New HKU VP calls for stronger industry ties to commercialise research
Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, the newly appointed University of Hong Kong vice-president, said the city must strengthen industry ties to accelerate research commercialisation. He outlined plans including the HKU SPARC scheme and HKU Innovation Week 2026, which will feature over 120 projects and a keynote
Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, the newly appointed University of Hong Kong (HKU) vice-president and pro-vice-chancellor (research), has called for stronger industry ties to accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes and build deeper connections among talent, capital and market partners.
Shum, who has held several key roles at HKU since 2018, including associate vice-president (research and innovation), previously served as vice-president (research) at City University of Hong Kong. He described returning to HKU as a “homecoming.”
HKU regards knowledge transfer as a core mission alongside teaching and research. The university has reorganised its strategic priorities under the “RISE” framework—Research, Innovation, Strategic Partnerships and Entrepreneurship—aligned with directives in the government’s policy address and plans for the Northern Metropolis University Town.
Shum said HKU will actively support the development of the university town to expand its teaching and research space. He noted that attracting businesses to the Northern Metropolis depends on their growth stage, emphasising that companies seeking the next milestone will find the strongest synergy with the university. He added that adequate hardware, such as laboratories, is essential to retaining global talent.
Shum helped organise HKU Innovation Week 2026, to be held from 12 to 16 October, bringing together over 1,000 representatives from government, industry, academia, research and the investment community to take breakthroughs global. The event will feature more than 120 research projects and a range of activities, including the announcement of the completion of the first fundraising round for the HKU-DEFTA Partners joint fund, the launch of the HKU SPARC (Strategic Partnership Alliance for Research and Commercialisation) scheme, and a keynote address by renowned scientist Robert Langer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Shum said the event’s primary purpose is public engagement, adding that researchers can also draw inspiration and gain fresh insights through direct interaction. On commercialisation challenges, he said turning research into market-ready applications requires early engagement with industry partners to navigate scaling and regulatory hurdles. He noted that the HKU SPARC initiative is designed to connect scientists, capital and market players at an early stage, helping streamline international commercialisation.
He also highlighted the importance of top talent for world-class research, saying HKU’s growing concentration of talent creates a “magnet effect,” making the university increasingly attractive to leading scholars worldwide.