CONTENTS FOREWORD CONTENTS Edge Home and Away Giving 10 12 Alumni Reunion Class Notes World Stage Happenings 16 17 18 20 Cover Story Foreword 01 Technology drives our powerful development 02 14 Dear Alumni, In these historic times, artificial intelligence (AI) is developing into a world-changing force. Reflecting the zeitgeist, our cover story for this issue explores the many ways our entrepreneurial community is leveraging this powerful technology. These tales and experiences not only highlight opportunities but also serve as an inspiration to us all. With AI disrupting industries and reshaping society, we must prepare for the future, particularly in the areas of life, work and health. HKUST is actively taking steps to ensure this. We were the first university in Hong Kong to promote the use of Generative AI in teaching – a landmark step. On top of this, the Hong Kong Generative AI R&D Center (HKGAI) led by HKUST has announced eight projects on AI in the legal, medical, and creative fields. To boost our capabilities even further, the University established the most advanced AI supercomputing facility in the region last year, and is planning to set up an International Hub of AI for Medicine. Aside from AI, we have been actively developing initiatives for entrepreneurs to support, strengthen, and expand our alumni business community. This year’s HKUST Unicorn Day drew a huge number of attendees that included innovators, investors, industry leaders, and other stakeholders, all eager to witness our best ideas. Furthermore, we have launched the HKUST Redbird Innovation Fund (RIF), a HK$500 million initiative to create multiple Venture Investment Fund (VIFs) worth HK$2 billion in collaboration with investment partners, to support HKUST start-ups. With much fanfare and anticipation, plans for our new medical school are also entering a more concrete stage. Our goal is to nurture doctors with expertise in scientific research and medical practice and a deep understanding of cutting-edge technologies, to address the urgent needs and challenges in healthcare. We are also exploring medicalengineering collaboration, an area that holds great promise in accelerating healthcare innovation. These exciting developments align with the objectives of the University Strategic Plan 2031. We aim to further develop world class talent; establish ourselves as an international leader in education and research; be a global visionary in innovation and entrepreneurship; forge best-in-class sustainable and quality practices; and champion diversity, inclusiveness, and openness. These are ambitious plans and we need your support to achieve them. A simple and impactful way is to generously donate to the Alumni Endowment Fund, among other worthy University initiatives. Your contributions will support our endeavors and help propel HKUST to the forefront of global excellence. Together, you can transform our University into a world leader in education, research, and innovation. Our alumni are very important to us and one of my major goals as president is to foster as many opportunities as possible to connect with you. It was an absolute privilege to meet our alumni recently at the Alumni Reunion and Convocation Meet-up Series in Hong Kong, and through gatherings in Beijing, Dubai, and Seoul. With our global network rapidly expanding, we will continue to build closer ties with alumni communities around the world. Alumni have shaped our success and will continue to do so. Your contributions, experiences, and expertise serve as a guiding force, inspiring current and future generations to excel and innovate. Please continue to keep in touch and support us. By working together, we can chart an even brighter future. Yours, Nancy Ip President I had an amazing time at the Beijing Alumni Reception held on March 3, 2024. In attendance were more than 250 alumni, Council Chairman Professor Harry Shum, Senior Management, and friends of HKUST.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=