The University of Hong Kong (HKU) marked a transformative milestone in its pursuit of innovation excellence with the inauguration of its newly established School of Innovation (I-School) on May 9, 2026. This event, held at the Rayson Huang Theatre under the banner “HKU School of Innovation Inaugural Celebration: A Dialogue with Future Innovators,” not only commemorated the School’s official launch but also showcased the impressive trajectory it has embarked upon since welcoming its very first cohort of Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Technology [BSc(I&T)] students in September 2025. The I-School exemplifies HKU’s forward-thinking approach to interdisciplinary education and its commitment to nurturing a new generation of innovation leaders positioned to drive Hong Kong’s position as a global innovation hub.
The creation of the I-School signals a paradigm shift in how talent development is envisioned within Hong Kong’s higher education ecosystem. By embedding experiential, interdisciplinary, and project-based learning methodologies at the heart of the curriculum, the School fosters an environment where theoretical knowledge intersects with practical application across diverse technological and societal domains. Over the course of its inaugural academic year, students actively engaged with vibrant innovation ecosystems, including a series of exploratory visits to the Hong Kong Science Park, the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy in Shenzhen, and industry titan Tencent. These hands-on exposures bolster their ability to navigate and collaborate within cutting-edge technological environments.
Furthermore, the School’s commitment to integrating academia with the industry was vividly demonstrated through collaboration with various local organizations such as the Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Shipowners Association, and Food Angel. Such alliances embody the institution’s holistic educational philosophy, bridging gaps between classroom theory and its real-world implications. Initiatives like the InnoJoy Carnival further underline the role of the I-School in fostering community engagement and cultivating entrepreneurship among its students, underscoring its impact beyond academic spheres.
In his opening keynote, Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, eloquently articulated the strategic importance of the I-School. He emphasized the necessity of interdisciplinary learning paradigms in preparing future generations to thrive in a dynamic global landscape characterized by rapid technological advancements and complex societal challenges. Professor Zhang’s vision underscores a tightly integrated triad of research, education, and entrepreneurship designed to equip students with the capability to translate novel ideas into valuable societal impact—a critical mandate in today’s knowledge-driven economy.
Senior stakeholders from Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem lent their voices to the celebration, confirming their steadfast support for the I-School’s mission. Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Ms. Lillian Cheong, expressed unequivocal government backing for innovation and talent cultivation efforts. Her remarks highlighted the pivotal role of the I-School in consolidating research excellence, industry partnerships, and entrepreneurial acumen as essential forces driving Hong Kong’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse.
Similarly, Mr. Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), remarked on the indispensability of synergistic university–industry collaboration in elevating Hong Kong’s innovation and technology landscape. HKSTP’s role as the largest innovation and technology ecosystem in the region positions it as a critical conduit through which disruptive research breakthroughs can transition from conceptualization within academic settings to market-ready innovations. The CEO applauded the I-School’s curricular design and ecosystem integration as vital to nurturing future innovators who will steer Hong Kong’s technological and entrepreneurial trajectory.
Complementing these perspectives, Professor James Tang, Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee (UGC), underscored the integral contribution of higher education institutions in Hong Kong’s broader innovation talent development strategy. Professor Tang framed the launch of the I-School as squarely aligned with both the UGC’s strategic priorities and governmental objectives aimed at cementing Hong Kong’s status as an international educational and innovation hub. His insights reinforced the importance of equipping students with interdisciplinary expertise, entrepreneurial mindsets, and hands-on experience integral to real-world innovation challenges.
Guiding the academic and strategic direction of the School, Professor Hayden So, Director of the School of Innovation, elaborated on the educational philosophy underpinning the institution’s programming. Professor So articulated that sowing the seeds of innovation early in students’ academic journeys is crucial. This early motivation propels learners to pursue their passions dynamically and independently across diverse disciplines, crafting an agile, self-motivated, and compassionate innovation workforce ready to tackle unresolved complex problems within and beyond Hong Kong.
The inaugural celebration featured content-rich panel discussions. The first session, titled “Nurturing Innovation & Technology Talents for the Future,” was moderated by student representatives. It convened thought leaders including Professor Jay Siegel, HKU’s Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), alongside entrepreneurs and industry leaders such as Mr. Chuck Ng, Ms. Carol Yu, and Mr. Raymond Chu. This discourse illuminated strategies for synergizing universities, industries, and wider ecosystems in attracting, cultivating, and retaining exceptional innovation talent capable of driving sustainable advancement.
The subsequent panel, “Conversation with Future Innovators,” co-moderated by Professor Jason Woodard and HKU Council Member Mr. Jason Chiu, brought forward inspiring narratives from six I-School students whose entrepreneurial ventures and cross-disciplinary collaborations exemplify the School’s unique approach. These student voices emphasized the potent role of the curriculum in empowering innovators to address multifaceted challenges spanning Hong Kong, the dynamic Greater Bay Area, and the global technological arena.
One of the most engaging segments of the celebration was the student project showcase, which featured an impressive array of problem-based projects exemplifying computational, design, and robotics prowess. Projects ranged from computational models analyzing rental price trends in Hong Kong, innovative paper plane designs, and visitor flow optimization within theme parks, to explorations of cybersecurity attack propagation and the social dynamics of “brainrot” culture online. Demonstrating practical healthcare applications, one startup concept focused on preventing computer-related health issues, while a sophisticated robotic butler prototype showcased autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and voice-command responsiveness. This breadth testifies to the School’s emphasis on cultivating technical proficiency alongside creative problem-solving.
Looking forward, the I-School plans to broaden its academic and experiential portfolio with the imminent launch of a master’s programme designed to deepen expertise and leadership capacity in innovation and technology. This next phase reflects a sustained commitment to evolving the educational framework to meet emergent global innovation challenges and maintain alignment with Hong Kong’s aspirations of leading regional and global innovation ecosystems.
Founded in November 2024, the HKU School of Innovation embodies a new mode of cultivating innovation and technology talent through project-led and problem-based learning paradigms that integrate design thinking, entrepreneurship, and industry partnership. The School’s curriculum is crafted to develop not only advanced technical capabilities but also the innovative mindset essential for converting ideas into meaningful, scalable solutions. Through its undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, the I-School aims to prepare a workforce capable of delivering impact across Hong Kong and the international innovation landscape, positioning the city as a beacon of creativity and technology-driven progress.
The establishment and rapid development of the HKU School of Innovation underscores a pivotal evolution in innovation education. By seamlessly bridging academic rigour with entrepreneurial and practical engagement across real-world contexts, the School exemplifies a future-forward educational blueprint. This model offers a replicable framework for universities aspiring to cultivate talent capable of catalyzing technological breakthroughs and sustainable societal transformation, thereby contributing significantly to the ongoing redefinition of innovation education worldwide.
Subject of Research: Innovation and technology talent development through interdisciplinary and experiential learning.
Article Title: HKU Launches School of Innovation to Reimagine Talent Development for Hong Kong’s Innovation Future
News Publication Date: May 9, 2026
Web References: https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/846fc139-c085-46f8-a3f9-064ffb009d1f/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: The University of Hong Kong
Keywords: Innovation education, interdisciplinary learning, experiential learning, technology talent development, entrepreneurship, higher education, university-industry collaboration, Hong Kong innovation ecosystem, problem-based learning, innovation leadership, computational modeling, robotics, design thinking
