Business

TechInnovation® 2025, Singapore’s preeminent platform for innovation and business transformation, returns for its 13th edition from 29–31 October 2025 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Level 3 Heliconia and Hibiscus Ballroom, Singapore. Organised by IPI Singapore, the three-day event will bring together over 40 expert speakers, more than 100 breakthrough technologies and curated programmes designed to accelerate real-world innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Lingnan University has achieved another remarkable milestone in the 2025 edition of the World’s Top 2% Scientists list, published by Stanford University. This year, a total of 43 Lingnan scholars were named in the list, representing an increase of about 50 per cent compared with last year’s 29. Among them, 19 scholars were ranked among the global top 100 in their respective disciplines, underscoring the international recognition of Lingnan’s research excellence and its rising global impact.

Timely information on a company's production activities is crucial for investors and policymakers, yet it remains scarce as financial reports and other broader economic indicators like the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) are only released periodically. This information lag makes it difficult to assess a company's operational health in real time. To address this challenge, Prof Zhao Xiaofeng, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance and Associate Director of Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies at Lingnan University, in collaboration with researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has developed a new economic indicator, which uses thermal infrared radiation data to monitor the production and operation of enterprises in real time, and accurately predicts changes in their future profitability in terms of sales growth. The findings were recently featured in the prestigious international finance journal “Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis”, and received support from the General Research Fund (GRF) of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) amounting to about HKD$400,000.

Harpswell will convene the in-person component of its 7th annual ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit, bringing together 33 outstanding young women leaders from across all 10 ASEAN countries and Nepal. It is hosted in partnership with the Centre for Research on Women and Gender (KANITA) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

On 19 August, World Humanitarian Day, Lingnan University announced the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU) to establish the UNU Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University), making it the first higher education institution in Asia to set up a UNU Hub. The Hub is scheduled to open officially in October 2025 and will have an annual operating budget of over HK$8 million. Its Humanitarian Innovation and Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) will spearhead research and design initiatives, education and training programmes, and international collaborations, and improve living conditions in developing countries and regions of the Global South by leveraging innovative and cutting-edge technologies. Scholarships will be awarded to encourage local youth to fulfil their ambitions through knowledge and innovation.

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.

Duke-NUS Medical School’s Class of 2025 graduates 121 medical and doctoral students, including MDs, MD-PhDs, PhDs, and masters’ degrees; Landmark first batch of Masters in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates, unique to Southeast Asia; Inaugural graduates from conditional admissions pathways with National University of Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design; 41% of MD and MD-PhD graduates made bold mid-career shifts from fields such as law, PR, accounting and mental health support

Discover how pineapple leaf fibers are transforming waste into stylish, durable “green leather” for sustainable bookbinding, fashion, and more—an eco-friendly revolution with real-world charm!

To promote the use of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) for innovation and marketing, the Department of Marketing and International Business at Lingnan University hosted the Hong Kong Quant Marketing Conference 2025 at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel today, 14 May. “Data-Driven Quant Marketing Insights for Business Impact” shares fresh research findings within the industry, and examines how quantitative approaches can solve real-world marketing challenges in healthcare, e-commerce, legal policy, and digital experimentation. The conference was attended by over 180 scholars, industry leaders, and postgraduate students from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and international institutions.

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.

Singapore, 21 April 2025 – A worldwide field experiment conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School has revealed that individuals demonstrate a marked increase in honest behaviour when they are offered the option of being monitored and subsequently choosing it.

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.

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.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – [20 February 2025] – The 24th edition of the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), one of Asia’s premier technology and innovation platforms, will be held from 20 to 22 February 2025 at the prestigious World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL). The event will be presented in a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual participation, enabling broader global engagement and fostering cross-border collaborations.

In the latest UTD Top 100 Worldwide Business School Rankings Based on Research Contributions 2024, Lingnan University’s Faculty of Business came 19th in China, marking a significant leap of 23 places from 42th in 2023 based on its outstanding research and international influence. This accomplishment not only acknowledges the Faculty of Business’s considerable achievements, but also reaffirms its important international academic position.

Lingnan University participated for the first time in the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII) held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5 to 6 December. Lingnan University won a total of three awards, including 1 Gold Medal and 2 Silver Medals, among more than 140 innovative projects from all over Asia.

Born from 1995 to 2012, Gen Z is motivated by financial pragmatism, personal achievement, and values-driven work distinctive from older generations.

Organised by IPI, a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore, this flagship event serves as an essential platform for businesses to explore growth opportunities through strategic matchmaking with industry leaders and potential partners.

The study’s findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive regulation, including a potential ban on flavored tobacco products and the adoption of plain packaging to curb their appeal.

Researchers performed two studies to better characterize the effects of job embeddedness, or factors that influence an employee’s commitment to their job, on voluntary turnover in the face of job insecurity.

- Recipient Associate Professor Lena Ho spearheads groundbreaking research to develop first- in-class therapeutics to target inflammatory diseases; Collaboration between 65LAB and Duke-NUS aims to advance promising innovation from academic institutions with potential to build new therapeutic companies from Singapore; S$1.85 million funding comprises US$1.5 million from 65LAB and US$350,000 from Duke- NUS' newly established incubator, LIVE Ventures

Blue energy future, Off switch for brain cells, New Japanese lily species, Generative AI in motion, Economies take off with new airports and Braille-shaped electrodes for retinal implants. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus SciCom Coffee with Catriona Child.

Rapidus and Hokkaido University Sign Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement aiming to enhance scientific and technological capabilities and develop human resources through the semiconductor industry.

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.

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.

ITEX 2024 Sets the Stage for Innovation and Investment

A global study by an SUTD researcher in collaboration with scientists from Japan explores the economic benefits of airport investment in emerging economies using nighttime satellite imagery.

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.

To encourage students to develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary skills, Lingnan University held its first-ever Business Case Competition (LUBCC) on 13 April. The competition received strong support from six leading organisations from the government, and the business and charity sectors: the Regional Crime Prevention Office, New Territories North, Hong Kong Police Force (RCPO), Alibaba Cloud, Silence Limited, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), Vitasoy International Holdings Limited (Vitasoy), and the Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Company Limited. Seventy-one teams of 284 Lingnan students from different academic backgrounds entered the competition.

The 12th Starch Value Chain ASIA conference was held in Vientiane, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, from February 27 to 29, 2024. The conference encompassed four key themes: Asia’s starch markets, industrial and food-grade tapioca starch in Laos with expansion plans, sustainable climate-smart agri-technology for rice and cassava cultivation, and challenges for future growth in Asia's biogas-to-energy sector.