CityUHK Council visits the University of Exeter to deepen strategic collaboration in digital medicine and materials science
Professor the Honourable Michael Ngai, Chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), recently led a delegation to the University of Exeter in the UK. The visit, which aimed to further consolidate the deep academic partnership between the two institutions, resulted in a series of significant agreements on high-impact collaboration in cutting-edge fields, including digital medicine, brain science and materials science.
The CityUHK Council delegation included Mr Ronald Chu, Secretary to the Council, and Professor Shirley Chong, Director of the Communications and Institutional Research Office. The delegation was warmly received by the University of Exeter’s management team, including Professor Richard Follett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global Engagement; Mr Peter Clack, Director of Global Exeter; Professor Huw Williams, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) and Professor in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences; Professor Katie Lunnon, Director of Global Engagement and Deputy Head of the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences; and Mr Liam Roberts, Regional Head (China), Global Partnerships.
The two universities held in-depth discussions on deepening their collaborative synergy in academic and research initiatives. The University of Exeter is a strategic academic and research partner of CityUHK’s Institute for Digital Medicine. Building on this foundation, both institutions committed to further breaking through disciplinary boundaries. The next phase of collaboration will focus on integrating interdisciplinary and cross-border research, leveraging digital technology to optimise clinical applications and provide innovative solutions to global public health challenges.
Additionally, the two parties are pushing forward their collaboration to advance a Brain Science Initiative, which includes the establishment of a Visiting Fellowship Scheme. This high-level academic exchange platform is designed to facilitate joint research between scholars from both universities, focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), such as SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). This initiative will expand opportunities for academic exchange and joint publications, laying a robust foundation for long-term collaboration and nurturing the next generation of world-class talent in neuroscience.
The representatives of the two universities also explored innovative collaboration in the field of new materials. The University of Exeter, through the establishment of the ‘MetaHub’ last year, is dedicated to researching metamaterials, which are artificially designed and engineered structures with unique physical properties, whose applications range from medical sensors to food technology. These breakthroughs complement CityUHK’s strengths in materials science and provide a significant opportunity for collaboration. CityUHK’s Materials Science programme was ranked 5th globally in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, firmly establishing its place among the world’s elite. By leveraging the Institute for Materials Innovation, established by CityUHK and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) last year, CityUHK and the University of Exeter will embark on forward-looking research to further elevate their international research impact.
Professor Ngai emphasised that CityUHK has long been committed to forging strategic partnerships with world-class universities. This visit to the University of Exeter consolidates and extends the strong friendship between the two institutions and marks a new milestone in interdisciplinary research collaboration. By combining their strengths in digital medicine and materials science, and leveraging resource sharing and complementary expertise, the two universities aim to translate research outcomes into tangible benefits for global society, thereby contributing significantly to scientific advancement and talent development worldwide.
The visit concluded successfully, laying an even firmer foundation for future in-depth academic exchange and the translation of research outcomes between CityUHK and the University of Exeter.