News & Stories
2025

News
Living the Change: Making HKUST’s Campus the Heart of Sustainability Breakthroughs
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) selected eight cutting-edge projects for the latest round of Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab program for testing on campus. Covering a wide range of sustainability challenges on campus, the projects address energy efficiency, renewable energy optimization, water management, wellness, ecosystem enhancement, and predictive maintenance strategies, providing students and faculty with hands-on experience with prototypes before real-world implementation.
News
HKUST Launches World’s Largest AI-Powered Educational Sandbox Game: Advancing AI Literacy and Encouraging Citizen Science
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announced the launch of “Aivilization”, the largest-scale AI multi-agent social simulation sandbox to date. This innovative platform studies how human interaction with AI can shape a virtual society, where ‘AI inhabitants’ can organically develop their own governance structures, economies and cultural norms.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, understanding the dynamics of communication between humans and artificial intelligence has become a crucial area of study. Previous simulation models like Project Sid1 and Stanford Smallville2 have explored similar themes, with community sizes of around 1,000 and dozens of AI agents respectively, to observe the evolution of AI civilizations.

Stories
Where AI Meets Humanity: A Scholar Democratizing Storytelling
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, its potential to ignite human creativity is quietly revolutionizing storytelling—even in filmmaking. Leading this charge is Professor RAO Anyi, an assistant professor in the newly established Division of Arts and Machine Creativity at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Prof. Rao, named to the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, is pioneering AI’s role in democratizing storytelling. He develops AI tools that empower filmmakers to generate content and control complex elements or special effects like scene lighting. With a mission to merge the realms of filmmaking, art, and AI, he aims to nurture a tech-savvy generation of storytellers.
News
CAHE and HKUST Co-hosts "Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao High-Level University Presidents Roundtable" in Hong Kong
The "Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao High-Level University Presidents Roundtable" hosted by the China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) and co-organized by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), was successfully held in Hong Kong yesterday. Themed "University Missions and Collaborative Innovation in the Context of Building an Education Nation," the event featured a keynote speech by HUAI Jinpeng, Minister of Education of China, with opening remarks by CHAN Kwok-Ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, and LIN Huiqing, President of the China Association of Higher Education.

News
HKUST and CHMT Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance National Green Energy Goals
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and C.H.M.T. Peaceful Development Fund Management Limited (CHMT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a pivotal moment in accelerating new energy innovation through industry-academia-research collaboration. By combining HKUST’s world-class research capabilities with CHMT’s market expertise, the partnership will bridge laboratory breakthroughs with commercial deployment. The initiative seeks to drive advancements in new energy technology and sustainable development in line with the carbon neutrality ambitions in the 14th Five-Year Plan.

News
HKUST, Crystal Group, and HKRITA Signed Framework Agreement
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has signed a tripartite framework agreement with global apparel manufacturer Crystal International Group Limited (Crystal Group) and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the textile production process. By developing industry-specific large language model Textile-GPT for textiles, the collaboration aims to enhance intelligent design, optimize production process, streamline supply chain management, automate quality inspections, and foster innovation in smart wearables.

News
HKUST-Developed SmartCare Shifts Clinical Focus to Patient Care
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recently introduced SmartCare – an AI platform developed by HKUST researchers that redefines patient journeys from triage to treatment – in its on-campus clinic. This landmark deployment kicks off a six-month pilot study open to 15,000+ students, faculty, and staff.

News
HKUST and Wuhan Union Hospital Jointly Establish "Collaborative Center for Medical and Engineering Innovation"
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan Union Hospital) have jointly established the "Collaborative Center for Medical and Engineering Innovation" (the Center), officially unveiled today at HKUST’s campus. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in medical-engineering collaboration between the two institutions, focusing on core areas such as ultrasound, pathology, and radiology. By deeply integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with medical imaging, the center aims to drive medical technology innovation and advance global healthcare progress.