The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) is the first cooperative educational institution between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong SAR with independent legal person status established since the implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“粤港澳大湾区发展规划纲要“) and the Overall Plan for Deepening Comprehensive Cooperation Between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao towards the World in Nansha, Guangzhou (“广州南沙深化面向世界的粤港澳全面合作总体方案“). It was officially approved by the Ministry of Education of China in June 2022.
HKUST(GZ) is dedicated to innovation, with a focus on the development of interdiscipline and the exploration of innovative talent cultivation models. It aims to become a model for the integrated development of education between the mainland and Hong Kong, and a globally renowned top-tier university, committed to cultivating high-level innovative talents for the future.
HKUST(GZ) is situated in the Nansha District, the geographical center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and one of Guangzhou's "dual cores." The campus spans approximately 1,669 mu (111.3 hectares) and is being developed in two phases. Phase-I, covering about 636,000 square meters (63.6 hectares), is now fully operational. Phase-II is actively progressing, with completion expected by 2027. In line with international standards and HKUST's Sustainable Smart Campus concept, HKUST(GZ) is designed to harmonize nature and architecture, aspiring to create a Smart Green Campus.
To facilitate seamless collaboration between the two campuses, the Guangzhou campus is conveniently located near Qingsheng Station on the high-speed Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, just 30 minutes from Hong Kong West Kowloon.
The traditional academic structure of HKUST and the hub-based structure of integrated disciplines at HKUST(GZ) are interrelated, complementing each other and providing mutual benefits. Faculty, degrees programs, and courses at both campuses are held to the same high standards, ensuring brand consistency across the university. The two campuses collaborate through Cross-Campus Faculty Affiliations, offer shared courses, jointly mentor students, share experimental facilities and equipment, and cooperate on research projects. By enhancing efficiency and complementarity in academic, administrative, and knowledge transfer processes, both campuses drive each other's development, fostering interdisciplinary and diverse high-end talent that meets national needs and adapts to the future development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
HKUST(GZ) is organized into four Hubs—Function Hub, Information Hub, Systems Hub, Society Hub-offering 16 master's and doctoral programs. In the first year of undergraduate education, HKUST(GZ) offers three majors: Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Big Data Technology, and Smart Manufacturing, with plans to gradually introduce additional undergraduate programs.
HKUST(GZ) operates under the supervision of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. The university currently has nearly 3,000 students, with future enrollment expected to reach approximately 10,000, including 4,000 undergraduates and 6,000 postgraduates.
HKUST(GZ) adheres to a "student-centered" approach and continuously explores new models for talent cultivation with interdiscipline. At the undergraduate level, the university promotes a broad-brush undergraduate education system, adopts a residential college system, offers modularized courses, and provides articulation of undergraduate education with doctoral programs. For postgraduate students, the university has launched the Red Bird MPhil Program and applies a model based on three concepts: student-centered, interdisciplinary and project-based. Students receive personalized guidance from academic mentors across different Thrusts, project supervisors from the Red Bird MPhil Program, and industry mentors from renowned enterprises. By taking on specific roles within team projects, they conduct research for their master’s thesis and progressively learn to shape their individual career paths. The program's goal is to cultivate top talents and future leaders in both academia and industry.
To enhance students' practical skills, the university has established the Red Bird Maker Space (RBMS), offering state-of-the-art facilities, including Machining and Fabrication Workshop, Carpentry and 3D Modeling Workshop, Precision Manufacturing and Measurement Lab, Materials Preparation Lab, Electronic and Electrical Lab. These resources provide a solid foundation for students' development in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The university currently has over 300 substantiation track faculty (STF), all of whom hold doctoral degrees, and have studied or worked in research and teaching at world-renowned institutions. This includes 4 full-time academicians from developed countries and regions, 14 fellows of prestigious international academic institutions, 50 national-level talents, and 34 professors listed among the top 2% scientists worldwide. The number of STF is expected to reach 500 within the next five years.
The Central Research Facilities (CRFs) in HKUST(GZ) do not overlap with those in HKUST in terms of major equipment. While open to other universities and industry, the CRFs serve as technology platforms supporting researchers in both Universities, fostering a conducive environment for collaboration and engagement with industry in the Greater Bay Area and worldwide. Currently, HKUST(GZ) has 15 Central Research Facilities and has established 14 research-theme-based Labs.
Since its establishment, HKUST(GZ) has been approved for 1 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory, 1 Provincial Research Base, and 11 Guangzhou Key Laboratories, including:
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Communication, Sensing and Computation for Ubiquitous Internet of Things
Artificial Intelligence Research and Learning Base of Urban Culture
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics
Guangzhou Big Data Intelligence Key Laboratory
Guangzhou EDA Key Laboratory
Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence
Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Seamless Connectivity and Connected Intelligence
Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary and Frontier AI
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Future Network Systems
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Intelligent Additive and Subtractive Hybrid Manufacturing Technology and Equipment
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Industrial Information and Intelligence
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Frontier Research in Financial Technology
Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Autonomous Driving
Since its official establishment, the university has been approved for more than 300 government-funded projects, including 66 national-level projects and participation in 18 National Key R&D Programs.
Innovation is in the DNA of HKUST(GZ). HKUST(GZ) has established the Entrepreneurship Center (EC) to provide support for campus-based entrepreneurial projects and foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. HKUST(GZ) has actively engaged with over a thousand companies for industry-academia research collaboration. It has signed cooperation agreements with more than 100 leading enterprises and renowned research institutions, establishing joint laboratories with nearly 10 industry leaders.
