The 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum
14 April 2026 (GMT+8)
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
Contents
Empowering Global Scientific Synergy to Address Humanity's Future Challenges
In a strategic initiative to link global scientific strength, the International Alliance of Academicians (IAA) and the Hong Kong Association of Overseas-Returned Scholars (HKAORS) successfully convened the 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum. As a flagship event of the Business of Innovation and Technology Week 2026, the forum was funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and received generous sponsorship from Lenovo, MattVerse Limited and Huashang Technology and Education Group Company Limited.
The event successfully attracted more than 300 participants, including over 35 world-renowned academicians. The Forum brought together more than 20 speakers, including Nobel Laureate Professor Arieh Warshel, Fields Medalist Professor Shing Tung Yau, and a distinguished group of world-renowned academicians, leading scholars, university leaders, and experts from Hong Kong and around the globe. Notably, the lineup included Presidents and Vice-Presidents from Hong Kong’s eight UGC-funded universities, reinforcing the city’s role as a high-level international academic exchange platform rooted in Hong Kong and connected to the world.
Driving Innovation Through Strategic Collaboration and Government Support
The Forum received strong support from the HKSAR Government, featuring a video address by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. Mr Lee highlighted that under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong possesses an open research environment, an intellectual property protection regime aligned with international standards, and world-leading talent resources, providing a solid foundation for I&T development. He noted that the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology centre. Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, emphasized that the Forum’s focus on ageing and AI in education echoes the priorities of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint and the HKSAR Government’s policy agenda. He stated that leveraging Hong Kong’s positioning as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”, the city will continue to drive cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration to deeper levels.
Visionary Plenary Lectures: The Bedrock of Basic Science and AI Integration
Chaired by Professor Wenwei Tu, the plenary session featured two heavyweight lectures exploring the drive of AI in research:
- Professor Shing-Tung Yau delivered “The Development of Modern Mathematics in China and Hong Kong’s Bid for ICM 2030.” He emphasized that technological breakthroughs are rooted in a solid foundation of mathematics. Highlighting Hong Kong’s bid for the 2030 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), he showcased the city’s proven capability to host top-tier global scientists and its strategic position as a world-leading academic hub, supported by the Chinese mainland.
- Professor Arieh Warshel presented “Research Insights from Integrating Physical Simulations and AI Analysis,” demonstrating how combining biophysics with AI offers a powerful roadmap for engineering better enzymes and therapeutics and addressing drug resistance.
Insights from the Frontiers: AI Transformations in Health and Education
University President Roundtable: Chaired by Professor Alexander Ping Kong Wai (HKBU), leaders from Hong Kong’s eight universities explored “The New Renaissance: Forging an Intelligent Future for Health and Education.” The panel included Professor Yike Guo (HKUST), Professor Liwen Jiang (CUHK), Professor Chak Sing Lau (HKU), Professor John Chi Kin Lee (EdUHK), Professor Anderson Ho Cheung Shum (CityU), Professor Xin Yao (LU), and Professor Ben Young (PolyU). The discussion focused on university governance, teaching innovation, and talent development in the age of AI, while seeking to accelerate the translation of research outcomes.
- Session 1: Ageing and Chronic Disease Management: Challenges and Innovations
Chaired by Professor Chak Sing Lau (HKU), this session featured insights from Professor John T. O’Brien (University of Cambridge), Professor Hidenori Arai (NCGG, Japan), Professor Dae Hyun Kim (Harvard Medical School), Professor Wenming Wu (Peking Union Medical College Hospital), and Dr Jacqueline Kwan Yuk Yuen (HKU). The experts addressed the integration of AI into clinical practice and elderly care, discussing topics from neurodegenerative diseases and sarcopenia to long-term survival pathways for pancreatic cancer, emphasizing how technology can reshape care for ageing populations.
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Session 2: AI and Innovation in Higher Education
Co-chaired by Professor Peng Gong (HKU) and Professor Yike Guo (HKUST), the session focused on rethinking pedagogy and talent development. Professor Tieyan Liu (Zhongguancun Academy), Professor Dragan Gasevic (Monash University), and Professor Zheng Zhang (HKU) explored how higher education should respond to technological transformation, sharing perspectives on the potentials and limitations of AI-generated content (AIGC) while balancing innovative applications with academic quality.
Forum Highlights
Experience the collaborative spirit of the Forum through our collection of videos and photos, capturing the collective vision that drives global progress in health and education.
Forum Details
Gain a full perspective on the event’s impact. From the strategic program and speaker lineup to our leadership vision and media highlights, explore how the forum serves as a pivotal platform for global scientific collaboration and sustainable progress.
Media Coverage
The Forum garnered significant global media attention, with over 260 reports captured across 233 media outlets. The coverage spans Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Macao, and multiple overseas markets, forming a multi-layered communication landscape. The event’s visibility was driven by mainstream Hong Kong local media and key Mainland news platforms—including Xinhua News, People’s Daily Online, Wen Wei Po, RTHK, and Bastille Post—which ensured rapid public dissemination and high credibility. Furthermore, the Forum achieved precise engagement with professional circles through specialized financial and business media such as ET Net, Quamnet, BusinessFocus, and Hong Kong Business Times, effectively deepening its influence within the global innovation, technology, and investment sectors.
Partnership
Organizer and Hosting Organization
Funding Organization
Sponsor
Supporting Organization
