HKBU delegates participate in RGC Research Summit 2025 for senior-level exchange and research showcase

On 11 December 2025, a delegation of 100 representatives from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), led by Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development); Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research); Professor Jiming Liu, Associate Vice-President (Research Development); and Professor William Cheung, Associate Vice-President (Transdisciplinary Education), participated in the inaugural Research Grants Council (RGC) Research Summit.

The summit served as a premier platform for HKBU to engage with senior leaders across the sector, explore the evolving landscape of higher education, and showcase how artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating research innovation across disciplines.

Professor Martin Wong (4th from left); Professor Lyu Aiping (3rd from right), Professor Johnny M Poon (1st from right), Professor Liu Jiming (3rd from left), Professor William Cheung (2nd from left) pose for the event with HKBU representatives.

Reimagining Collaboration in the Greater Bay Area

During the Presidents’ Roundtable, Professor Wong advocated a progressive “bottom-up” model for collaboration and integration within the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Highlighting the success of faculty-led initiatives, he cited the Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) as a visionary example.

Professor Wong emphasised that such cross-border campuses leverage complementary educational strengths while cultivating a robust pipeline of PhD talent—an essential foundation for the region’s long-term development.

When Curiosity Leads to AI Innovation

A major highlight of the Summit was its focus on how curiosity-driven research can bridge technology and the arts. Professor Poon shared compelling insights during the innovation panel, illustrating the “magic of curiosity-led discovery” through his team’s recent breakthrough: the creation of an AI dancer that performed live at the HKBU Symphony Orchestra Gala.

 

He described the project as a powerful example of “serendipity in interdisciplinary pursuits,” demonstrating how openness to the unknown can lead to transformative and unexpected creative outcomes at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts.

Spotlight on Cutting-Edge Research Awardees

The event also celebrated high-impact projects funded by the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), with two HKBU faculty members spotlighted for their research excellence:

Professor Huang Xin presented his work on “Federated Graph Management and Querying: Subgraphs, Keywords, and Privacy.” His research addresses critical data management challenges, offering new solutions for privacy and efficiency in an increasingly connected digital world.

Professor Zhang Lu showcased his project, “Improved Metabolic Network Reconstruction and Metabolite Profiles Prediction using Complete and Strain-Resolved Microbial Genomes.” His work offers significant advancements in understanding microbial genetics, paving the way for new biological insights.

The active participation of the HKBU community, from top leadership to individual researchers, reinforced the University’s position as a hub for innovation and forward-thinking scholarship in the region.  

Professor Huang Xin from the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, presented his work on “Federated Graph Management and Querying: Subgraphs, Keywords, and Privacy.”

Professor Zhang Lu from the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, showcased his project, “Improved Metabolic Network Reconstruction and Metabolite Profiles Prediction using Complete and Strain-Resolved Microbial Genomes.”