HKMU powers ahead with new Shenzhen Research Institute

Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) has launched its Shenzhen Research Institute, a research platform aimed at bridging industry, academia, and real-world impact in the Greater Bay Area. Prof. Ricky Kwok Yu-kwong, Vice President (Research and Institutional Advancement) of HKMU, emphasizes the Institute's role as the University's strategic base on the Chinese Mainland, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

Established through HKMU's dedication to advancing research and development, the Institute is the first self-financing tertiary institution in Hong Kong to join the Shenzhen Virtual University Park. The University has invested over RMB 32 million in the Institute, which offers 670 square meters of laboratory space in its first phase. Plans for additional phases include extending laboratory space by another 800 square meters.

The Institute focuses on four major areas for research in its early stages: biomedical life science, net zero and environmental technologies, quantum technology, and digital fabrication and art-tech. These areas build on HKMU's existing strengths and are strongly application-oriented, with research outcomes ready to translate into real-world benefits.

The Institute has already secured patents for over 70 items and obtained its first intellectual property licensing agreement, allowing a UK-based healthcare firm to further develop an early detection technology for prostate cancer.

The Institute, registered as a public institution in mainland China, is actively pursuing research grants and funding from various sources. With partnerships established with Mainland universities and local enterprises, HKMU aims to expedite the commercialization of research outcomes and benefit society.