Hong Kong

Electron microscopes have long been indispensable tools in scientific research, offering unparalleled resolution and magnification capabilities. However, current electron microscopy technologies face significant limitations, including high cost, large size, strong radiation damage to samples through interaction with the electron beam, and the need for cryogenic temperatures. A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is working on a new quantum electron microscope (QEM) to eliminate interaction between the electron beam and sample. At this stage, the team is using partial key components of QEM to design a compact hybrid transmission and scanning electron microscope that can operate at room temperature, ushering in a new era for electron microscopes. The CityUHK team plans to manufacture and commercialise this groundbreaking innovation within three years.

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) debuted four projects at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) 2024, focusing on healthcare, sustainability, clean energy, and biomedical research. The CityUHK teams achieved outstanding results, winning five awards, including one Semi-Grand Prix and four Gold Medals.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong participated in the Times Higher Education’s Digital Universities Asia 2024 conference, held from 1 to 3 July in Bali, Indonesia, where Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, delivered a keynote talk and took part in a roundtable discussion, contributing valuable insights to this prestigious annual event. This year, the conference focused on transforming academic institutions into more accessible and inclusive environments, and pointed out the current groundbreaking innovations at the intersection of academic progress and technological advancement. The conference is an important platform where leaders in higher education, industry, and policy exchange ideas on leveraging cutting-edge digital tools and technologies.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong has achieved encouraging results in the latest Research Grants Council (RGC) funding round for the General Research Fund (GRF), Early Career Scheme (ECS), and Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS). Lingnan’s research performance is widely acknowledged with a total of HK$24.4 million granted for 39 projects, the highest sum over the years and a 17 per cent increase over last year’s HK$20.8 million. Seven of these projects will receive more than or close to HK$1 million.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) held the Award Ceremony for its HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition (HK Tech 300 SEA Competition) on 27 June 2024. 10 start-ups from five countries across the Southeast Asia region and Hong Kong topped over 100 teams in the region, and were awarded Angel Fund investment of up to HK$1 million each from the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, HK Tech 300.

The first-ever Lingnan-Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy, organised jointly by Lingnan University in Hong Kong and Yuanpei College of Peking University (PKU), held a seven-day Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Camp-cum-STEM Competition from 22 to 28 June. Thirty of the best students from both universities formed five teams to compete on various innovative and entrepreneurial smart green technological projects. After a tight race, the project “Sustainable Green Building” team won the championship prize, and the chance to be nominated for the Lingnan University Entrepreneurship Fund, and will be put up for an application for seed or incubation funds.

Lingnan University’s Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall (CYS Hall) curates Sensing Things - Phase II from now until November, exhibiting about 30 Chinese paintings and ceramics dating from the Song Dynasty to the 20th century from the Chamber of Young Snow Collection. The guided tour is free of charge, and CYS Hall will also hold two “Hands-on Journey of Traditional Ceramic Art: Porcelain Decoration” workshops in July, where participants create their own ceramic masterpieces. The public can register for free, but space is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lingnan University recently held an agreement signing ceremony on campus to mark the donation of HK$100 million by the Hopson Education Charitable Funds Limited towards establishing a university development fund and supporting Lingnan University to cultivate research-oriented talents.

To propose a deeper understanding and appreciation of Hong Kong's urban landscape, Lingnan University is proud to present a tripartite exhibition at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) from 22 June to 30 June 2024 with three independent themes: "Unfold City", "Beyond Fonts, Beyond Signboards", and "C-Lab: Laboratory for Cultural Hybridisation". Works displayed are by 18 artists based in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and include The.Plumber.King at Tai Nam Street by Hong Kong's best-known graffiti artist and plumber, Yim Chiu-tong, who has already taken part in many major exhibitions, as well as Shun Hing Restaurant by local illustrator and silhouette artist Wai Wai. The exhibition leads the audience to explore, understand, and appreciate the urban landscape of Hong Kong from a contemporary art perspective.

On the occasion of World Environment Day today (5 June), the Science Unit of Lingnan University and Friends of the Earth (HK) (FoE (HK)) have signed a partnership agreement to launch the first Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance & ESG Analytics for executives of higher education institutions in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and aligned with the CESGA global certification. Acting in response to our era of digital transformation, this executive certificate training programme not only explores the concepts of Sustainable Finance, but also incorporates Lingnan’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) analytics, reflecting the global shift towards Sustainable Finance and the increasing integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in financial decision-making.

The traditional optimal audio experience depended on the interplay between space, speakers and music carriers, such as CDs or vinyl records. Invisible Tech, a local start-up specialising in acoustic design, uses recycled wine crates, wood waste and reclaimed furniture to produce a range of speakers. With the support of HK Tech 300 of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), Invisible Tech worked with CityUHK audio technology researchers to develop a sound system tailored for the modern living environment and habits. The system is designed to provide users with immersive surround sound music enjoyment.

Lingnan University is proud to announce the appointment of illustrious physicist and Nobel laureate, Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, as Honorary Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS). Prof Ting was given an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Science, honoris causa) by Lingnan University and visited the campus to host the University Assembly last year, where he lectured on his ongoing space experiments, inspiring the faculty and students alike with his dedication to scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.

To mitigate global warming, the Hong Kong Government is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. A relatively concentrated energy and resource consumption industry, catering's carbon emissions cannot be overlooked, and Lingnan University's Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS) recently released a series of Hong Kong Catering Industry Carbon Neutrality Challenge reports. Their survey found that over 90 per cent of consumers are willing to patronise low-carbon restaurants, but few respondents understand the meaning of carbon footprint. Restaurant managers said that high costs and technical difficulties are the most common problems in implementing low-carbon operations.

Lingnan University signed multiple significant strategic cooperation framework agreements yesterday (28 May) with Rizhao City, Shandong Province, Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co, Ltd. (Shandong Hi-Speed Group), Shandong Huge Dental Material Co., Ltd., and Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI). These collaborations aim to leverage each party’s unique strengths in talent, research, and industry. Lingnan will conduct research projects with partner institutions, promote collaborative innovation, develop new quality productive forces, establish new research and development (R&D) institutions, accelerate the commercialisation of technological achievements, and cultivate a new generation of exceptional talent.

The Council of Lingnan University, in consultation with the Court, has approved the appointment of Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man as the Vice-President (Administration) of Lingnan University for a term of five years, effective from 28 October 2024. Mr Chan will report to the President and provide strategic oversight and planning of the University’s administrative resources and operations. Benefiting from diverse management experience in the public, corporate and academic domains, he will directly oversee the operations of three administrative units, namely the Finance Office (FO), the Office of Campus Development and Management (OCDM), and the Human Resources Office (HRO), and may take on further responsibilities.

Bicycle sharing has become a green travel option for city dwellers in recent years. However, the initial launch of the service in Hong Kong was met with controversies, such as road obstruction and random parking. Locobike is currently the only bike-sharing brand in Hong Kong, and its success is attributed to the team’s focus on proper fleet management. Through the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), Locobike can accurately locate its bikes and provide the team with real-time instructions on how to deploy and maintain them. This strikes a balance between social responsibility and the public’s need for mobility and helps society reduce carbon emissions in the long term.

The 2024 Pujiang Innovation Forum, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, was successfully held in Hong Kong on 27 April 2024. During the Forum, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) signed a strategic cooperation agreement, announcing their plans to support the development of start-ups of both institutions in Hong Kong and Shanghai. This will be achieved through the provision of space and incubation, as well as developmental and promotional support in the Mainland for start-ups incubated by CityU’s HK Tech 300 programme. The agreement also covers active exchange and collaboration with the Academy of Innovation at CityU and enhancing the effectiveness of scientific research results transformation at both universities.

To improve innovation and technology education, Lingnan University and Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, have announced a partnership and recently held a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at Lingnan University. The MoU, a milestone in their collaboration, was signed by Prof Leng Mingming, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Chair Professor of Operations and Risk Management of Lingnan University, and Mr Leo Liu, Vice-President of International Business and General Manager of North APAC Region at Alibaba Cloud.

Lingnan University held the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) conferment ceremony today (20 May). Prof Alain Bensoussan, Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and the Director of International Centre for Decision and Risk Analysis (ICDRiA) at the University of Texas at Dallas, had the title of Lingnan Fellow conferred upon him, and Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy of Lingnan University, and Prof Tsui Kwok-leung, Professor of the Grado Industrial and Systems Engineering of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), were named Senior Lingnan Scholars in recognition of their important achievements in scholarly accomplishments.

The finals of the 2023/24 Territory-wide Junior Secondary Chinese History and Culture Quiz, organised by the Hong Kong Government Education Bureau (EDB) and co-organised by the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme (HKSCHRP) of Lingnan University, were held on campus today (18 May). Officiating guests were Ms Teresa Chan Mo-ngan, Deputy Secretary of the EDB,and Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations) and Co-ordinator of the HKSCHRP. ProfVincent Leung Sueh-han, Head and Associate Professor of the Department of History at Lingnan University, Prof Tam Ka-chai, Associate Professor of the Department of History at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Dr Fan Wing-chung, Senior Lecturer of HKBU, and Dr Law Yuen-han, Lecturer I at the Department of History at HKBU, judged the competition.

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, was a member of the delegation of Hong Kong higher education institutions in Beijing for three days from 8 to 10 May to visit the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology. President Qin offered his insights into encouraging students' patriotism, aligning them with national development goals, and integrating the arts and sciences, in order to nurture a generation of young people who value our country and Hong Kong.

The mini air purifier PureAura, designed and developed by Lingnan University's Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI), has received the 2024 iF Design Gold Award in the Product - Building Technology category. The iF Design Award is widely regarded as the Oscars of the design industry, and Lingnan University is the sole Hong Kong institution, and one of only eight universities worldwide, to be given this honour since the Gold Awards' inception in 1954.

The launch ceremony for the Lingnan-Yuanpei STEM Summer Academy (LYSSA), jointly organised by Lingnan University and Yuanpei College (Yuanpei) of Peking University (PKU), was held recently on the Lingnan campus. Over 50 experts, project advisors and students from both universities attended in person or virtually. A hub cultivating Hong Kong’s and Beijing’s innovative and entrepreneurial talents, LYSSA encourages students from both universities to transform their creative ideas into grant-winning business plans. At the same time, they are expected to acquire liberal arts qualities and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Academic, clinical and industry partners signed several MoUs with City University of Hong Kong at a special ceremony on 24 April to mark the establishment of the CityUHK Institute of Digital Medicine (IDM).

Oxygen is vital for both human and marine life survival. A few years ago, Dr Ng Chi-on, a graduate of the Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), together with his team, developed a new type of photo-sensor that can effectively monitor oxygen concentration in seawater and reduce the monitoring cost. The team subsequently established a start-up company, called “NerOcean”. In collaboration with government departments such as the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, NerOcean tested the sensors in five to six marine zones, aiming to develop a marine surveillance network – “Nerve of the Ocean” – in the long run upon mass production of the sensors. This is expected to result in a breakthrough in sustainable marine environment monitoring and fisheries production management.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong has participated in the two-day QS China Summit 2024 from 17 to 18 April in Shanghai to explore how universities can contribute to China’s global leadership in higher education. The main theme of the summit is “Remaining Distinct in Global Higher Ed: China’s Place in the New World of Education”. As part of efforts to strengthen Lingnan’s international visibility, the University hosted a President Panel Discussion titled "Fostering Distinction in Chinese Higher Education Through Digital Innovation". The Panel provided an exceptional platform for discussions on Chinese higher education within the rapidly evolving field of digital innovation.

The Department of Psychology of Lingnan University and the Department of Psychology of Renmin University of China (RUC) signed a new five-year cooperation agreement on 11 April 2024, marking the start of a fresh chapter. The agreement covers teaching exchanges, research collaboration, and professional development, and includes a sub-agreement on the Master's Degree Student Exchange Programme. The agreement will promote academic exchanges between the two departments, and further strengthen their partnership.

Algae, a kind of organism commonly found on the water surface, is a highly efficient carbon absorbent, which can capture more carbon dioxide (CO2) than trees. Alcarbo Technologies Limited (Alcarbo) is a biotechnology company incubated by the Seed Fund and Angel Fund of City University of Hong Kong (CityU)’s HK Tech 300. It cultivates microalgae using genetic mutation technology and uses its self-developed “photobioreactor system” (PBRs) and nanobubble technology to enhance the carbon capture capacity of microalgae. This allows microalgae to capture about 68 times the amount of CO2 of an equivalent area of ​​forest, making them “Super Carbon Capture” species.

Lingnan University’s Teaching and Learning Centre held its annual “Inno-GBA: Empowering education with Generative Artificial Intelligence tools” from 16 to 19 April. The four-day event examined the latest Generative AI (GAI) tools for teaching and learning in higher education, and sophisticated state-of-the-art GAI tools to facilitate academic research and student learning, and assist jobseekers. The first day of the event, which was conducted in hybrid mode, over 200 people came to hear leading professors from the main universities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and industry experts from high-tech companies speak.