CityUHK and AECOM forge strategic partnership to accelerate Hong Kong’s sustainability and climate resilience goals
The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, announced a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 February. This collaboration is dedicated to accelerating Hong Kong’s progress towards its sustainability and climate resilience ambitions by integrating cutting-edge academic research with proven industry expertise.
Officiated by Ir Dr Otto Poon Lok-to, founding chairman of the Hong Kong Climate Change Forum, the signing ceremony formalised a partnership that will drive joint research projects in sustainability, climate adaptation and environmental innovations. A key initiative will be the exploration of a dedicated AECOM–SEE joint laboratory to advance climate-related research. The collaboration will also encompass knowledge exchange, innovation and solution development, capacity-building programmes, student internships, and joint academic supervision, strengthening the bridge between industry and academia-related research.
“This strategic partnership with CityUHK SEE is a catalyst for transformative solutions addressing critical environmental challenges,” said Dr Johnny Cheuk Chi-yin, Senior Vice President and Hong Kong Executive Leader at AECOM. “By uniting CityUHK’s renowned research capabilities with our industry-leading technical excellence in sustainable infrastructure and on-the-ground experience, including integrated shoreline management, flood management and nature-based solutions, we can fast-track the development of resilient, future-ready solutions for Hong Kong.”
“Collaborating with AECOM is not just a partnership; it’s a commitment to shaping a sustainable future together with industry leaders on various initiatives, all aimed at translating research into real-world impact,” said Professor Benjamin Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at CityUHK. “Partnerships between academia and industry are essential for accelerating innovation, scaling solutions and building resilience. Universities bring together diverse fields under one roof, making them ideal hubs for innovation and collaboration. We are excited to work closely with the industry partners, including AECOM, to foster scalable solutions for global sustainability.”
Following the MoU signing, CityUHK SEE and AECOM co-hosted a Climate Change Symposium, facilitating in-depth dialogue between academia, industry and the government. The symposium featured expert discussions on coastal resilience, sustainable water management and climate risk disclosure, highlighting pathways to address Hong Kong’s specific environmental challenges.
Key insights were provided by distinguished speakers representing government, academia, and industry, including: Mr Chan Wai-tak, Principal Assistant Secretary (Works), Development Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR; Professor Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP, Chairman of Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation; Ms Hazel Cheng, Project Manager for Sustainability, Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.; Professor Horton; Professor Chu Jung-Eun, Assistant Professor in the SEE; Professor Han Ping, Associate Professor in the SEE; Mr Robert Chan Ying-kin, Vice President, Water, Asia at AECOM; Mr Stanley Liu Chun-kit, Executive Director, Ports & Marine, Transportation at AECOM; and Mr Delton Ng Chun-yu, Executive Director, Environment at AECOM.
The symposium underscored a shared commitment to advancing Hong Kong’s climate goals through academic-industry collaboration, driving climate resilient innovation from the laboratory to the community.
