HKUST's Areas of Excellence Scheme (AA) and Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) 2024-25 achieved outstanding results and received the highest funding award among local institutions

Three research projects led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) were awarded a total funding of HK$212.5 million by the Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme and the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) 2024/25, the highest funding amount among all local universities. It also marks a record-high result for the University. 

The three studies cover a wide array of aspects, including a frontier and human-centric AI and robotics technology for geriatric care, the development of “Hong Kong Coastal Twin” for management of extreme weather on coastlines, as well as a technological approach to enhance Hong Kong’s role in sustainable supply chains. 

Congratulating the research teams, HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP said, "Our record-breaking achievements in AoE and TRS exemplify the University's unwavering commitment to research excellence. It’s not just a testimony to the talent of our faculty, but also to the synergy with our Guangzhou campus, as two of the awarded projects are jointly undertaken by faculty members from both HKUST and HKUST(GZ). The success reflects the growing collaboration between our campuses, which play a crucial role in fostering groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and technological innovations for the betterment of Hong Kong and beyond.”

HKUST Vice-President (Research & Development) Prof. Tim CHENG also expressed his pride in the teams’ achievements. “The recognition of HKUST by RGC’s two most prominent funding schemes is a remarkable achievement. The three awarded projects, all driven by cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and data science, demonstrate HKUST's successful efforts in promoting the integration of technological innovation and our research to drive breakthroughs in emerging fields. As we anticipate the establishment of more world-class research facilities on our campus in the coming years, our faculty will be better equipped in their pursuit of knowledge in addressing the growing complexities of global challenges,” he said. 

The three research projects are:

The three winning teams delivered a presentation on their research projects during a media briefing organized by RGC today. They shared the objectives of their research, the methods they used, and the potential impacts of their work.