Collaboration — for the Benefit of All

HKUST works closely with Government, business and industry in research and development to create effective and practical benefits for all parties, and for the community as a whole. Here are some notable examples:

The University signed a significant agreement for cooperative development with US-based WebEx Communications, Inc on 27 May 2002. WebEx is the leader in real-time communications infrastructure for business meetings on the Web. The agreement will help strengthen Hong Kong's overall IT capability and create a leading position for the territory in the Mainland and the region.

HKUST's new Photonics Technology Center, opened on 28 May 2002, is designed to move Hong Kong's LED industry upstream. It performs basic research, designs products and processes, and transfers newly developed technologies to industry. The Center was established with a HK$15 million grant from the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission and $1.7 million sponsorship from the LED industry.

HKUST planned a Logistics and Supply Chain Management Institute, building on the strengths of its prominent faculty and world-class research facilities. The Institute should strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international logistics hub, and contribute further to the economic development of Hong Kong and the region.

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management is devoted to driving Hong Kong forward in the logistics area. Among the state-of-the-art transportation systems it has developed is the Vehicle Routing Scheduler (VRS). Already successfully deployed by Johnson Electric, VRS provides powerful street-level scheduling and routing software that can help streamline fleet operations. It will also be used on Rehabus to enhance service to the community.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Applied Technology Center received a HK$29.5 million grant to upgrade the design and manufacturing capabilities of the Hong Kong electronics industry. The five-year Embedded Passives on Flexible Substrates Program was set up to increase the technological sophistication and end-use value of products by helping manufacturers reduce the size of their electronic products, lower costs and enhance performance. The grant is the largest yet awarded by the Government's Innovation and Technology Commission. Compass Technology, a leading Hong Kong manufacturer, provided matching funds.