News & Stories
2025

News
HKUST Researchers Pioneer Breakthroughs in Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling to Enhance Critical Metal Recovery and Reduce Carbon Emissions
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems, making efficient recycling crucial for sustainability. A research team led by Prof. Dan TSANG, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has revealed a previously unrecognized atomic-scale mechanism that obstructs efficient LIB recycling. This breakthrough challenges long-standing assumptions and sets the stage for cleaner, high-yield recovery of critical metals used in LIBs.

News
HKUST Partners with Top US and Swiss Universities to Propose Innovative Strategy Reshaping Stability and Sustainability of Perovskite Solar Cells
A research team from the School of Engineering (SENG) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has introduced comprehensive bio-inspired multiscale design strategies to address key challenges in the commercialization of perovskite solar cells: long-term operational stability. Drawing inspiration from natural systems, these strategies aim to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and adaptability of solar technologies. The approaches focus on leveraging insights from biological structures to create solar cells that can better withstand environmental stressors and prolonged use.
News
HKUST Develops AI Medical Imaging Technology that Cuts Radiation by 99%
Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a groundbreaking AI technology that reconstructs precise 3D bones and organs models from minimal X-ray images, slashing patients’ radiation exposure by up to 99% compared to CT scans. This innovation not only enhances patient safety but also reduces costs and wait times, with potential applications in surgical planning, real-time imaging, and personalized implants. HKUST team is collaborating with different industry partners, including bone printing company Koln 3D Technology (Medical) Limited (Koln 3D), to implement this technology in public hospitals.

Stories
Sparking Sustainable Consciousness: A Journey of Teaching and Transformation
In the vibrant halls of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Dr. Meike SAUERWEIN, Lecturer of the Division of Environment and Sustainability, is igniting a quiet revolution. Her course, ENVR 1080: The Smart Consumer – Uncovering the Hidden Story Behind the Product Label, is far more than a typical sustainability course—it is an eye-opening experience that makes students rethink their everyday purchases and their ripple effects on the environment and society.

News
HKUST and BYD Establish Joint Laboratory to Pioneer Embodied Intelligence
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and BYD Auto Industry Company Limited (BYD) launched the HKUST-BYD Embodied Al Joint Lab. This collaboration aims to accelerate innovation and industrial applications in robotics and smart manufacturing, injecting new momentum into global scientific advancement and industrial transformation.
The agreement was signed by HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development Prof. Tim CHENG and BYD Vice President Mr. LUO Zhongliang, witnessed by HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM and BYD Group Chairman and President Mr. WANG Chuanfu.

News
HKUST & Esquel Unveil Five-Year Study: Empowering Students for Sustainable Innovation
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (“HKUST”) has partnered with Esquel Enterprises Limited (“Esquel Group”) to launch a five-year study program that allows HKUST students to conduct biannual field research at the textile manufacturer’s 500,000-square-meter Sustainable Development Garden Integral, recognized as one of China’s top 20 sustainable development projects by the United Nations.
Guided by HKUST faculty, students will visit the garden twice a year in groups to assess and make recommendations regarding its sustainability impact on environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation. This initiative marks another academic-industry collaboration aimed at accelerating the Greater Bay Area’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

News
The Race to Zero: HKUST Unveils First Comprehensive Net-Zero Action Plan Among Local Universities
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announces its Net-Zero Action Plan (Action Plan), which is the first among higher education institutions in Hong Kong to have a comprehensive framework with multi-pronged strategies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. This plan is supported by a commitment of HK$30 million earned from renewable energy generation to further accelerate research and adoption of innovative decarbonization solutions on campus.

News
HKUST Researchers Set to Transform Food Production with AI-enhanced 3D Food Printing Solution
Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a cutting-edge AI-assisted 3D food printing solution that combines printing with infrared cooking, paving the way for safer, more efficient, and visually appealing food production.
Traditional 3D food printing methods often require additional postprocessing steps, which can have unappealing food ingredients, imperfect shapes, and even potential microbial contamination.
To address these challenges, the team from the Division of Integrative Systems and Design (ISD) at HKUST has developed an AI-enhanced system that combines extrusion-based printing with simultaneous infrared heating for on-the-fly cooking of intricate starch-based foods. Using graphene heaters for cooking, they precisely controlled the cooking process, ensuring that starch-based food items retain their intended shape and quality.