HKU eyes Northern Metropolis expansion to boost research capacity, attract talent

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is looking to secure more laboratory space in the Northern Metropolis university town to expand its research capacity and attract talent, its new vice-president for research has said.

Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, who took up the vice presidency in August, also called for more government funding, saying grant applications took time and returns on investment could be slow.

Shum said the university’s research development would align with the government’s emphasis on integrating education, technology, industry and talent to expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis as laid out in the policy address.

He described a closed-loop strategy moving discoveries from the laboratory to industry and back. Top talent drives breakthrough research, industry partnerships and start-ups translate it into applications, and successful ventures feed new research problems back to scientists.