City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) announced the establishment of the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science (HKAI-Sci) on 21 October. Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with academic and industry partners to mark this significant milestone in the realm of scientific research and technological innovation. The HKAI-Sci and its partners will join hands to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) and shape the future of scientific research.
The HKAI-Sci will bring together experts from diverse fields, including computer science, data science, statistics and bioinformatics. The collaborative environment aims to facilitate the seamless integration of science and AI, nurturing deep-tech startups, in partnership with industry, government and academia.
The academic and industry partners include (in alphabetical order of the companies):
- Berxel Photonics
- Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- SPDB International Holdings Limited
- Surrich International Company Limited
- Trio AI Limited
Leveraging CityUHK’s leading role in the field of AI and related disciplines, the HKAI-Sci is set to become an international hub for scientific exploration through AI, offering a premier and open platform for researchers and practitioners to push and breakthrough the boundaries of AI for science. It will foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and students in biology, chemistry, material science and beyond. The HKAI-Sci will advance both “AI as a Science” and “AI for Science”. These efforts will lead to the creation of revolutionary technologies with a far-reaching global impact.
The establishment of the HKAI-Sci and the MoU signing ceremony were witnessed by Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, HKSAR Government, and Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK.
In this our 30th anniversary year, CityUHK also earlier successively established the Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine and the College of Computing, which are dedicated to nurturing talent in science and technology innovation and deep-tech startups, driving economic growth through innovation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Cheong affirmed that the establishment of the HKAI-Sci is perfectly aligned with the HKSAR Government’s vision to build a robust AI ecosystem in Hong Kong. She noted that the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry this year highlighted AI’s critical role in pushing the boundaries of science. Launching the Institute at this juncture is thereby both timely and strategic, she said.
“In the new AI-driven era of data computing, CityUHK is committed to transforming the University’s outstanding research achievements into innovative solutions to address global challenges, contribute to society, and benefit local and global communities,” said President Boey. “The establishment of the HKAI-Sci is aligned with the HKSAR Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an International Innovation and Technology Hub. Through close collaboration with its academic and industry partners, CityUHK aims to make an impact locally, regionally and globally.”
Professor Ma Wei-ying, Director-Designate of the HKAI-Sci, said, “The integration of AI into the field of science will help us address many complex challenges currently facing humanity. The HKAI-Sci will foster an open and inclusive research environment, encouraging innovative thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration to support cutting-edge research. By establishing a collaborative network with academic and industry partners, we will jointly promote innovation and the application of AI in the scientific domain, cultivate talent with a global perspective in science and technology innovation, and seek the well-being of humanity.”
Renowned scholars specialising in the fields of AI and science delivered congratulatory messages, either in-person or pre-recorded, to celebrate the establishment of the HKAI-Sci and highlight future collaboration with the Institute. Professor Tobin J. Marks of Northwestern University and a member of the US, German, Italian, European, and Indian National Academies of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the US National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the US National Academy of Inventors, emphasised that in order to get the most from AI for Science, it is essential to have well-networked interdisciplinary teams.
Professor Zhang Ya-qin, Dean of the Institute for AI Industry Research (AIR) of Tsinghua University and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said he believed that the Joint Research Centre to be established between CityUHK and AIR will build new paradigms and new foundations, and cultivate new talent for AI scientific research. Professor Gao Wen, Director of Peng Cheng Laboratory and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressed his confidence that the partnership with CityUHK will lead to groundbreaking advancements in AI research and development. Professor Zhang Hong-jiang of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence and Source Code Capital, and an international member of the US National Academy of Engineering, said he believed that the Institute will become a cradle for nurturing new talents in AI for Science, cultivating outstanding individuals with interdisciplinary knowledge and innovative thinking. Professor Iain McCulloch of the University of Oxford expressed his excitement about supporting the Institute, which is poised to be a trailblazer in the field, serving as a hub for interdisciplinary innovation.
