Hong Kong hosts the first International AI for Science Summit to chart a course for innovation
The Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (HKISI, CAS) and City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) co-hosted the inaugural International Summit of AI for Science on 21 November. Aiming to promote the empowerment of science research through AI and provide strategic guidance for seizing opportunities and shaping the future of research and innovation, the summit attracted over 300 participants, including researchers and industry professionals from across the globe, to gather at CityUHK.
In his opening remarks, Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China, congratulated the HKISI, CAS and CityUHK for organising the summit. He said, “Today’s summit is a collective exploration of how AI can define the boundaries of human knowledge. The Hong Kong SAR Government has identified AI as a key industry for future growth and has set out clear goals for the development of AI. With a focus on "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach", we introduce multidimensional policies to promote the development of AI in Hong Kong, in line with the national "AI+" initiative and consistent with the global development path of AI.”
Professor Liu Weidong, Director General of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the CAS, remarked, “Attaching great importance to AI development, the CAS launched ScienceOne in July. This scientific foundational model is designed to assist advanced research and discovery across disciplines, providing intelligent tools for scientific tasks”. He added that advancing AI technology and integrating it with scientific research are pivotal for China to achieve technological self-reliance and establish itself as a global centre for science and innovation.
Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityUHK, remarked, “AI is a game changer in numerous scientific fields and represents a significant opportunity for China, as well as Southeast Asia, to keep pace with global AI developments”. He added that CityUHK recently claimed the top spot in Hong Kong in the latest “Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026”, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, and is committed to driving interdisciplinary collaboration through excellent initiatives such as this summit.
With the rapid development of machine learning and large language models, AI has become a powerful driver of scientific research and exploration. The integration of AI and science is transforming the foundational logic of scientific research, accelerating discoveries and unleashing unprecedented opportunities to address some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges.
The summit brought together outstanding scholars from around the world to focus on “AI for Science”, an emerging interdisciplinary area. They shared their applications and breakthroughs in using AI across key scientific fields, such as life sciences, materials science and physics.
The keynote speakers represented top research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Princeton University, Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Tsinghua University, Westlake University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Beijing Zhongguancun College.
The summit also featured special sessions, including lightning talks and a roundtable discussion, providing a platform for emerging scientists from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to present their latest research findings, fostering academic exchange.