The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recently established strategic partnership with The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU), Southern Medical University (SMU), and Guangzhou Medical University (GMU) respectively. These individual partners will engage in in-depth collaboration with HKUST on areas such as clinical education, talent cultivation, medical research, and translation of innovations, injecting new impetus into the advancement of medical education and healthcare services.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), with a population of approximately 86 million, continues to see a rising demand for high-quality healthcare services. At the same time, the region’s abundant clinical medical resources offer significant potential for the development of medical education and clinical research. HKUST has always valued and actively pursued collaboration and development in the GBA. Over the years, it has established research bases in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Foshan, and in 2022, HKUST (Guangzhou) was founded in Nansha, Guangzhou. These collaborations are another HKUST’s key initiative in support of its vision to establish the third medical school in Hong Kong By leveraging resources and platforms within the GBA, HKUST will capitalize on its strengths in research, education and innovation to collaborate with its partners in cultivating interdisciplinary medical talents who will shape the future of medical development. These partnerships are set to transform Hong Kong and the GBA into an international hub for medical innovation, and position the region as a leader in the global health sector.
These partnerships aim to further expand the cooperative mechanisms between Hong Kong and the mainland in clinical education and medical research. Under the agreements, clinical professors and experts from FAH-SYSU, SMU and GMU will conduct regular lectures at HKUST and provide its students diverse clinical practicum opportunities in the GBA. HKUST also plans to explore innovative pedagogical approaches and research on clinical education with its three partners, leveraging cutting-edge technology, medical research, and clinical expertise to advance the region’s medical education.
In the field of medical research, HKUST seeks to integrate its strengths in biomedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), data science, engineering and basic sciences, with the expertise of FAH-SYSU, SMU, and GMU in clinical medicine. To foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, HKUST will explore establishing joint research teams or centers with its partners to translate cutting-edge research findings into practical clinical applications and enhance medical technology in the GBA and beyond. Additionally, HKUST plans to co-host regular international academic forums and seminars with these institutions to share the latest advancements in medical research, facilitate global academic exchanges, and create a platform for global medical innovation.
HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP said, “HKUST is honored to establish strategic partnerships with FAH-SYSU, SMU, and GMU, marking a key milestone in our long-term collaboration with top-tier medical institutions in the GBA. By combining HKUST’s robust research capabilities and our three partners’ clinical expertise, we shall nurture a new generation of high-quality medical professionals and accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into clinical applications, thereby contributing to the advancement of medical innovation in Hong Kong and the nation.”
As Hong Kong’s first research university, HKUST is distinguished by its strong research foundation and a diverse array of internationally renowned scholars and experts. The University has achieved world-class excellence, particularly in fields such as neuroscience, genetics, bioengineering, AI, data science and robotics. HKUST is actively working to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school, aiming to cultivate medical professionals who are forward-thinking, innovative, and equipped with clinical expertise. Over the years, the University has made significant research breakthroughs in medicine, including a highly accurate blood test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, a microscope that facilitates real-time decision-making during cancer surgery, and a series of large AI models designed to assist both general practitioners and specialists in diagnosis.
The three GBA medical institutions partnering with HKUST not only possess exceptional capabilities in the field of clinical medicine but also have advanced talent development systems, abundant clinical resources, and extensive international collaboration networks. These partnerships will fully leverage the strengths of all parties involved, working together with HKUST to elevate medical education, research innovation, and clinical applications to new heights.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU)
Founded in 1910, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) includes the Yuexiu General Hospital, Huangpu branch, and Nansha branch. Additionally, it collaborates with Guangxi and Guizhou governments to establish the Guangxi Division Hospital and Guizhou Division Hospital – both affiliated with FAH-SYSU, creating a national regional medical center. FAH-SYSU has partnerships with 46 world-renowned universities and medical institutions, including the Mass General Brigham (MGB) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in the U.S., focusing on disciplinary development, talent cultivation and telemedicine. Notably, in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and the CITRIS Research Center in the U.S., FAH-SYSU created the nation’s first International Robotic Surgery Training Center led by academic institutions. The Center is dedicated to nurturing medical professionals specializing in robot surgery, setting a future direction for surgery in China and the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, leveraging the unique strengths of different regions and fields, the Hospital has also established the International Institute of Aging Health Research with the University of Birmingham in the U.K. to promote consolidation of research and innovation resources.
Southern Medical University (SMU)
Established in 1951, Southern Medical University (SMU) has two campuses located in Guangzhou and Shunde. It has 8 directly affiliated hospitals and 9 hospitals established through partnerships, among them 13 are Grade 3A hospitals. SMU is not just the only medical institution among the first five key provincial universities in Guangdong province, but also one of the first provincially and ministerially co-constructed medical universities, as well as one of the first 8 universities nationwide to offer an eight-year program in clinical medicine, leading from a Bachelor’s degree to a Doctor of Philosophy. Additionally, SMU is a pilot institution for the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Excellent Physician and Excellent Physician (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Education and Training Program.
Guangzhou Medical University (GMU)
Founded in 1958, Guangzhou Medical University (GMU) is not only a key university in Guangdong Province but also a “Double First-Class” institution at the national level. It was among the first universities selected for the “³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Excellent Physician Education and Training Program.” The University has two campuses located in Panyu and Yuexiu, along with a network of 15 affiliated hospitals: 11 general hospitals and 4 specialized ones. Among these, two are ranked within the nation’s top 100, and four are recognized as high-level hospitals in the Guangdong Province. With a collective capacity of approximately 21,000 beds and an impressive annual outpatient service volume of approximately 21 million visits, GMU plays a pivotal role in healthcare provision. Its flagship institution, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, spearheads the development of the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Center for Respiratory Medicine, participates in the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Project for Enhancing Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Capabilities, and serves as a key national center for epidemic treatment.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university committed to innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. Our holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach is recognized globally. HKUST placed 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, 19th Worldwide and No.1 in Hong Kong in Times Higher Education’s impact Rankings. Twelve of HKUST’s subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. Of these, “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently placing among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. Our research and entrepreneurship endeavors are also innovative and impactful. Over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of November 2024, HKUST members have founded 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 16 exits (IPO or M&A).
