to promote and collect feedback on their services, products, and technology on campus. A one-day visit to HKUST facilities in Shenzhen also demonstrated the support available to alumni start-ups in the Greater Bay Area and provided a tour of prominent companies, including Tencent and DJI.. Over the year, the alumni network expanded to 42 groups in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas, with close to 100 events held to keep connections strong. Meanwhile, the Alumni Endowment Fund saw a tremendous response in 2019-20, raising over $20 million and bringing the total raised since launch in 2012 to more than $48 million. The fund seeks projects that can further enhance the student experience at HKUST, ranging from athletic scholarships and community service awards to emergency funding.. ALUMNI ACTIVITIES Convocation and Alumni Association The HKUST Convocation continued to serve as a bridge between the University, alumni, and the public, with special focus placed on developing a care pack. Its Standing Committee co-organized focus groups and meetings with different parties to have a grasp of the needs of students with the aim of promoting mental health and well-being among them. The HKUST Alumni Association moved ahead with its “Alumni Inspire Alumni” mission to strengthen cohesion and explore further membership benefits. Among contributions to the wider community, the Association held a number of caring programs, including voluntary services for the elderly and children, alongside seminars on IT and personal development.. Contributing Citizens. Alumni were recognized for their service and achievements over the year. Among them were: Mr. LEE Shing-Put (Bronze Bauhinia Star), Mr. Angus LUK, Mr. Timothy NG, Mr. Winston WONG (all Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2020 List), Mr. Mark MAK (2019 ICT Startup Grand Award), Mr. Alexander LAM (2019 ICT Smart Living Grand Award), Prof. Craig YU (National Science Foundation CAREER Award), and Mr. Samson CHU (Hong Kong Service Awards 2019/ East Week). Various alumni entrepreneurs also received accolades at the FinTech Awards 2019 organized by etnet.. 32. FIGHTING COVID-19. Safeguarding Public Health. The Multilevel Antimicrobial Polymer (MAP-1) coating technology, developed by Prof. YEUNG King-Lun (Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Prof. Joseph KWAN Kai- Cho (Environment and Sustainability), gives surfaces long- term protection from microbial contamination and helps keep individual and community in Hong Kong and Mainland China safe in the time of pandemic (see P.26). Partnerships with Lee Hysan Foundation and Swire Group brought MAP-1 protection to the needy and disadvantaged in Hong Kong. The antiviral filters used as core components of air purifiers were donated to mainland hospitals in Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen as well as over 40 Shenzhen schools to help combat COVID-19.. Prof. Jason CHAN (Chemistry) appeared in television programs to explain the science behind COVID-19 preventative measures and to provide chemistry lessons to secondary students when school classes were suspended. In addition, he worked with a team of undergraduate volunteers and St. James’ Settlement, an NGO, in preparing over 5,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, which were distributed to those in need.. In other contributions to hand hygiene, the South China Research Center, under the School of Humanities and Social Science, initiated a workshop for volunteers to make hand sanitizer for distribution to residents in Ngau Tau Kok. Some 800 bottles were produced. Meanwhile, HKUST. Connect collected over 2,000 hand sanitizers and 5,000 disposable surgical masks to donate to the community through partner NGOs, benefiting over recipients.. Exploring Public Policy Challenges. In March 2020, an open online seminar on “Crisis Management and Lessons from the COVID-19 Crises” took place online. The seminar was co-organized by the Division of Publ