Big Data

Lingnan University's science and innovation teams have achieved outstanding results at the 11th Silicon Valley International Invention Festival 2025 (SVIIF) in their first-ever participation. All 13 participating projects, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, and intelligent transportation, won awards, including 8 gold and 5 silver medals. One of the projects, the AI-based Fencing Training and Assessment System, led by Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), also received a special award ⸺ Prize of the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA), making Lingnan the Hong Kong higher education institution that won the highest number of total awards and gold medals at this year’s festival.

To promote equality in education and allow aspiring creators to learn about film production without physical equipment, a team from the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries at Lingnan University has spent two years developing CineSim, the world’s first cinematography simulation education software. CineSim enables hands-on filmmaking skills to be learnt easily using computer simulation and eliminating the need for professional studios and camera equipment. The project was supported by a subsidy of approximately HKD $800,000 from the University Grants Council (UGC), and is now freely available to all Lingnan staff and students. The team will market the software to secondary schools and the film production industry to encourage Hong Kong’s creative talents. In mid-June, the full version of CineSim was officially launched on Steam, one of the world’s largest digital game distribution platforms for PC gaming, a significant move into the international market.

Lingnan University, in partnership with Times Higher Education (THE), launched Digital Universities Asia 2025 on 8 July at its Tuen Mun campus. Held over two days, 8-9 July, the summit was themed “Powering social innovation with digital transformation”, and brought together more than 300 leading scholars, industry leaders, and policy experts from over 90 universities and 140 organisations worldwide. Participants looked at how emerging technologies, and particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can transform teaching and learning, and promote sustainability and social progress.

Researchers have explored how artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping scientists identify catalysts for methane pyrolysis, a reaction that produces hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong welcomes the Audit Report by the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) of the University Grants Committee (UGC) today, 27 June. The Audit Panel praises Lingnan’s robust governance and quality management systems for managing academic standards and academic quality, and commends their proactive approach to digital innovation as reflected in the Strategic Plan since the appointment of the President, Prof S. Joe Qin. A typical example of this is the School of Data Science (SDS), which opened in May 2024 to develop teaching and research in related areas.

- The simulator optimizes the distribution of computational and network resources in autonomous vehicles, increasing the feasibility of real-time accident prevention. - Based on DVFS optimization and dynamic off-loading between the vehicle, VEC, and cloud, it reduces energy consumption and latency simultaneously. It can also be used for various digital twin services. - Research results were published in IEEE Communications Magazine, the world’s leading journal in the field of communications.

To further expand collaboration with top-tier Mainland universities, a delegation led by the members of the Council and senior management of Lingnan University visited Beijing from 27 to 29 May for meetings with the Ministry of Education and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and also visited Tsinghua University and Peking University to foster new partnerships in higher education.

With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increasing environmental challenges, global catastrophic risks have gone beyond traditional natural disasters to raise controversial ethical issues. In view of this, the Hong Kong Catastrophic Risk Centre (HKCRC) of Lingnan University has introduced a new, free, online bilingual self-learning course on Ethics and Global Catastrophic Risks, taught by international authorities in philosophy and ethics. Designed to help people understand and cope with the complex landscape of global disaster risks through eight modules, the new programme, launched in late February this year, incorporates in-depth, real-life examples in AI, the environment, and the sciences, and has already attracted more than 8,000 participants from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Asia, the US, and Europe. It is now open to the public at no charge.

The world is paying attention to the impact of the trade war on various industries, and Lingnan University recently published a report titled "Data-Driven Job Search: Big Data Series Report on Hong Kong's Employment Market", analysing the employment risks and potential challenges in Hong Kong's labour market. This study used Artificial Intelligence (AI) models to examine more than 140,000 job advertisements in Hong Kong, suggesting that over 40 per cent of job vacancies are in traditional service sectors such as import-export, wholesale and retail, which are vulnerable to external environmental factors. While the strong trend of gig work in the retail industry accounts for approximately 20 per cent of positions, there is little demand for advanced technologies like AI, with less than two per cent of vacancies requiring such skills. The research team proposes that the government should assist workers in traditional service industries with their transitions, and provide targeted cross-industry skills training to improve employment competitiveness in the context of the present trade war economy.

To further strengthen Lingnan University’s global academic network, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University; Prof Bradley R. Barnes, Interim Associate Vice-President (Global Affairs) cum Director of Global Education; and Prof Li Jia, Associate Professor of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, visited several well-known universities in the UK respectively. The itinerary in early April, included Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the University of Sheffield, Queen Mary University of London, the University of York, the University of Surrey, Brunel University of London, the University of Kent and the University of Westminster. Several meetings took place with fruitful discussions, surrounding academic collaboration with these potential international partners.

Quasicrystals are intriguing materials with long-range atomic order that lack periodicity. It has been a longstanding question whether antiferromagnetism, while commonly found in regular crystals, is even possible in quasicrystals. In a new study, researchers have finally answered this question, providing the first definitive neutron diffraction evidence of antiferromagnetism in a real icosahedral quasicrystal. This discovery opens a new research area of quasiperiodic antiferromagnets, with potential applications in spintronics.

Lingnan University has achieved a historic milestone at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, winning a record-breaking number of five awards. A total of six groundbreaking inventions from Lingnan were showcased at the exhibition, earning one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury―the first time the University has achieved this honour―along with two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals, making the number of Lingnan University's participating and winning projects a record high.

Lingnan University held the conferment ceremony for the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) today, 11 April, welcoming three leading international scholars―Prof Chen Shiyi , President of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, and Prof Yang Qiang, Professor Emeritus of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), who were made Lingnan Fellows, and the title of Senior Lingnan Scholar was conferred on Prof Zhou Dingxuan, Professor and Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics of the University of Sydney—to recognise their important contributions to academic achievements.

Lingnan University Library has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fudan University Library at the Handan Campus, Fudan University. This MoU marks the first collaborative agreement between Lingnan and Fudan University, with the aim of fostering a closer partnership, harnessing complementary strengths, and facilitating in-depth exchanges across a wide array of academic and professional domains.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong is gaining ongoing recognition in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with more subjects being ranked, reinforcing its growing academic presence on the global stage. This year, the University has twice as many subjects recognised, increasing from five to ten, with new disciplines—Communication and Media Studies, Sociology, Modern Languages, Education and Training, and Business and Management Studies—being included. While some of the University's latest advancements have yet to be reflected in this round of rankings, these achievements reaffirm Lingnan's dedication to advancing teaching and research. With a strong commitment to integrating digital-age knowledge and innovation, the University continues to prepare for new heights in the future.

Researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design and Singapore Institute of Technology have developed an ontology to help digital forensic investigators and law enforcement agencies to investigate smart city infrastructure threats and cybercrimes.

In line with the HKSAR Government’s decision to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key industry, Lingnan University held Career Expo 2025 - Imagine, Innovate, Initiate, and Invent on campus from 11 to 14 March. This year’s Emerging AI-powered tools in job hunting zone allowed free access by local and non-local graduates to improve the design of their résumés, and to practise impressing mock interviewers in order to be more competitive in this digital era. The event attracted more than 130 local organisations and multinational corporations, a 30% increase over last year. A virtual career fair will continue until mid-April, to give participants more time to master their job search strategies and find their ideal jobs.

Lingnan University held its inaugural Technology Transfer Forum today, 28 February, at the Qianhai International Talent Hub in Shenzhen. Supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission, the forum focused on “Building a Smart Future for Sustainability”. It brought together over 160 government officials, leading scholars, and industry pioneers from Hong Kong and Mainland China to explore the latest research and practical applications in the four cutting-edge technological areas of New Energy, New Material, New Data, and New Humanity.

Today (12 February), in the second session of the “A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research” seminar series organised by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University, Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing at Lingnan University, gave a talk entitled “Research Methodology—A Computational Mathematician’s Perspective”, attended by about 100 teachers and students.

Lingnan University in Hong Kong recently launched its inaugural seminar series “A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research”. The series commenced with a seminar delivered by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, entitled “Doing Research to the Best of and Bigger Than Yourself”. Organised by the School of Graduate Studies (GS), this monthly event will feature presentations from senior university management and leading scholars, offering a platform for academics to share valuable insights and experiences from their personal research. The series aims to encourage productive discussions on best research practices, and offers participants opportunities to engage with leading scholars within the university.

On 12 December, Lingnan University hosted its biennial fundraising event, Kingrich Charitable Foundation presents: Lingnan University Gala Dinner 2024 for around 300 welcome guests. This year the theme was Lingnan’s Transformation into the Digital Era.

At the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony 2024 today (5 December), Lingnan University conferred two honorary degrees in recognition of outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to society. Renowned mathematician Prof Yau Shing-tung received a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, and distinguished structural biologist Prof Nieng Yan received a Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

Researchers have demonstrated room-temperature ferroelectricity in single-element tellurium nanowires, providing a pathway toward ultrahigh-density data storage and neuromorphic computing. Published in Nature Communications, the study introduces a self-gated ferroelectric field-effect transistor (SF-FET) that integrates memory and computing capabilities.

These deep learning tools can help both government and private entities when making investment and policy decisions.

With the global rise in electric vehicles’ popularity, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged, leading to a considerable increase in discarded batteries. The issue of how to efficiently use “retired” batteries has become urgent, and to address this Prof Tang Xiaopeng, Assistant Professor of the Science Unit at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, recently published a groundbreaking research paper titled "Lifespan-based Battery Classification towards Second-life Utilisation", which won the Best Paper Award at the prestigious 2024 IEEE 25th China Conference on System Simulation Technology and its Application (CCSSTA). It was one of only four papers out of 278 submissions to receive recognition.

Lingnan University hosted the QS Higher Education Post-Summit: Asia Pacific 2024 today (8 November) on its campus under the theme "Navigating Futures – Empowering Higher Education for Social and Sustainable Impact". This international education conference brought together about 400 leading academics and key stakeholders from universities in Hong Kong SAR, Mainland China, Australia, and Japan to consider the most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities facing higher education in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lingnan University welcomed Ms Wang Yuyan, Deputy Party Secretary, Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and her delegation on their visit to the Lingnan University campus in Tuen Mun on 4 November. Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning), Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration), Associate Vice-Presidents and the University management met with the guests, and held a seminar, chaired by Prof S. Joe Qin, to explore closer cooperation in research and innovation, and expanding talent cultivation.

Lingnan University co-hosted the QS Higher Education Summit Asia Pacific 2024 from 5 to 7 November at the Macau University of Science and Technology, with the theme “Shifting Landscapes, Collaborative Solutions: Pioneering Innovation in Asia Pacific Higher Education”. The summit marks its 20th anniversary in 2024, and aims to forge valuable partnerships within the higher education sector. Attended by about 1,500 educators, leading thinkers and academics, the three-day summit held dynamic panel discussions on a wide range of pertinent issues, covering key topics such as leveraging the power of AI, fostering lifelong learning ecosystems, and navigating the unfolding higher education landscape.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are how combining a drone and a platform can make heavy groceries easier to manage, the smallest dinosaur eggs found to date, and how to assemble DNA to store large amounts of data.

SUTD researchers behind SGHateCheck created MultiHateClip, a novel multilingual dataset that enhances the detection of hateful video content in both English and Chinese languages.