PolyU and Tsinghua University collaborate on joint STEAM lab to foster innovation in art and design

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University have collaborated to establish a Joint Lab for STEAM, fostering art and design innovation in research, technology and talent development by leveraging the two universities’ exceptional expertise and knowledge in this cross-disciplinary area. This signifies the inaugural collaborative laboratory formed by PolyU and Tsinghua University.

The Joint Lab for STEAM will enhance and bolster art and design innovation within the conventional STEM platform which encompasses science, technology, mathematics and engineering. It will also promote STEAM professional education and technology development through seminars and promotional activities, highlighting how blending arts and design with STEM enhances innovation, and economic and societal well-being.

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU led a PolyU delegation to Tsinghua University to attend the signing ceremony. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Prof. Sai MA, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design and Director of the Art and Science Research Center at Tsinghua University.

This significant partnership between PolyU and Tsinghua University leverages the expertise and achievements of both universities in multidisciplinary research, particularly focusing on knowledge transfer in art and design for impactful social applications. Collaboratively, the Joint STEAM lab strives to cultivate a culture of creativity, innovation and technological excellence.

The principal investigators of the Joint Lab for STEAM are Prof. Stephen Jia WANG, Professor of the School of Design and Director of the Research Centre of Future (Caring) Mobility (RcFCM) at PolyU and Prof. Sai Ma, Director of the Art and Science Research Center at Tsinghua University. The research focus areas of the Joint Lab include artificial intelligence and design, intelligent interactive systems, sustainable design and technology, innovative educational methods, data-driven design and human-machine symbiotic design.

The PolyU RcFCM has developed a design-led innovations platform for conducting high-impact research with a vision that highlights an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge, STEAM and innovative design approach focusing on the caring and well-being of human life. It has made significant innovative research advancements in various areas including intelligent, interactive and experiential design.

The Art and Science Research Center of Tsinghua University was established in May 2001 through the collaborative efforts of the renowned contemporary Chinese painter, Mr WU Guanzhong and the Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics, Mr LEE Tsung-Dao. Led by Prof. Sai Ma as Director and with the late Mr Lee Tsung-Dao as Honorary Director, the Art and Science Research Center has developed a comprehensive platform that seamlessly integrates teaching, research and academic publications in arts and sciences. Furthermore, the Center actively nurtures talents, with a strong emphasis on individuality and innovation.

Together with the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University, the vision for this collaboration was supported by Prof. Kun-Pyo LEE, Dean of the School of Design of PolyU and Prof. Winco YUNG, Senior Consultant of the Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety of PolyU. The Joint Labaims to advance STEAM research, education and product development to foster a sustainable future. Research projects will be undertaken with a view to fostering collaboration among academia, research and industry, while also strengthening inter-university cooperation and bolstering the overall academic standing of the universities.