CityUHK to establish two world-class research centres under Government’s third InnoHK research cluster “SEAM@InnoHK”
26 Mar 2026
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is actively supporting the Hong Kong SAR Government’s third InnoHK research cluster, “SEAM@InnoHK”, which aims to develop Hong Kong as a hub for global research collaboration. CityUHK proudly announced that two proposals it submitted jointly with leading international universities to establish research centres have been selected, highlighting CityUHK’s global leadership in sustainable development, advanced manufacturing and materials science.
“SEAM@InnoHK” focuses on four major research areas, namely sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials. Its aim is to enable Hong Kong to move full steam ahead towards the vision of becoming a global research collaboration hub. CityUHK excelled in this round of applications, with two projects approved and funded to establish the following two centres.
Centre for Advanced and Smart Manufacturing (CASM)
Led jointly by Professor Lu Jian, Dean of the College of Engineering at CityUHK, and Professor Colm Durkan from the University of Cambridge, UK. The Centre focuses on intelligent, precise, and sustainable next-generation manufacturing technologies.
Cambridge researchers will establish satellite operations in Hong Kong, while CASM scientists gain access to Cambridge's world-leading facilities. The Centre will deliver six tightly integrated researches, including a platform for quantum-level precision in predicting material performance; zero-energy cooling technology, cognitive manufacturing systems to optimise production processes; and next-generation materials to enable future mobility – together to drive synergistic effects across industries.
Sustainable Materials & Advanced Renewable Technologies Centre (SMART)
Co-led by Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue, Lee Shau Kee Chair Professor of Materials Science at CityUHK, and Professor Harm-Anton Klok, of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
The SMART Centre will develop and build AI/ML-enabled materials design platforms and self-driving laboratories to develop breakthrough new materials and renewable energy solutions. This includes the technologies for printable solar cells, rechargeable batteries, green hydrogen energy, and sustainable packaging materials made from food waste and plastic waste.
Leveraging the entrepreneurship training, resources, and global industry network of CityUHK’s HK Tech 300, the centres will be dedicated to translating research achievements into real-world applications, while contributing to carbon reduction, sustainability, and new industrialisation in Hong Kong and beyond.
Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CityUHK, said, “The selection of our proposals demonstrates CityUHK’s leadership in global research collaboration. Through CASM and SMART, we aim to advance next-generation smart manufacturing and sustainable energy materials, injecting fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development. CityUHK has been recognised as the Most International University in the world for three consecutive years (2024, 2025 and 2026), and we will continue to leverage this strength to foster impactful research partnerships with top global institutions. Together, we will translate innovation into real-world benefits for society and contribute to Hong Kong’s development as a world-class innovation and technology hub.”
“The two InnoHK centres were established through close research partnerships between CityUHK and our overseas partner universities, as well as strong interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK. “With the support of InnoHK, CityUHK teams are well positioned to make an impact that extends beyond academia, particularly in the critical fields of advanced manufacturing, sustainable development, energy and materials.”
InnoHK is a major innovation and technology initiative of the Hong Kong SAR Government, designed to attract leading international research institutions to collaborate with local universities, establish research centres/laboratories in Hong Kong, and translate scientific outcomes into impactful, real-world applications. Following the successful establishment of the first two platforms, namely Health@InnoHK, focusing on healthcare technology, and AIR@InnoHK, focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, the launch of SEAM@InnoHK marks a new milestone in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development.
CityUHK has established three world-class research centres under the first two InnoHK research clusters. The newly established CASM and SMART will complement these existing centres, further enriching CityUHK’s strengths in innovation and technology, accelerating research translation, driving local industrial upgrading, and nurturing research talent. Together, they aim to make a lasting global impact and help position Hong Kong as a premier international hub for scientific collaboration.