17
HKUST 2011-2012 Annual Report
The University’s Mainland research bases in the Pearl River
Delta are increasingly serving as platforms to develop
interdisciplinary research and industrial partnerships. In
2011-12, 50 new research grants and commercial projects
were secured by the Fok Ying Tung Graduate School
in Nansha, Guangzhou. HKUST’s scholars have been
successful in bidding for approximately RMB 50 million
of Mainland research funding from prestigious grants
including those under the Shenzhen Peacock Program and
the National 973 Program.
A new e-newsletter,
GrantWise
, was rolled out to inform
the research community at HKUST the latest funding
opportunities around the world.
Advancing the world
The University has made research breakthroughs in many
fields during the year. The following presents just some
highlights:
‘Tractor beam’ era moves closer
When light illuminates an object, part of it reflects back
and the recoil pushes the object away. Physics textbooks
teach us light can push but never pull. Prof Che Ting
Chan (Physics) and Dr Jack Ng (Physics) showed that light
an umbrella framework for developing large
scale research projects in two broad areas:
Sustainable Energy Production & Storage
and Smart Green Building.
Funding success
The excellence of fundamental research
at HKUST is reflected by the competitive
research funding from both government
and industry.
In 2011-12, the University secured a total
research funding of HK$442.5 million from
various sources, the largest share of which
was from the Research Grants Council
(RGC). A total of 279 new research projects
were awarded by RGC, with total project
value of HK$158 million. HKUST researchers
also achieved the highest success rate (44
per cent) in the competitive 2012 General Research Fund
exercise. Under the Early Career Scheme, which supports
outstanding newly recruited junior faculty members, 22
HKUST applications received funding, with again the
highest overall success rate (46 per cent). In addition,
both of HKUST’s applications for the new Prestigious HSS
Fellowship Scheme were funded.
HKUST researchers have been awarded a total of
HK$91.4 million for two RGC Theme-based Research
Scheme projects after a most rigorous competition. The
project “Stem cell strategy for nervous system disorders”
led by Prof Nancy Ip will study molecular mechanisms
and signaling pathways that control the generation
and differentiation of neural stem cells for developing
new therapies to combat the devastating effects of
neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. A team
of electrical engineers and material scientists led by Prof
Kei May Lau has embarked on a project that will help
accelerate the adoption of solid state lighting systems for
a more sustainable environment. The team will utilize
silicon IC technologies to develop innovative device design,
fabrication and packaging systems for a revolutionary
“Cost-effective and eco-friendly LED System-on-a-chip
(SoC)”.
