MILES at Tech Landmark: Fostering Hong Kong‑Shenzhen Innovation Collaboration

On 3 September, a 16‑member delegation from Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee (UGC) visited the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Led by Mr Timothy Lui, UGC Chairman, and Professor Teng‑khi Tan, UGC Secretary‑General, the delegation met with HKU senior management, faculty and students to learn about the University’s latest strategies and achievements in research, innovation and 

education.

Professor Xiang Zhang, President of HKU, together with other senior executives, extended a warm welcome to the UGC delegation.

(Photo: Group photograph of the UGC delegation and HKU management | Source: The University of Hong Kong)

During the site visit, the delegation toured multiple campus facilities, including Tech Landmark, HKU’s new‑build flagship complex for innovation and interdisciplinary research. Comprising three interconnected towers, Tech Landmark houses state‑of‑the‑art laboratories supporting research in artificial intelligence, big data, smart materials, quantum science and other emerging fields.

(Photo: Artist’s rendering of the Tech Landmark complex | Source: The University of Hong Kong)

Professor Xiaobo Yin, HKU Vice‑President (Global Affairs) and Director of Tech Landmark, gave the delegation a full briefing on the purpose and capabilities of the new research precinct.

(Photo: Professor Xiaobo Yin delivers a briefing for the UGC delegation)

As one of the key resident institutes within Tech Landmark, the Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy (MILES) was represented by Professor Peng Liang. He shared updates on MILES’s research programmes and explained how the world‑class infrastructure at Tech Landmark strengthens the Institute’s research capacity and academic outreach. His presentation underscored MILES’s unique positioning, rooted at HKU and oriented toward Hong Kong‑Shenzhen integrated innovation.

(Photo: Professor Peng Liang presents MILES’s progress to the visiting UGC delegation)

Rooted at HKU, Driving Integrated Hong Kong‑Shenzhen Innovation

A core strategic feature of MILES is its commitment to Hong Kong‑Shenzhen integration. The Institute maintains dedicated office and research facilities within Tech Landmark on HKU’s main campus. This physical presence embeds MILES within HKU’s top‑tier academic ecosystem, granting direct access to world‑class faculty, cutting‑edge projects and global research networks.

MILES capitalises on Hong Kong’s international research strengths and Shenzhen’s robust industrial innovation ecosystem. By connecting resources across the two cities, the Institute enables complementary expertise and joint collaborative development.

(Photo: MILES office and research premises inside Tech Landmark | Source: MILES)

Tech Landmark’s comprehensive interdisciplinary infrastructure provides strong operational backing for MILES’s research agenda. During the visit, MILES highlighted the tangible benefits of this purpose‑built environment: advanced lab spaces boost research productivity for life‑science and energy‑materials projects, support high‑impact research endeavours, facilitate wide‑ranging academic exchanges, generate high‑quality outputs, and elevate MILES’s academic and industry‑wide standing.

(Photo: Multi‑purpose event space within Tech Landmark | Source: MILES)

The delegation also toured several specialist HKU laboratories covering artificial intelligence, digital humanities and other key thematic areas. Delegates held round‑table discussions with faculty and students from diverse disciplines and academic stages, and commended HKU’s track‑record in research innovation and talent development.

President Professor Xiang Zhang expressed gratitude for the UGC’s visit and its long‑standing support for HKU. He reaffirmed the University’s ambition to evolve into a world‑leading university shaping humanity’s future.

Two‑Way Empowerment: Charting New Innovation Momentum for the GBA

MILES will continue to build on its base at HKU’s Tech Landmark, maximising the opportunities brought by Hong Kong‑Shenzhen integration. Drawing on Hong Kong’s international research community, the Institute pursues frontier fundamental research and expands global academic connections. Working alongside Shenzhen’s industrial ecosystem, MILES accelerates the real‑world translation of research discoveries.

Focusing on life sciences and energy materials, MILES will address critical technical challenges, nurture high‑calibre innovation‑driven talent, and serve as a benchmark for cross‑border Hong Kong‑Shenzhen research collaboration. It aims to deliver sustained innovation momentum for science and technology advancement across the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area.

This article draws partly from HKU’s official news release HKU Welcomes the UGC Delegation. 

Full story available at: https://lead.hku.hk/sc/article/2026/09/hku-welcomes-ugc/