HKAGE and CityUHK’s College of Science Sign Collaborative Framework Agreement
to Launch the STEAM Research Mentorship Scheme to Cultivate Top-Notch Research Talent
(Hong Kong – 16 May 2026) — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) today, along with the College of Science of the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), formally signed a Collaborative Framework Agreement to launch the STEAM Research Mentorship Scheme (Scheme). Through this initiative, CityUHK professors and research staff will serve as research mentors, providing professional training to guide 30 HKAGE student members in their research endeavours—together nurturing research and innovation talent with the capacity to compete on an international level.
The Scheme is divided into four stages, providing a progression from foundational concepts to advanced research, and offering learning activities for gifted students across two academic years:
- Stage 1: Research Expert Talks
CityUHK professors share insights on scientific research and explain the programme’s content, research topics and methodologies.
- Stage 2: Research Taster Workshops
Thirty selected students will participate in a one-week summer programme to learn about the AI applications. CityUHK researchers will select students to progress to the next stage based on their performance and learning results.
- Stage 3: Advanced Learning and Research Programme
Ten selected student members will form research groups to take part in one-year long research activities. Under the guidance of CityUHK researchers, the groups will undertake research projects, conduct experiments and analyse data. Groups are required to hold regular meetings for reporting, with goals including participating in scientific research competitions, publishing in scientific journals or conference papers, and completing patent applications.
- Stage 4: Student–Faculty Mentorships
Outstanding students in the previous stage will enter the final stage, where they will be invited by CityUHK professors to join research teams and engage in world-class scientific research. Student members will participate in professional training and, under the guidance of professors, publish papers in leading international scientific journals, attend international scientific conferences, or achieve breakthrough in patent application.
Dr Martin SZETO, Executive Director of the HKAGE, expressed great enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying that, “Combining CityUHK’s world-class research resources with the HKAGE’s experience in nurturing gifted students can effectively unlock their potential in research area. This will cultivate them into the backbone of Hong Kong’s future scientific and innovation development, supporting Hong Kong’s growth into a world-class innovation hub.”
Professor Xin WANG, Dean of the College of Science of CityUHK said: “The College of Science at CityUK has always been committed to advancing cutting-edge research and talent development. Through this scheme, we aim to provide gifted students with a comprehensive research training pathway — from foundational to advanced levels. This will enable them to engage in authentic scientific research at an early stage during their secondary school years. Not only will this enhance their research capabilities, but it will also cultivate their innovative thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. We believe this partnership will nurture a new generation of competitive science and technology innovation talents for Hong Kong.”
This year’s research projects cover five major topics, namely AI-powered Medical Diagnostics and Imaging, AI-assisted At-home Medical Tests for Screening and Management of Chronic Diseases, Magnetic Imaging with Spins, Quantum Computing: Solving the Accuracy Gap in AI Material Discovery, and AI-based Gravitrap Data Analysis in Predicting Aedes Risk in Hong Kong.
About the HKAGE
Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.
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Dr Martin SZETO, Executive Director of the HKAGE and Prof. WANG Xin, Dean of College of Science, CityUHK sign the Collaborative Framework Agreement. |
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Dr Martin SZETO, Executive Director of the HKAGE, says, “Combining CityUHK’s world-class research resources with the HKAGE’s experience in nurturing gifted students can effectively unlock our gifted students’ potential in research area. This will cultivate them into the backbone of Hong Kong’s future scientific and innovation development, supporting Hong Kong’s growth into a world-class innovation hub.” | Prof. WANG Xin, Dean of College of Science, CityUHK, says, “Through this scheme, we aim to provide gifted students with a comprehensive research training pathway — from foundational to advanced levels. This will enable them to engage in authentic scientific research at an early stage during their secondary school years.” |
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CityUHK’s Prof. Condon LAU (front row, from right to left), Prof. LO Wing Cheong and Prof. Alice HU shared their insights on scientific research with the gifted students and elaborating on details of the Scheme. |
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Update Date：2026-05-18