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RESEARCH UNITS

Research Units

Central and Interdepartmental Research Units

To support and extend research based in academic departments, the Universityhas established a number of research institutes and centers. Institutes promote andfacilitate broad interdisciplinary research collaboration, while centers tend to be morefocussed. Such units advance the complementary research interests of a group of facultyand research staff, normally across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Together with disciplinary research in academic departments, the followingspecialized research units provide both postgraduate and undergraduate students withopportunities to participate in leading-edge fundamental and applied research.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES

Each research institute is managed by a Director who is responsible for programs,projects, facilities and personnel. Faculty, staff, students and visitors should contactthe director if they wish to become involved in a particular program.

Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI)

Director:Mitchell M. TSENG, Chair Professor of Industrial Engineering and Logistics

Management

The mission of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI) is to advance thetechnology for enhancing performance of manufacturing enterprises. By building asynergy among HKUST strengths in Process Technology, Automation Technology, DesignTechnology and Information Technology, HKUST is well positioned as a major internationalcenter of research and development in manufacturing technology. In fact, AMI is therecipient of the prestigious LEAD Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.With the current trends in globalization of manufacturing industry, AMI is well positionedas one of the knowledge leaders and technology pioneers on the transformation of modernmanufacturing.

Areas of Focus

The scope of AMI encompasses the planning, design, implementation and operation ofthe manufacturing enterprises from design concept to delivery. The research anddevelopment focuses on:

• Mass Customization and Personalization Technology (including product familydevelopment, high mix low volume production technology, configurator design, andcustomer selection of products)

• Systems Integration Technology (RFID, supply chain management, systemsengineering and sustainable production)

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• Design Technology (design theory, product life cycle management, CAD/CAM,human modeling, design modeling and virtual reality technology)

• Global Manufacturing (value chain design and optimization, business modeldevelopment and global sourcing)

Research Programs and Projects

• Mass customization and personalization (MCP) technology has been madeapplicable to areas of electronic products, appliances, apparel, construction andshoe industry. Further to the success of the co-organization of the 3rd World Congresson Mass Customization and Personalization in HKUST, Hong Kong in September2005, the 4th World Congress on Mass Customization and Personalization was heldin Media Lab, MIT in October 2007. The next MCPC will be held in Helsinki in 2009.

• Systems Integration Technology includes global supply chain management, RFIDtechnology, systems integration, concurrent engineering and sustainable productionand collaboration. By leveraging on the modern information technology to enhancethe effectiveness of global collaboration, these projects have been able to pull togethercross disciplinary professionals in computer sciences, supply chain managementand product development teams to work together.

• Design technology includes design theory, product development, system design,modeling and simulation for business model design, computer-aided design, humanmodeling, process modeling, and design knowledge management systems forimproving product quality and delivery.

• Manufacturing automation technology include rapid prototyping, tooling,manufacturing process control, grinding technology, multi-fingered robotic handsand manipulation, special-purpose robots, robotic vision and sensing systems, fuzzycontrol systems, non-linear and robust control techniques for mechatronicapplications, motor drive and control systems, transportation automation, andindustrial motion control applications.

Zhejiang Advanced Manufacturing Institute of The Hong Kong University ofScience & Technology (ZAMI-HKUST)

China, particularly in Pearl and Yangtze River Deltas, is emerging as the worldmanufacturing center. Zhejiang Advanced Manufacturing Institute of The Hong KongUniversity of Science & Technology (ZAMI - HKUST) has been established in Hangzhouto advance large-scale customization, network coordination design, and corporateinformation system with the synergy of HKUST and industries in Zhejiang Province.With the strong R & D capability and fruitful collaborations with local government,companies and organization worldwide, ZAMI-HKUST has also been recognized as thefirst tier manufacturing research institute of its international significant and achievements,and received the Science & Technology Innovative Enterprise Award from the ZhejiangProvince Government.

The mission of ZAMI includes:

• Collaborate with local talents to engage in R&D projects with relevance to theadvancement of design and manufacturing technology;

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• Transfer academic achievements to meet practical requirements of industrialapplications;

• Assist in human resource development programs for developing capabilities of designand advanced manufacturing technology;

• Foster close cooperation and undertake an on-going strategic planning process forthe development of the manufacturing sector in both Hong Kong and the YangtzeRiver Delta.

Biotechnology Research Institute

Director:Yung-Hou WONG, Professor of Biochemistry

Globally, biotechnology continues to represent one of the most rapidly growingindustries as a result of its propensity to provide innovative and state-of-the-art solutionsto many complex issues facing the future well-being of the world and its population. Aswe enter the 21st Century, exciting and historical breakthroughs in basic and appliedresearch await us just over the horizon. These critical advancements and their immediateapplications to the medical, agricultural, food, energy and environmental sciences willensure the continued outgrowth of the biotechnology industry. Noting the rapid paceby which biotechnology products are being developed, the future growth and expansionof this industry will most assuredly have a profound impact on the future health andwell-being of humankind, as well as the world’s economy. In light of these developments,many countries have begun to recognize the importance of building-up their existingbiotechnology base. From its inception, HKUST has made development andadvancement of biotechnology one of the primary research initiatives of its faculty. Withintuitiveness, HKUST in 1990 established the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI)using a generous donation of $130 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The mission of the BRI is to assist Hong Kong in developing a strong biotechnologyindustry through recruitment of outstanding and motivated faculty, training ofprofessionals, expansion and continued development of state-of-the-art researchfacilities, support of basic and applied research in relevant areas of science, and furtherdevelopment and enhancement of promising biotechnology products. Additionally, theInstitute has assumed a committed and supportive role for the development of enablingtechnologies, such as bioinformatics, chemoinformatics and DNA array integratedbiochips, which are key capabilities vital to establishing a globally competitivebiotechnology industry in Hong Kong. The focus of BRI research and developmentinterests and expertise include:

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

• to provide scientific verification of the effects of TCM

• to discover lead compounds for new drug development

• to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM

• to develop methods and protocols for TCM quality assurance and reformulation

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Neuro-Proteins

• to discover novel neuro-proteins and elucidate their cellular functions and molecularinteractions

• to identify potential therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to neuro-diseases

Protein Engineering and Design

• to elucidate the pathways of protein folding and the structural basis of protein stabilityso that therapeutically useful proteins with improved properties can be designed.

Additionally, BRI actively sponsors several research facilities essential forconducting cutting-edge biotechnology research:

• Plant Growth Facility • Animal Care Facility

• Fermentation Facility • High-Throughput Drug Screening Facility

• Microscopy Facility • Molecular Biology Facility

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance • Genechip FacilityFacility (500 MHz & 750 MHz) • Combinatorial Chemistry Facility

• Bioinformatics and • Applied Genomics FacilityChemoinformatics Facility

Currently, BRI maintains worldwide affiliations with universities, research institutesand industrial entities, as well as serving as a supporting institution for the newly formedAsia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network for Asia and the Pacific Rim (A-IMBN).

In July 2002, BRI successfully obtained a grant of HK$175 million from the HongKong Jockey Club Charities Trust to set up a biotechnology company specializing in thediscovery and development of novel therapeutics initially discovered by BRI researchers.The Biotechnology Research Corporation (BRC) Ltd. was formally established in October2003 to conduct biotechnology-related research and to carry out commercial exploitationof research results in focused areas.

BRI’s web site address: http://www.ust.hk/~bri/

Hongkong Telecom Institute of Information Technology

Director:Khaled BEN LETAIEF, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The Hongkong Telecom Institute of Information Technology (HKTIIT) was foundedwith a $65 million grant from Hongkong Telecom Foundation (now PCCW Foundation).The formation of the Institute is based on the recognition that the future economic well-being and development of Hong Kong is highly dependent on telecommunication andinformation technology. The establishment of HKTIIT is an investment in the futuretechnological development of Hong Kong. All Schools at the University are expected tobe involved in the research activity of this Institute.

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RESEARCH UNITS

Undergraduate scholarships and postgraduate research assistantships are offeredthrough the Institute, and certain members of the academic faculty are designated asFellows.

Research in the University’s Schools and Departments receive support in fieldssuch as network technology, wireless communications, video/multi-media technology,and language and speech technology.

Institute for Advanced Study

Founding Director:Paul C. W. CHU, Chair Professor of Physics

Executive Director:Angelina Chun-Chu YEE, Associate Professor, Division of Humanities

Vision

The Institute for Advanced Study at HKUST is a community of eminent scholars activelyengaged in frontier research in areas that powerfully impact the way we live in the 21stcentury.

With a core group of resident faculty and visiting members and year-round programs oftalks, seminars, workshops and conferences, the Institute will be a premier intellectualcenter that attracts the world’s most creative minds to drive cutting-edge discoveryand scholarship.

Objectives

• Research Excellence

Through the dynamic interaction of distinguished scholars across disciplines andinstitutions, and through sponsorship of research programs and activities, the Institutewill galvanize the research strength of universities in Hong Kong and propel it to thehighest international level.

• Edcuation

The Institute is strongly committed to education in the broadest sense. While focusingon nurturing talents at the postgraduate and postdoctoral levels, Institute membersalso teach and mentor gifted undergraduates, and reach out to the general public.

• Knowledge transfer

As we rise to meet the challenges of transformation into a knowledge-based economy,the Institute serves as a vital center of knowledge transfer for Hong Kong and theregion.

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Institute for the Environment

Co-Directors:M. S. CHEUNG, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Paul J. HARRISON, Adjunct Professor of the School of Science

The Institute for the Environment (IENV) aims to address high priorityenvironmental research issues of local relevance and international significance. It alsocoordinates environmental teaching programs. As air and water quality problems extendto regions beyond Hong Kong, the Institute works closely with researchers andgovernments in the Pearl River Delta and southern China.

The Institute brings together, as affiliate members, faculty in Science, Engineering,Social Science, and Business & Management who are conducting environmentally relatedresearch. In addition, an Environmental Central Facility supports the teaching andresearch activities of the Institute.

The Institute:

• provides an overall organizational structure and a focal point for HKUST'senvironmental efforts

• embarks on interdisciplinary research projects

• establishes a critical mass of research capabilities in defined areas of priority

• interacts with government and industry

• secures external funding resources including contracts, research grants anddonations

• coordinates undergraduate and postgraduate educational programs

• establishes community outreach and promotes HKUST's visibility in this discipline

• influences and helps develop environmental strategies and policies in Hong Kongand the Pearl River Delta region.

Institute of Integrated Microsystems

Director:Qing-Ping SUN, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Associate Director:Yi-Kuen LEE, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

The Institute of Integrated Microsystems (I2MS) was established in January 2001.It is a new initiative based on the prior success of the Institute of Microsystems (IMS),which was active from 1994 to 2000.

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The main objective of I2MS is to coordinate the frontier research across campuson micro-sciences and micro and nano technologies. Involving about 40 faculty in boththe School of Engineering and School of Science at HKUST, the current activities includemicro and nano fabrication technology and applications of MEMS, especially bio-MEMSand microfluids, MOEMS, various types of sensors, actuators, and bio-chips; micro andnano tribology, micro-heat transfer, micro-dynamics, thin films and ER fluids, micro-fuelcells, micro machining and micro-assembly, and micro bio-systems packaging.

I2MS is enhancing the infrastructure for the fabrication and characterization ofmicro and nano systems at HKUST. It will facilitate interdisciplinary projects, and promoteinteraction with local industries and collaboration with institutions in the Chinese Mainlandand overesas.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Institute

Director:Chung-Yee LEE, Chair Professor of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management

Associate Director:Raymond K. M. CHEUNG, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Logistics

Management

Hong Kong has had a long history of serving as a trading, transportation, andfinancial service center for global supply chain partners. In order to help maintain thiscompetitive advantage, the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Institute (LSCMI)has been established with the mission:

• To acquire, advance, and disseminate the knowledge of technologies andmethodologies in the design, development, and management of integrated logisticsnetworks and global supply chains through research, education and industrycooperation;

• To provide world leadership in Logistics and Supply Chain Management research;

• To work with government and industry to enhance the development of logistics andsupply chain management; and

• To integrate the needs of Hong Kong and its vicinities for the well being of HongKong economy.

The thrusts of the LSCMI are six inter-related areas: logistics management; supplychain management; information technology and e-business; transportation management;education and training; and government and industrial collaboration.

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Sino Software Research Institute

Director:Siu-Wing CHENG, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering

The Sino Software Research Institute (SSRI), established in July 1992 with a $20million grant from the Sino Land Co., Ltd., has the dual aims of supporting softwareresearch that can lead to practical applications, and providing assistance in transformingthose applications into useful products.

The Institute sees its primary role as that of a catalyst, helping software researchprojects reach the critical phase in which ideas may be translated into prototypes thatcan be evaluated using large-scale trails. The Institute also encourages developmentefforts in areas that are relevant to the economic and social development of Hong Kong.One such project is the “Hong Kong SuperNet”, which makes full Internet access availableto the public, an important step to maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a regionalcommunications center. Some other startup companies have been formed tocommercialize results from projects originally funded by the SSRI. These include AsiaVision Technology Ltd and eCyberPay.com. Besides, the SSRI is one of the majorsponsors of the Information Technology Entrepreneur Program (ITEP), which was launchedin 1999 to provide support to local technology start-up companies.

Beyond its interest in software research and development, the SSRI also providestechnical and consultative help to local businesses as they seek to implement the latestsoftware technologies. As part of this effort, the Institute sponsors conferences,workshops, seminars and lectures on software topics related to the needs of businessesand public institutions. Examples are the 16th IEEE International Conference onDistributed Computing Systems and the 10th International World Wide Web Conferencewhich were held in Hong Kong in May 1996 and May 2001 respectively. Both are flagshipconferences in the areas. The Institute is also a major sponsor of the World Wide WebConsortium (W3C) Office for China, which has its headquarter office at HKUST.

William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology

Director:Che-Ting CHAN, Chair Professor of Physics

Mission

The William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) aims to pursue world-class fundamental research in the area of nanostructured materials, to create criticalinterdisciplinary opportunities, to train human resources, and to partner with local andregional industry for technology transfer of research results.

Goals

• To forge a multidisciplinary collaborative team, and through the synergism of materialssynthesis, experiment/characterization, and theory/simulation, to generate newknowledge in the physics and chemistry of nanostructured materials and theirattendant properties, with an eye toward industrial applications.

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• To strengthen scientific interactions with other local research groups and top researchgroups around the world in nanostructured materials.

• To work with local industry to exploit commercialization opportunities emerging fromnanostructured materials research. To provide general support to industry throughbetter scientific understanding of such materials.

• To educate students in the science and technology of nanostructured materials, andto disseminate the most up-to-date discoveries and their implications to the generalpublic.

Research Programs

Nanostructured materials constitute a field of immense diversity. In order to be effectivein obtaining the best results with limited resources, INST intends to focus its research inareas of existing strength; including the synthesis of a few nano-materials, the fabricationof nano-structures and the functionalization of nano-materials for various applications.

In all the research programs, the synergy of theory/simulation, experimentation/characterization, and material synthesis will be the basic driving force that insures theirprogress and eventual success.

RESEARCH CENTERS

Center for Advanced Microsystems Packaging

Director:Ricky Shi-Wei LEE, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Associate Directors:David Chuen-Chun LAM, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

David K. K. YOUNG, Adjunct Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The Center for Advanced Microsystems Packaging (CAMP) was established tostrengthen collaborative R&D across different departments and research laboratories. Itaims to promote technology transfer between HKUST and the electronics packagingindustries. It will provide the focus and necessary support to assist the existing electronicsmanufacturing and packaging companies to further expand their global market shares.

CAMP builds upon the existing research and development strengths at HKUSTon electronic packaging materials and processes, reliability study and failure analysis,and emerging technologies for microelectronics manufacturing. It is intended for thepromotion and implementation of applied R&D, technology transfer and commercializationto benefit the Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) economy.

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The objectives of CAMP are:

• To develop a platform to enable faculty, staff and students to translate basic andapplied research outputs into prototypes and pilot-runs for product development.

• To leverage on our teaching resources and training expertise to train and educate theneeded manpower for the electronics manufacturing industries in PRD and the ChineseMainland.

• To provide a base for launching industrial partnerships, strategic alliances, and jointventures with Hong Kong and China business entities in the PRD.

Center for Asian Family Business Studies

Co-Directors:Kevin CHEN, Chair Professor of Accounting

Roger KING, Adjunct Professor of Finance

The Center for Asian Family Business Studies aims to become a center ofexcellence for knowledge and a leader in the understanding of the burgeoning familybusiness sector in Asia through top-quality academic research and teaching on distinctivecharacteristics of Asian family business. Recognizing the multi-disciplinary nature ofthe field of family business, the Center draws its strength from the Departments ofAccounting, Finance, Management of Organizations, Social Science and others at HKUSTto achieve the following objectives:

• To promote greater understanding of the distinctive characteristics of Asian familybusiness through top-quality multi-disciplinary academic research;

• To organize academic and industry symposiums;

• To develop and teach customized corporate, executive and MBA courses;

• To promote case method, case writing and teaching on Asian family business.

Center for Asian Financial Markets

Director:Sudipto DASGUPTA, Chair Professor of Finance

The Center for Asian Financial Markets is formed to develop a data and knowledgebase on Asian financial markets to facilitate research and the dissemination of knowledgeand expertise. It will also provide an academic interface with government and business.Activities will include publications, provisions of expertise, development of new dataand teaching materials, a bi-annual newsletter, a working paper series, seminars andpublic lectures, executive education, consulting services, and contract research.

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Center for Cancer Research

Director:Maria Li LUNG, Chair Professor of Biology

Associate Director:Chun LIANG, Associate Professor of Biochemistry

The Center for Cancer Research comprises a multidisciplinary research team fromthe Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry in the School of Science andfrom the Departments and Programs of Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, ComputerScience and Engineering, and Electronic and Computer Engineering in the School ofEngineering. Members have complementary expertise in many key areas of cancerresearch in both science and engineering, giving us high potential for synergisticcollaboration on both basic and applied aspects of cancer research.

Our goals are to promote basic and translational research on various aspects ofcancer. This will be achieved by concerted collaborative efforts in both basic and clinicallyrelevant projects. These endeavors should lead to advances in understanding cancerdevelopment, improvements and new alternatives in diagnostic and prognostic methods,and identification/further development of cancer drug leads. We envision that this Centerwill serve as a platform for several members together or in synergy with other institutionsto develop powerful diagnostic tools and to design novel therapeutic and preventivestrategies for several key cancers of interest. Since cancer is such an important medicalproblem in Hong Kong, we hope our efforts will contribute significantly or reduce cancermorbidity in the community.

Center for Chinese Linguistics

Director:Min ZHANG, Associate Professor, Division of Humanities

As a major center in the global network of research on the Chinese language, theCenter for Chinese Linguistics promotes the study of the history and evolution of theChinese language, with an emphasis on the theoretical implications of the investigationas well as its relevance to practical applications.

Personnel of the Center consist of the linguistics faculty and also visiting scholarsin the Division of Humanities, School of Humanities and Social Science. The Centeraims at achieving the following objectives:

• To conduct intensive research on the Chinese language by (a) analyzing data oncontemporary Chinese dialects, (b) scrutinizing historical documentation of all regionalvarieties of Chinese, (c) reconstructing the history of the Chinese language in relationto other languages of the Sino-Tibetan family, (d) studying the cognitive and socialaspects of language, and (e) testing and refining methods, hypotheses and theoriesof modern linguistics.

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• To house major databases and corpuses pertaining to languages in China, therebyfacilitating effective use of computer technology to store and process linguistic data.

• To offer a rigorous postgraduate program in Chinese linguistics, attracting outstandingstudents not only from the Greater China region but also from other parts of theworld.

• To make expertise in the Center available to other teaching and research units atHKUST, as well as to society at large.

• To serve as a regional hub in the study of Chinese, thereby enhancing HKUST’sstanding in relevant disciplines and promoting the cooperation among scholars inthe Greater China region and in other countries.

Center for Cultural Studies

Director:Zongli LU, Associate Professor, Division of Humanities

Associate Director:Yun-Chung CHEN, Assistant Professor, Division of Social Science

The Center of Cultural Studies (CCS) focuses on three objectives. That is to bringmore cohesion to the interdisciplinary nature of the Humanities and Social Scienceprograms; to serve as a regional impetus for contemporary cultural and social criticismin Hong Kong, Mainland China and other Asian societies; and to provide intellectualunderpinnings for the University’s artistic and cultural life. The CCS organizesconferences, workshops, seminars and public lectures to stimulate research andintellectual discussions from a critical and global perspective.

Areas of Focus

• Urban culture and culture-led redevelopment

• Cultural industries and creative industries

• Cultural and intellectual history

• Colonial and postcolonial identities

• Gender, politics and society

• Modernity and postmodernity

• Popular culture and religion

Website: http://www.ust.hk/~webccshs/

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Center for Display Research

Director:Hoi-Sing KWOK, Dr William M. W. Mong Chair Professor of Nanotechnology

Associate Director:Man WONG, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The Center for Display Research (CDR) was established by the then Hong KongGovernment Industry Department at HKUST in August of 1994. The goal of CDR is toprovide basic research support for the local Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) industry. Fundingreceived was used to establish a unique LCD laboratory with active matrix fabricationcapabilities. CDR concentrates on many areas of display research such as thin-film-transistor materials and devices, organic light emitting diode display, microfabricationtechnology, bistable LCD and photoaligment technology. Many faculty members fromthe Departments of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Physics and Chemistry areinvolved in CDR. They have collectively published over 300 journal papers and appliedfor 40 US patents during the past few years. Several technologies have been transferredsuccessfully to local industry.

Center for Economic Development

Director:Francis T. LUI, Professor of Economics

Associate Director:Siu-Fai LEUNG, Professor of Economics

Formally established in 1995, the Center for Economic Development promotesstrong research programs concentrating on the study of economic development,particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Emphasis is given to the study of topics such asChina’s economic reform and open door policy; the economic integration of Hong Kongand Pearl River Delta; the emergence of regional economies in China, in particular theregion comprised of the southern coastal provinces. The Center also supports theoreticalresearch on economic growth and transitional economies, and has been active in publicpolicy debates in Hong Kong.

Center for Electronic Commerce

Director:Kar-Yan TAM, Chair Professor of Information Systems, Business Statistics and

Operations Management

The mission of the Center is to advance the theory and practice of conductingbusiness over an electronic media with an aim to contribute to the economic developmentof Hong Kong by:

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• Enabling Electronic Commerce through frontier research in the integration oftechnology, organization, and market structure;

• Upgrading the manpower of Hong Kong through high-end executive and onlineprograms on Electronic Commerce topics; and

• Collaborating closely with industrial partners to transfer and assist implementationof technologies and process innovations developed by the center.

Center for Experimental Business Research

Co-Directors:Rami ZWICK, Chair Professor of Marketing

Soo-Hong CHEW, Chair Professor of Economics

The mission of the Center for Experimental Business Research (cEBR) is to promotethe use of experimental methods in business research, expand experimental methodologythrough research and teaching, and apply this methodology to solve practical problemsfaced by firms, corporations, and governmental agencies.

The Center focuses on three main areas:

• Experimental work concerning the dialogue between experimenters and policymakers.Experiments in this category are motivated by questions raised, for example, bygovernment agencies about the effects of new policies on some markets.

• Experimental work motivated by well-articulated formal theories.

• Experimental work motivated by interesting unexplained business phenomena.

Recent research activities include:

• Bargaining, coordination, and public good provision in experimental markets

• Strategic uncertainty in market entry games with fixed capacity

• Alternative mechanisms for reducing exploitation of uncertain resources

• Value of information in bilateral trading with alternatives

• Experimental investigation of bargaining efficiency improvement

• Sequential search with relative ranks

cEBR web address: http://cebr.ust.hk/

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Center for Fund Management

Director:Kalok CHAN, Synergis-Geoffrey YEH Chair Professor of Finance

Associate Director:John K. C. WEI, Chair Professor of Finance

The Center for Fund Management (CFM) was established in October 2003. Itaims to promote original and applied research on fund management, and to foster thedevelopment of the fund management industry in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.The Center provides training and education programs to the fund industry and undertakesrelated research and consultancy services.

The objectives of the Center are:

• To promote and conduct high quality research in fund management areas;

• To provide a forum for academics and practitioners to interact and to encouragecollaboration between the two, resulting in innovative products and practices usefulto the fund industry;

• To provide training and consultancy services to the fund industry;

• To facilitate the development of course materials for fund management in theundergraduate and postgraduate curriculum at HKUST.

Center for Marketing and Supply Chain Management

Director:Shaohui ZHENG, Professor of Information Systems, Business Statistics and

Operations Management

Co-Director:Inseong SONG, Associate Professor of Marketing

The Center for Marketing and Supply Chain Management (formerly Center forMarketing and Distribution) was established in April 2005 with the generous support ofthe Fung Foundation Ltd. The Center promotes high quality research on the interface ofmarketing and supply chain management, with a focus on the applications to China.

The mission of the Center is to influence the future business practices in marketingand supply chain management or related to China. To this end, the activities will targetpeople that are influencing the industry - policy setters, industry leaders, prominentacademics, and people that will be making an influence - university students, buddingresearchers.

The goal of the Center is to promote and support research in marketing, supplychain management and related technologies at the HKUST Business School, with the

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goal of (a) increasing the visibility and prestige of the School's leadership in these areas,(b) further cementing the global academic leadership of the HKUST Business School inthe areas of marketing and supply chain management, and (c) enhancing thecompetitiveness of companies in the afore-mentioned areas, particularly in MainlandChina.

The objectives of the Center are to:

• Stimulate and support research on the interface of marketing and supply chainmanagement, with a focus on applications to China;

• Support curriculum development;

• Enrich the contribution of the HKUST Business School as a knowledge center servingthe region.

Center for Scientific Computation

Director:Xiao-Ping WANG, Professor of Mathematics

Scientific Computation has grown over the past decades to become an importantnew approach to studying science and technology, adding to the traditional experimentaland theoretical approach. It uses large scale computation to solve complex problems inscience and technology. The Center is dedicated to the development and innovation ofcomputational algorithms that are reliable, accurate and efficient, with attention to theirapplications. There are 39 participating faculty members from 10 academic departments.Current research programs include computational fluid dynamics, computational logistics,computational finance, computational material sciences, parallel computation,computational hydraulics, computational chemistry and biology, simulation of complexsystems, and software development.

Center for Space Science Research

Director:Kwing Lam CHAN, Professor of Mathematics

Associate Director:Kun XU, Professor of Mathematics

In response to a call by China’s Commission of Science, Technology and Industryfor National Defense to participate in the scientific application of Chang’e-1’s Moondata, UST recently formed this Center for Space Science Research (CSSR) to participatein and to promote space science research. CSSR provides a platform to gather interestedfaculty members and students across disciplines to contribute to the space pursuit.

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Mission

• Coordinate Lunar and Solar System research efforts.

• Seek opportunities for students to participate in space science projects.

• Serve the public with space science outreach. Promote science culture.

Center for Sustainable Energy Technology

Interim Director:Philip Ching-Ho CHAN, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Associate Director:Tian-Shou ZHAO, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Mission

The mission of this Center is to promote and enhance collaborative efforts on education,research, and services in advanced energy technology and management for thebetterment of the industry and economic growth in Hong Kong, Pearl River Delta andSouthern China.

Objectives

• To provide a state-of-the-art education program for training students in broad field ofenergy science and technology.

• To promote and conduct leading-edge multidisciplinary research in innovative energysystems and devices for sustainable power generation and efficient unitization.

• To provide services to industries and government for certificated energy-efficiencytests of electrical home appliances, and thermal and energy systems.

Current research programs

• Energy systems and devices: fuel cells, renewable energy systems, distributed energysystems.

• Air-conditioning and refrigeration: trans-critical CO2 refrigeration, magneticrefrigeration, dehumidifiers, compact heat exchangers.

• Energy efficiency in built environment: indoor air quality and ventilation, clean roomtechnology, filtration technology, LED lighting.

• Electronic cooling: heat pipes, thermo-electric coolers, cryo-coolers, micro-coolingsystems.

• Fundamental energy and thermal science studies: heat/mass transfer in micro/nanosystems, optical diagnostics in microfluidics, smoldering combustion, combustiondynamics over fuel soaked beds, flame spread over building materials, heat transferin porous media, heat transfer in manufacturing processes.

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Center for Wireless Information Technology

Director:Ross MURCH, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Associate Director:Khaled BEN LETAIEF, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Information communications have undergone revolutionary changes that haveled to an exponential growth in wireless services. The communication landscape willcontinue to change dramatically due to the emergence of new applications that provideconnectivity through a plethora of data services from portable devices to multimediaterminals. Advances in microelectronics have made possible small sensing devices thatare capable of computation and communications. With these advances, ubiquitous(wireless) communications is no longer a dream and will bypass personal computers inthe next few years to be the premier technology driver in both the developed anddeveloping worlds. Upcoming wireless technologies will dramatically change our lifestyles and will have profound impact on our economy. They will also dictate therequirements of neXt-Generation (XG) communication devices with applications rangingfrom environmental protection, telemedicine, personal health care, entertainment, safety,security, energy conservation, consumer products, logistics, and disaster relief.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has long beeninvolved in high-impact activities at the forefront of wireless research and development.To further achieve international prominence by fully utilizing our existing andcomplementary strengths, the Center for Wireless Information Technology was establishedin 1997. The Center comprises a pool of excellent researchers dedicated to scholarshipand education. Many of the Center’s participants have industrial experience in leadingcompanies in addition to academic experience in top universities around the world.They are internationally recognized as inventors, editors of top journals (including thefounding Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious IEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONS), winners of best-paper awards, and fellows of learned societies.The significant number of publications in premier journals in the last five years, for instance,reflects its international standing. The Center has been extremely successful in attractingfunding to support wireless research activities within state-of-the-art wireless-relatedcenters and laboratories and has one of the first Huawei research centers outside mainlandChina.

The objectives of the Center are to:

• Conduct world-class, curiosity-driven fundamental research and application-specificfrontier research in wireless information technology.

• Assist in the conversion of our research results into prototypes and transfer the cutting-edge technologies to both industrial and service sectors;

• Educate professional engineers of the highest caliber for the local manufacturingand service industries in both private and public sectors.

• Address unique issues confronting the Asia Pacific Region and Mainland China.

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Center of Chinese Medicine R & D

Director:Karl Wah-Keung TSIM, Professor of Biology

Associate Director:Robert K. M. KO, Professor of Biochemistry

Assistant Director:Tina Ting-Xia DONG, Technician, Department of Biology

To satisfy the ever-increasing stringent regulations from governments as well asdemands from consumers for good quality and user-friendly products in traditionalChinese medicine (TCM), the Center for Chinese Medicine (CCM) aims to work on threemajor TCM technology platforms based on HKUST’s expertise in (i) chemical engineeringand pharmaceutical processing, (ii) experience in chemical and genomic analysis of themajor bioactive ingredients, and (iii) the established technology for in vitro and in vivobiological assays on genetic, cellular and organismal levels. The establishment of theseplatforms is essential for attaining production consistency and high pharmacologicalefficacy with a reduction of manufacuring cost. It will be instrumental to the thoroughcharacterization and reformulation of complex decoction based on the rich resource ofexisting TCM formula.

The objectives of the Center are:

• to develop a systematic approach, through an integration of biosciences andengineering, for the manufacture of quality-assured TCM products;

• to reveal the pharmacological basis of TCM decoctions in achieving optimal chemicaland biological properties;

• to establish a core TCM facility at HKUST in collaboration with local industry, byexpanding from a core group of HKUST expertise to include researchers within andoutside HKUST.

Center on China's Transnational Relations

Director:David ZWEIG, Chair Professor, Division of Social Science

Mission

Through the generosity of the Chang Tseng-Hsi Foundation, the Center on China'sTransnational Relations (CCTR) was officially set up on 1 September 2004. The goal ofthe Center is to advance research and discussions about issues in Mainland China thattranscend the country's borders.

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Objectives

• To study the intense interaction between Mainland China and the world and the flowof influence in both directions.

• To attract outside projects that would help inform the business community aboutchanges in Mainland China's outward policy.

• To further develop the international stature, visibility and research capabilities of theDivision of Social Science and the CCTR.

Progress

• In the academic year 2006-07, CCTR offered a student travel grant to support researchrelated to the center's theme.

• Between September 2006 and April 2007, CCTR organized 3 research workshops.Topics included “Returnees in China: The Role of Technology”, “Dealing with China:Comparing EU and US Foreign Policy Strategies”, “EU-Russia Energy Relations”.

• In November 2006, CCTR organized an international conference “China-Africa Links”.

• In January 2007, CCTR co-hosted the “New Era Global Scenario Workshop” withthe New Era Foreign Policy Center, University of California, Berkeley. In February2007, CCTR co-hosted the “Fulbright China Research Forum” with Hong KongAmerica Center.

• CCTR is currently working on various funded research projects: “Returnees and Sino-Japanese Relations”, “Haidai and the Problem of Unemployed Returnees”, “HongKong’s Role in the Mainland’s Modernization”, “Serving the Nation from Inside andOutside: The role of returned and unreturned mainlanders in Sino-Canadianexchange”.

Cyberspace Center

Director:Dit-Yan YEUNG, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering

Associate Director:Qian ZHANG, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering

The Cyberspace Center was established in March 1996 with a grant from the thenHong Kong Government Industry Department. It has been supported by ITF grants andindustrial contracts ever since. The Center engages in research and development inapplied Internet technologies with emphases in Internet security, electronic-commerce,mobile-commerce, RFID and smart card technologies and applications. The objectiveis to transfer the technologies and applications to local industry. Our current projectsare on banking applications and business web conferencing on 3-G phones andblackberry devices.

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Hang Lung Center for Organizational Research

Director:Jiatao LI, Professor of Management of Organizations

The mission of the Hang Lung Center for Organizational Research is to improvethe practice of management in Chinese and multinational firms doing business in GreaterChina (i.e., Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan), and Chinese companies doingbusiness globally, by conducting rigorous research and engaging in exchanges amongnetwork of business leaders and university scholars. Our vision is to be the world’scenter of excellence for knowledge on China-related organizational and managementpractices.

Our objective is to facilitate, sponsor and publish high quality research onorganization and management issues within the Greater China context. The Centerrepresents an effort to apply the department’s emphasis on rigorous academic researchto addressing pressing management challenges of business and other organizations inthe region. By studying critical organizational issues and discovering factors related toeffective management of organizations in this context, we hope to contribute to knowledgecreations as well as the economic development of Greater China through improvingmanagement practices.

International Center for Advanced Computing & CommunicationTechnologies

Director:Pascale FUNG, Associate Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The International Center for Advanced Computing & Communication Technologies(InterACT) is a joint research and education centre between Hong Kong University ofScience and Technology (HKUST), Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Karlsruhe, Germany andCarnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburgh, USA. The three institutions are well knownas the leading educational institutions in their respective countries.

The InterACT center is affiliated with the Departments of Electronic & ComputerEngineering/School of Computer Science in the three institutions. It establishes acollaboration between three of the leading research Universities in the US, Europe andAsia. It has a goal of both research and education.

The InterACT center conducts research for the advancement of the human-machineand human-human communication. The research areas include speech and languageprocessing, robotics, image and video processing. The academic mission of the InterACTcenter is to provide opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to operate in internationalresearch teams across multinational and multicultural boundaries. The center offersinternational exchange programs, seminars, workshops and research projects.

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Molecular Neuroscience Center

Co-Directors:Nancy Y. IP, Chair Professor of Biochemistry

Yung-Hou WONG, Professor of Biochemistry

Neuroscience, the study of the brain, constitutes one of the leading areas ofscientific investigation currently at the forefront of modern biomedical research. Thefield of neuroscience encompasses many scientific disciplines dealing with the structure,development, regeneration, function, chemistry, pharmacology and pathology of thenervous system. One of the field’s major areas of scientific investigation relates to theunraveling of the processes involved in neurodegenerative diseases. By understandingthe mechanisms involved in the progression of these diseases and otherneuropathologies, scientists hope to identify novel molecular targets useful for thedevelopment of novel and effective therapies and diagnostics.

Established in 1999, the Molecular Neuroscience Center (MNC) has the missionto obtain international recognition as a center of excellence for its scientific contributionsto the field of molecular neuroscience relating to the areas of: (i) brain function, (ii)neuropathies, and (iii) neuro-drug discovery. By establishing basic research collaborationsamong its team scientists, as well as with other leading international neuroscientists,the Center aims to provide a vehicle for strong scientific exchange and ultimately toattract new pharmaceutical ventures to Hong Kong.

The research activities of the MNC are being directed at the use of molecularbiological approaches to investigate various neuronal processes including: (i) neuronaldifferentiation and cell cycle regulation, (ii) synapse development and regeneration, (iii)cellular signal transduction in neurons, (iv) neurodegenerative diseases, and (v) learningand memory. The Center also investigates the structure-function relationships ofneuroproteins that are found to play critical roles in these neurobiological processes.Furthermore, the MNC scientists are developing strategies for screening and/or designingpotential neuro-drug candidates.

Through the establishment of the MNC, the foundation for an Area of Excellence(AoE) has been laid at HKUST. In 2001, HKUST received an Area of Excellence award of$26.8M from the University Grants Committee (UGC) to conduct leading edge researchin molecular neuroscience. Through the AoE program, collaboration among individualscientists has been further extended to involve other team members in a coordinatedeffort to study key scientific problems.

Continued progress has been made on AoE “Molecular Neuroscience: BasicResearch & Drug Discovery” program. In May 2007, the program received $27.5 millionsustained funding support from the UGC, reaffirming the project’s world-class standing.The MNC team is set to embark on the next phase of this highly commended project.The focus is to further elucidate the complex processes within the brain and determinethe mechanisms underlying specific neuro-related diseases and disorders.

Currently, the Center is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of faculty from theDepartments of Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry.

MNC’s website address: http://www.ust.hk/~mnc/

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Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure Research Center

Director:M. S. CHEUNG, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Associate Director:Chih-Chen CHANG, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure Research Center was established withthe following missions and objectives:

• To promote research collaboration on innovative technology for designing,constructing, safeguarding, and maintaining infrastructures;

• To develop a critical mass of research capability which leads to possible pursuit ofblock grant of research funding;

• To provide regional and international visibility for attracting external funding;

• To promote applications of innovative technology for civil infrastructures; and

• To educate students and engineers on the sustainable development and the potentialsof innovative technology.

The Center aims to facilitate and coordinate the research, and subsequently thetechnology transfer, of relevant aspects that are pertinent to the infrastructuredevelopment in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.

South China Research Center

Director:Tik-Sang LIU, Associate Professor, Division of Humanities

Associate Director:Siu-Woo CHEUNG, Associate Professor, Division of Humanities

The South China Research Center was established in 1997 to serve as a nodalcenter for scholars and institutions to exchange findings, share archival and folkdocuments, hold conferences and organize field research related to South China studies.The Center has cooperated with universities in Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi to developa “South China Research Station System” facilitating research collaborations andexchanges. In 2006, the Center’s Pan-Pearl River Delta Research Station was establishedat the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha, focusing on research of history,culture and society in Pan-Pearl River Delta region.

The Center’s bi-annual Journal of History and Anthropology, and quarterlynewsletter, Fieldwork and Documents, promote intellectual dialogues and exchanges.A document series on source materials, which are results of the Center’s collaborationwith specialists in South China studies on collecting field materials, is published regularly.

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The Center provides a research environment and training programs forundergraduate and postgraduate students. It also acts as a resource center for teachers,students and the public to explore the teaching and learning of the history, culture andsociety of Hong Kong and South China.

Survey Research Center

Acting Director:Yi-Min LIN, Associate Professor, Division of Social Science

Associate Director:Yanjie BIAN, Chair Professor, Division of Social Science

Established in 1999, the Survey Research Center promotes and coordinates surveyresearch projects in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Its long-term goal is toserve as an international forum for scholarly debates and exchanges based on surveyand other researches on Chinese societies. Current activities include a summer researchpracticum program for graduate students in the School of Humanities and Social Science,a survey data archive on Chinese societies, collaborative research with ZhongshanUniversity to study social change and regional development in Hong Kong andGuangdong, and a collaborative general social survey with the People’s University ofChina in the Chinese mainland.

CENTRAL RESEARCH FACILITIES

Advanced Engineering Materials Facility

Director:Jingshen WU, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Associate Director:Stephen K. L. LEE

Established in 1994, the Advanced Engineering Materials Facility is a multi-disciplinary central research facility located at Hong Kong University of Science andTechnology. Its mission is to provide state-of-the-art research equipment and technicalexpertise for HKUST as well as Hong Kong industries to develop advanced engineeringmaterials technology and their applications. Research areas of the Facility includeprocessing, microstructural design and new materials development, non-destructivetesting and failure analysis, applied mechanics and testing methodology.

The Facility engages in the training of graduate students and researchers inadvanced materials technology, and in international exchanges. It also organizesseminars, workshops and conferences to disseminate knowledge of recent developmentsin the latest materials technology to the industry.

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Animal and Plant Care Facility

Director:Raymond S. C. WONG, Adjunct Associate Professor of Biochemistry

The Animal and Plant Care Facility (APCF) is located on the seventh floor of theLaboratory Wing. It is a facility mainly for holding and selected breeding of variousspecies of laboratory animals needed for experiments. The total area dedicated for theanimal care is about 600 square meters. The Facility has ten animal holding rooms, anoperation theater for surgery, a procedure room for preparation, a nude mice room, aquarantine room, and area for cage washing, bedding dispensing, diet storage. TheFacility provides professional and humane handling of animals selected for biomedicalresearch activities at HKUST. The high standard of care and treatment as well as theexperimental protocols are controlled and approved by the Animal Care AdvisoryCommittee of the University. APCF supplies and maintains several common strains ofmice, rats, rabbits, frogs and chicks. The technical staff is well trained and ready toprovide services and advices to all users with respect to animal experimentations.

In addition, APCF also provides support for various research projects using plantsor components derived from plants. There are twelve environmental chambers/incubatorsof various sizes for growing and conditioning of whole plants, tissues or cells. As well,an open area of five 6x10 square meters space can be used to accommodate outdoorplanting.

CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility

Director:Kenny Chung-Sau KWOK, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Associate Directors:Chun-Man CHAN, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Peter HITCHCOCK

The Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility was established with a substantial donation fromCLP Power Co Ltd. Its mission is to provide a physical modeling capability to HongKong for designing tall buildings and bridges against wind induced vibrations; predictionof air pollutant dispersion in complex terrains and studies of wind/wave effects on off-shore structures.

The tunnel consists of two main sections: high speed and low speed sections.The high speed section is used for wind engineering studies. The maximum wind speedattainable is 25 m/s. The dimensions of the test section are 29.2m x 3m x 2m (length xwidth x height) with computer controlled turntable and roughness elements. The lowspeed section is used for atmospheric dispersion studies and bridge model tests. Thedimensions are 41m x 5m x 4m. The lowest steady wind speed attainable is less than 1m/s. By raising the tunnel floor of the low speed section, the tunnel is converted to awind-wave facility. The water tank has the same length and width as the low speedsection while the water depth is 3m. Wave makers will be installed. An up-to-date arrayof flow velocity, pressure, force, concentration and wave measurement equipment are

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available. With a long test section the behavior of a neutral atmospheric boundary layerwind can be accurately simulated.

The Facility is also used to train undergraduate and postgraduate students foruse of physical modeling techniques in the field of wind, environmental and off-shoreengineering. Fundamental research on generic (as opposed to site specific) problems inthe above areas are conducted by faculty and PG students. Workshops and seminarsare organized to train practising engineers in using physical modeling to assist theirplanning and development of infrastructures.

Design and Manufacturing Services Facility

Director:Li-Long CAI, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Associate Director:Kai TANG, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

The role of the centrally based Design and Manufacturing Services Facility (DMSF)is to provide technical expertise and support for research and teaching related areas.

The Facility focuses on multidisciplinary and application-oriented researchprograms that will create impact on the design and manufacturing industries in HongKong and the neighboring regions. It provides stimulus for collaboration and interactionbetween HKUST, local industries and international bodies.

The Facility maintains a range of state-of-the-art equipment to promote researchin the area of design and manufacturing. These include measurement equipment suchas Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), Nano Indenter, three-dimensional profilerand three-dimensional laser scanning system. The Facility has a number of ComputerNumerical Control (CNC) machines, rapid prototyping machine, robots and computeraided design systems for providing a platform for CAD/CAM integration. It has a strongcapability in Computer-Aided-Engineering with a full range of analysis and simulationsoftware. The Facility also supports the repair and maintenance of sophisticated scientificinstruments. It fabricates mechanical parts/systems and special purpose electroniccircuits, which are not commonly available in the market, for both teaching and researchactivities.

Embedded Systems Facility

Director:David K. K. YOUNG, Adjunct Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

“An embedded system is a special-purpose system in which the computer iscompletely encapsulated by the device it controls. Unlike a general-purpose computer,such as a personal computer, an embedded system performs one or a few pre-definedtasks, usually with very specific requirements. Since the system is dedicated to specifictasks, design engineers can optimize it, reducing the size and cost of the product.

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Embedded systems are often mass-produced, benefiting from economies of scale.”This definition of an embedded system is extracted from Wikipedia, the Internet freeencyclopedia. Physically, embedded systems range from portable devices, such as MP3players and mobile phones, to large stationary installations, e.g., manufacturing processautomation controllers.

With the rapidly changing industrial environment and intensified globalcompetitions, manufacturers of electronic products in Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta(PRD) are striving to improve their competitiveness by designing and developing productswhich require advanced embedded systems know-how. High demand for and scarcityof experienced embedded systems development professionals have handicapped HongKong industrialists’ ability to exploit high added value market potentials in embeddedsystems products. HKUST responded to the emerging market needs and demands byestablishing the Embedded Systems Institute (ESI) in April 2004, centrally located andoperated from Nansha, Guangzhou, and with support from the Clear Water Bay (CWB)Campus.

In December 2006, Embedded Systems Facility (ESF) is established as one of thecentral research facilities, signifying HKUST’s further commitment to the promotion ofand training for embedded system technologies in Hong Kong and the PRD region. Thefacility operates in the Clear Water Bay (CWB) Campus, and also under the HKUST FokYing Tung Graduate School in Nansha, Guangzhou. The mission of ESF is to supportfaculty and students to conduct teaching, research, and industrial services,that is, tosupport R&D activities related to embedded systems and to develop teaching curriculumand training courses in embedded systems, in cooperation with academic departments,and in both CWB and Nansha campuses. The facility is in partnership with key technologycompanies such as ARM, Intel, and Microsoft. At present, ESF also know as ESI, isrecognized as an ARM Approved Training Center, Intel Multi-core Processor TechnologyLaboratory, training partner with Intel Software College, and Microsoft WindowsEmbedded Training Partner.

Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility

Director:Charles W. W. NG, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Associate Director:Limin ZHANG, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility (GCF) is unique in Hong Kong. Its missionsare to conduct fundamental and applied research to advance scientific knowledge andto assist in the economic and social development of Hong Kong. The facility is uniqueand perhaps is one of the most advanced geotechnical centrifuges in the world. Inaddition to its relatively large testing capacity, the GCF possesses two distinctive andexciting features: the world’s first bi-axial shaking table, which can simulate earthquakeeffects on soil structures such as dams; and the state-of-the-art 4-axis robotic manipulatorthat enables detailed simulations of construction activities in-flight such as pile drivingand tunneling. Moreover, and internet telepresence portal has been developed to permitusers to view tests from any part of the world at almost real time via the Internet.

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The geotechnical centrifuge has a rotating arm of approximately 9 meters indiameter, and is designed for an elevated gravity field 150 times that of the Earth’sgravity. Geotechnical structures are built in model boxes with maximum dimensions of1.5m x 1.5m on plan, and 1.0m high. The maximum payload capacity of the modelpackage is 400 g-ton. The centrifuge is equipped with a unique bi-axial (2-D) shakingtable to simulate earthquake-induced effects. In addition, a state-of-the-art 4-axis roboticmanipulator is developed to simulate various construction activities inflight. With ouradvanced data acquisition system, test data can be transmitted to any part of the worldvia internet at almost real time.

Since the official opening of the GCF in April 2001, demands from the local industryand international clients have increased steadily, including the Geotechnical EngineeringOffice of CEDD, and Housing Department of HKSAR; National Chiao-Tung University,Taiwan; and Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, China for their projects of centrifugemodeling tests of soil-nailed fill slopes, earthquake effects on dams and rainfall effectson clay slope stability, respectively.

Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility

Director:Kwok-Kwong FUNG, Senior Lecturer of Physics

Associate Director:Ning WANG, Professor of Physics

The Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility (MCPF) is a central facilityfor the synthesis, characterization, and testing of new and advanced materials. MCPFhouses and operates a wide range of state-of-the-art, sophisticated instrumentationthat have wide usage in materials related research. The Facility also organizes workshopson new advances in characterization and preparation techniques and/or instrumentationand conducts training sessions. The mission of the Facility is to serve academics in allthe science and engineering departments as well as researchers in research centers byproviding them with access to materials preparation/analytical techniques that are notavailable in their own laboratories. Normally, job requests from users are carried out bythe Facility’s own staff. However, some facilities are accessible to qualified users whohave been certified and authorized by the Facility’s senior staff. By arrangement, theservices provided by MCPF are also available to researchers from other Hong Kongtertiary institutions, government departments, industrial and commercial sectors.

The Facility occupies about 4,000 square meters of specialized laboratories.Instrumentation is available for various types of thermal, spectroscopic, electrical, andmagnetic characterization, and for the preparation of materials by sputtering andevaporation. Equipment for microanalysis includes field emission scanning electronmicroscopes, high-resolution transmission electron microscopes, atomic forcemicroscopes, a magnetic force microscope, imaging SIMS systems for surface and depthprofiling analysis, and a multi-technique surface analysis system (XPS, Auger, SIMS,etc.). These are supported by more standard types of electron-beam analyticalinstrumentation. MCPF also has a liquid helium liquefier module for producing liquidhelium to support academics and research units that require liquid helium to operate

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specialized equipment to carry out their experiments. Additionally, the Facility operatesa helium gas recovery system to retrieve helium boil-off from users’ instruments forrecycling. A complete list of the equipment available in MCPF can be found in its Website,http://www.mcpf.ust.hk.

Nanoelectronics Fabrication Facility

Director:Johnny K. O. SIN, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Associate Director:Mansun J. CHAN, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The Nanoelectronics Fabrication Facility (NFF) of the Hong Kong University ofScience and Technology (HKUST) is the first nanoelectronics laboratory established at atertiary institution in Hong Kong. The mission of NFF is to provide facilities for facultyand students of HKUST to conduct teaching, research and industrial services. Currently,there are over 200 projects covering the following areas: Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanicalsystems (M/NEMS), flat panel displays, biochips, advanced Ultra-Large Scale Integrated(ULSI) circuit devices and technologies, RF and power semiconductor devices andintegrated circuits, advanced electronic packaging, nanoscience and technology, sensorsand actuators, and compound semiconductor devices and technologies.

The Facility houses state-of-the-art technical capabilities, including Class 100and Class 1,000 clean room facilities. A complete 4” silicon wafer processing line hasbeen installed, which provides photolithography, thermal diffusion, thin-film deposition,dry/wet etching, metallization, implantation and mask making services. These also includea E-beam Direct Write System which facilitates sub-quarter-micron patterning and enablesnano-structure research. With the additional capabilities and capacity, NFF has extendedits service to other tertiary institutions and the private sector through various technicalcollaborations. A new extension of the Facility with clean room facilities will also becommencing operation in 2008/09.

In addition to the facilities in Clear Water Bay campus, NFF also has a class 100and a class 1,000 clean room facility which operates under the HKUST Fok Ying TungGraduate School in Nansha, Guangzhou.