PolyU welcomes 2024 Policy Address measures on education and innovation & technology development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the diverse measures announced by the Chief Executive in the 2024 Policy Address. These include the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, the establishment of a third medical school, the creation of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, the expansion of research funding, and increased investment in innovation and technology (I&T) industries. These initiatives aim to advance Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education and health and medical innovation, and an international I&T centre.

Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, said, “PolyU fully supports the Government’s initiatives to promote Chinese culture. Last year, we launched the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture to enhance education in Chinese history and culture. In March this year, we kick-started the ‘PolyU Chinese Culture Festival’ to highlight the beauty and importance of various aspects of Chinese culture, fostering a deeper appreciation of Chinese heritage. This festival aims to strengthen pride and a sense of belonging to the Nation among the younger generation and contribute to Hong Kong’s development into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

PolyU is pleased that the Government has reserved land in the Northern Metropolis for the development of Northern Metropolis University Town and supports the creation of a third medical school by local universities. To tackle the challenges of an aging population and rising chronic disease rates, Hong Kong needs the third medical school to cultivate more clinical medical talents. PolyU is actively preparing the proposal for establishing the medical school. With our strong background in health science education and research, we are well-equipped to expand training for medical students, becoming a comprehensive training hub for medical and healthcare professionals. We believe this new medical school will stand out from the existing two, making significant contributions to society. Earlier this week, PolyU and Sun Yat-sen University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly cultivate interdisciplinary medicine-engineering talents to meet the keen demand for quality medical and healthcare services in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”

PolyU has previously submitted a proposal to the Government requesting land in the Northern Metropolis to establish a medical school. Over the past 40 years, PolyU has trained over 50,000 allied healthcare professionals across various disciplines, significantly supporting the development of Hong Kong’s medical system.

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “PolyU supports the Government’s establishment of the Committee on Education, Technology, and Talents to coordinate and promote the integrated development of these areas and to promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high‑calibre talents. PolyU is committed to recruiting outstanding academics and researchers globally to engage in cutting-edge research, contributing to the Nation’s technological self-reliance and high-quality development. The University continually innovates its curricula to prepare future-ready talents for advancements in emerging technologies. This year, PolyU established the new Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and next year, we will launch the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, focused on the AI era to meet the growing market demand for talent in these fields.”

PolyU supports the Government’s creation of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to attract more overseas students, particularly from ASEAN and Belt and Road countries. PolyU is dedicated to fostering an internationalised learning environment and drawing students from around the globe to Hong Kong. In the 2023/24 academic year, PolyU organised over 330 undergraduate recruitment and promotion events across nearly 40 countries and regions, including 26 Belt and Road and ASEAN countries. The number of non-local undergraduate applicants from these regions has increased by 50% this year. PolyU will continue to actively promote the unique strengths of Hong Kong's higher education worldwide.

Strengthening the position as an international I&T hub

To support the Government’s initiative to promote the low-altitude economy (LAE) as a growth engine for new quality productive forces, PolyU is establishing a research centre for LAE to explore viable solutions for developing this sector in Hong Kong, supporting the smart city development. PolyU’s research teams have extensive expertise in technologies related to LAE, such as precise control and reliable positioning of unmanned aerial vehicles, airspace management, flight routes/depots and vertiports locations optimisation, etc. Additionally, the University plans to launch an MSc programme in LAE next year to nurture talent for future industrial development.

PolyU has established three research centres under two InnoHK research clusters. We are pleased with the Government’s plan to create a third research cluster focused on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy, and sustainable development, including a research centre under the cluster to participate in the Chang’e-8 mission. With over 30 years of experience in deep space research, PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong participating in multiple national space missions. The university will fully support these initiatives.

PolyU welcomes the Government’s expansion of research funding, which attracts more organisations to support research endeavours of institutions. In the 2023/24 academic year, PolyU ranked second among the eight UGC-funded institutions in terms of funding from the Research Grants Council, underscoring our research strengths. We are pleased to see the Government’s increased investment in I&T industries, including life and health technology, AI and robotics, semi-conductors and smart devices, advanced materials, and new energy. Over the years, PolyU has incubated over 500 startups through the PolyVentures ecosystem, involving more than 7,600 entrepreneurs. The University will continue collaborating with enterprises and venture capital firms locally and internationally to advance its startup accelerators.

The Government’s promotion of new energy development and the implementation of the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong to advance green and low-carbon hydrogen applications align with recent submission from PolyU’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology to the Government.