News
Congratulations: Two of our members elected as the member of International Alliance of Academicians, IAA
21 March 2025
We are proud to announce that our Director, Prof. Aiping Lyu, and member, Prof. Haotao Lyu, have been elected as members of the International Alliance of Academicians (IAA). This alliance, initiated by the Hong Kong scientific community, brings together over 50 international academicians from more than 20 countries and regions, along with 250 attendees. They shared valuable insights on two main themes: "Artificial Intelligence and Health" and "Future Cities." This recognition highlights our institute's significant contributions to the international scientific community.
About International Alliance of Academicians, IAA
The International Academy Alliance was established yesterday in Hong Kong, bringing together top scientists and innovation elites from around the world for the inaugural "International Academicians Forum in Hong Kong." The event, initiated by the Hong Kong scientific community, featured over 50 international academicians from more than 20 countries and regions, along with 250 attendees, who shared insights on two main themes: "Artificial Intelligence and Health" and "Future Cities." Chief Executive John Lee, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong, and Director of the Education and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government Wang Weiming were among the guests of honor. John Lee revealed that the Hong Kong government will launch a HK$3 billion (approximately US$400 million) "Frontier Technology Research Grant Scheme" to fund groundbreaking fundamental research driven by world-class researchers and scholars.
The formation of the International Academy Alliance, co-initiated by leaders in the Hong Kong scientific community and international academicians, aims to enhance Hong Kong's international academic influence and contributions, promote the integrated development of "technology, industry, and talent," and advance global academic progress and technological innovation through international collaboration. The alliance is chaired by Professor Yau Yuk-lam, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with co-chairs including Fields Medal laureate Professor Pierre-Louis Lions, Nobel Prize in Physics laureate Professor George F. Smoot, and Professor Zhang Xiang, President of the University of Hong Kong. The executive committee comprises nearly 30 founding members.
John Lee: Investing HK$3 billion in Frontier Research
John Lee personally attended the event to congratulate the establishment of the International Academy Alliance. He stated that the alliance, as an international scientific organization based in Hong Kong, aligns with the vision of building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology center and a hub for global talent. It carries the important mission of enhancing collaboration among scientists and scholars worldwide, promoting sustainable technological innovation. The establishment of the alliance is a testament to the power of collaborative wisdom, a commitment to open exchange of ideas, and a celebration of humanity's limitless creativity.
John Lee further indicated that the Hong Kong government is committed to creating a vibrant environment that encourages innovation across all sectors of society, promoting the development and application of frontier technology and the artificial intelligence industry. He announced that the government will launch a HK$3 billion (approximately US$400 million) "Frontier Technology Research Grant Scheme" to support groundbreaking fundamental research led by world-class researchers and scholars.
Building a Shared Platform for Collaborative Innovation
In her speech, founding chair Professor Yau Yuk-lam emphasized the urgent need to promote collaboration across regions, disciplines, and fields in today’s rapidly changing world. She expressed hope that the newly established International Academy Alliance would serve as a knowledge-sharing platform, allowing top scientists and innovation elites from around the globe to regularly convene for academic conferences to discuss innovative solutions to complex global issues, further solidifying Hong Kong's position as an international hub for higher education and innovation technology.
During the plenary session following the establishment ceremony, co-chair Professor George F. Smoot, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics, and co-chair Professor Pierre-Louis Lions, a Fields Medal laureate, delivered lectures titled "The Role and Contribution of the International Academy Alliance" and "Mathematics and Its Applications," respectively, discussing the opportunities and challenges of the artificial intelligence era. A "Roundtable Discussion" moderated by the President of Baptist University, Wei Bingjiang, focused on the theme "Collaborative Innovation: Building a Sustainable Global Future." The first international academicians held subgroup discussions on "Artificial Intelligence and Health" and "Future Cities," addressing hot topics such as the profound impact of artificial intelligence on learning health systems and the transition of clinical artificial intelligence from algorithm experimentation to routine application.
It is understood that in the next phase, the International Academy Alliance will leverage the intellectual resources of international academicians and regularly hold high-level forums, academic seminars, and exchange activities among international scientific organizations. The aim is to gather and integrate the world’s top scientific talents to build a collaborative innovation platform addressing scientific challenges in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and energy, as well as to transform cutting-edge technological achievements into industrial solutions, helping Hong Kong establish an open innovation and technology hub with global influence.