{
  "id": 12046705,
  "title": "HKU eyes Northern Metropolis expansion to boost research capacity, attract talent",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/hku-eyes-northern-metropolis-expansion-to-boost-research-capacity-12046705",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-05T01:00:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3369716/hku-eyes-northern-metropolis-expansion-boost-research-capacity-attract-talent"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is planning to expand its presence in the Northern Metropolis to enhance its research capabilities and draw in top talent, according to Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, the new vice-president for research. Shum, who assumed the position in August, emphasized the need for more government funding, highlighting that grant applications can be lengthy and return on investment may be slow. He stressed that HKU's research development would align with the government's focus on integrating education, technology, industry, and talent to accelerate the growth of the Northern Metropolis, as outlined in the recent policy address.\n\nProfessor Shum outlined a closed-loop strategy where discoveries move from the laboratory to industry and back again. He explained that attracting top talent is crucial, as it drives breakthrough research, forms industry partnerships, leads to start-ups and innovations, and generates new research problems. Shum noted that when start-ups succeed and create new industries, they present fresh challenges to scientists, perpetuating the cycle. He also pointed out that researchers are drawn to institutions with a high concentration of talent.\n\nHKU has recently attracted two Nobel laureates, Sir Andre Geim and Ferenc Krausz, and one Fields Medallist, Ngo Bao Chau. Shum explained that prospective researchers consider a university's research potential based on its facilities. He highlighted the Northern Metropolis as an ideal location to meet these needs, as it offers ample space for research development. The government will fund the self-sustaining project, providing land and loans, while the institutions will utilize their reserves or issue bonds.\n\nThe Hung Shui Kiu site, one of the three proposed sites in the Northern Metropolis, is expected to be ready this year, with universities able to apply starting this month. Shum outlined the need for various types of laboratories, including dry labs for computation and data work, wet labs for biological and chemical experiments, and AI facilities. The government has outlined a forward-looking vision where education, technology, industry, talent, and urban development should grow together as the five elements of the Northern Metropolis. Shum stressed the importance of close collaboration across all five sectors for the plan's success.\n\nAs the head of HKU's RISE platform, which integrates research funding, intellectual property, technology transfer, and start-up incubation, Shum emphasized the challenges in translating research into products. He highlighted the necessity of government and university funding to enable researchers to fully exercise their creativity. Regarding university-industry collaboration, Shum advocated for early involvement of companies, emphasizing that they are best placed to identify areas for improvement in products, while scientific questions are more effectively addressed in academic settings. He noted that if industry alerts universities to difficulties in mass-producing materials or securing chemical approvals, these issues can be addressed early, streamlining the translation process.\n\nProfessor Shum will also lead HKU's Innovation Week, scheduled for October 12 to 16, which will bring together over 1,000 representatives from government, industry, and academia to showcase over 120 innovations. He hopes this event will enhance science popularization and boost overall innovation and science literacy, contributing to the university's social mission of fostering awareness and application of science in society.",
  "summary": "The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is looking to secure more laboratory space in the Northern Metropolis university town to expand its research capacity and attract talent, its new vice-president for research has said. Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, who took up the vice presidency in August, also called for more government funding, saying grant applications took time and returns on investment…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "HKU eyes Northern Metropolis expansion to boost research capacity, attract talent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/hku-eyes-northern-metropolis-expansion-to-boost-research-capacity",
        "published": "2026-10-05T01:00:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}