HKBU hosts ‘1+1+1’ Joint Research Collaboration Scheme Symposium advancing GBA research transfer and talent cultivation through ‘One University, Two Campuses’

The Research Office of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted the “Symposium for Guangdong and Hong Kong Universities ‘1+1+1’ Joint Research Collaboration Scheme” on 12 May. Attended by 180 researchers from HKBU and Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), government representatives, industry experts and students, the event showcased milestone achievements in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence.

The symposium looked at how HKBU, through its “One University, Two Campuses” model, aligns research initiatives with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to solve practical industrial challenges in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The symposium was also a flagship research event for HKBU’s 70th Anniversary.

University representatives and distinguished guests attending the symposium included (from left): Mr Victor Kwok, Deputy Research Director of Our Hong Kong Foundation; Dr Pamela Tin Sze-pui, Research Director of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit ; Professor Wu Jianglun, Director of the Research Development and Knowledge Transfer Office at BNBU; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) and Dean of Graduate School at HKBU; Professor Pan Jianxin, Vice President (Research and Development) of BNBU; Mr Hsu Hoi-shan, President and Director of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre; Professor Christy Cheung, Director of the Research Office at HKBU , and Professor Zhu Furong, Chair Professor in Physics, HKBU.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Lyu Aiping emphasises that the scheme has successfully built a cross-boundary research ecosystem, cultivating globally competitive research talent for the GBA.

In his opening remarks, Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) and Dean of the Graduate School of HKBU, said "Against the backdrop of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the development of the GBA, HKBU looks forward to further deepening our collaboration with BNBU. While expanding the scale of our research projects, we will place greater emphasis on knowledge transfer, talent cultivation, and international outreach. Our goal is to transform the synergistic advantages of our “One University, Two Campuses” model into a replicable and scalable framework for cross-border innovation, contributing a more exemplary ‘HKBU Solution’ to the development of the GBA as an international hub for science and technology."

In his opening address, Professor Pan Jianxin states that HKBU and BNBU will continue to play a pivotal role through the "One University, Two Campuses" model, ensuring that research outcomes are consistently translated into impactful solutions.

Professor Pan Jianxin, Vice President (Research and Development) of BNBU and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research and Application for Data Science, said, "Leveraging the complementary strengths of both universities in disciplines, platforms, talent, and industrial connectivity, the projects have formed cross-regional, multi-disciplinary research teams to conduct scientific research. Meanwhile, the selection for the second cohort of 21 proposed projects has been completed and was submitted to the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province for approval in March this year. The call for proposals for the third cohort is also set to launch soon.”

Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah, Member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Innovation Centre), Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professor in Chemistry and Energy and Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry, shares insights on the significance of regional research within the long-term development strategies of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan.

As the nation approaches the decisive period of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the strategic significance of the ‘1+1+1’ Scheme has acquired increasing prominence. A highlight of the symposium was the keynote address delivered by Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah, Member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Innovation Centre), Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professor in Chemistry and Energy and Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry, who offered valuable insights into the pivotal role of regional research in supporting the nation's long-term strategic objectives.

The panel discussion is moderated by Professor Zhu Furong, Chair Professor of the Department of Physics at HKBU. Panelists are Professor Wu Jianglun, Chair Professor of Financial Mathematics from BNBU and Director of the Research Development and Knowledge Transfer Office at BNBU; Professor Di Yana, Head of Department of Mathematical Sciences at BNBU, and Professor Zhou Chi, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU, who discussed the future of cross-border research collaboration.

Titled “From Zero to Two: Scaling Research and Knowledge Frontiers through the One University, Two Campuses Model,” their exchange of views explored HKBU’s unique institutional framework in detail. Due to the close cooperation between the Hong Kong and Zhuhai campuses, research teams have transcended geographical and institutional boundaries, facilitating the flow of resources and talent across the border, and bolstering the collaborative and innovative capabilities of both universities in emerging strategic disciplines.

poster session

Professor Li Yupeng, Assistant Professor, School of Communication at HKBU, shares his project with symposium attendees

The seminar also featured project presentations and poster sessions by the first group of researchers funded under the ‘1+1+1’ Scheme, highlighting important landmarks and application potential.

In the field of smart healthcare, projects such as “Artificial Intelligence and Functional Metabolomics Combinational Strategy Facilitates the Construction of Molecular Profiles for Diagnosing Pathological Evolution of Liver Diseases” and “Fusing Imaging and Spatial-Temporal Complexity Measures for Early Alzheimer’s Detection and Neuromodulation” address the medical challenges of the aging population directly as well as driving the commercialisation of medical technology.

Deep statistical learning research in data science focuses on high-dimensional and complex brain-imaging data, and provides critical theoretical support for the nation’s precision medicine initiatives.

The “Digital Studies of Ancient Bronze Bells: Sound, Form, and Re-creation” project integrates AI-driven interactive storytelling to transform heritage into digital assets, safeguarding the preservation and revitalisation of culture within the GBA.

In terms of smart transportation and social care, research encompasses spatio-temporal dynamic analysis of port systems in the GBA, as well as the project “Sign Language Translation and Production”, which advances accessible communication and addresses pressing social and economic development issues.

presentation

Presentation on "Development of AI-based Technologies to Protect the Health and Enhance Performance of Athletes Participating in the Olympic Games"

The ‘1+1+1’ Scheme has emerged as a vital catalyst for the improved integration of government, industry, academia, and research. Under policy guidance, academic inquiry is now linked seamlessly with industrial application. For instance, the algorithms and software developed through these projects have not only achieved academic breakthroughs but have also reached demonstration-scale application in crucial areas such as domestic NPU adaptation and health monitoring for Olympic athletes, greatly strengthening regional technological competitiveness. HKBU remains committed to expanding collaboration in research between Guangdong and Hong Kong, and using their dual focus on academic excellence and knowledge transfer to contribute to the GBA’s emergence as a global leader in innovation.

Guangdong and Hong Kong Universities’ ‘1+1+1’ Joint Research Collaboration Scheme

Jointly established by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, HKBU, and BNBU, the ‘1+1+1’ Joint Funding Scheme has received an investment of approximately RMB 90 million since it was launched in 2024. The inaugural cohort of 15 projects focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, and their interdisciplinary applications, which align precisely with the core technological innovation needs of the GBA.