The latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020 published yesterday (24 May) by the University Grants Committee (UGC) reaffirms the tremendous achievements of the world-class faculty and international leading scientists at City University of Hong Kong (CityU).

In addition to calculating Research output (70%), the RAE has introduced elements for assessing Impact, which emphasises research into broader social relevance with high economic and social benefit (15%); and Environment, which evaluates research support from universities’ strategies, resources and infrastructure (15%). About 2,000 research outputs from more than 600 faculty and researchers were submitted for review in the RAE. CityU is taking the leading positions in several disciplinary areas. In life science, engineering, creative arts and physical science, CityU is ranked top among all institutions in terms of the percentage of research outputs rated in the top-notch categories as either world-leading or internationally excellent (“4 star” or “3 star”).

Among the sub-disciplines, 14 disciplines have outstanding performance, in term of the percentage of research outputs rated as top-notch categories (“4 star” or “3 star”). CityU performed well in biological science, pre-clinical studies, mechanical engineering (including manufacturing & industrial engineering), biomedical engineering, and architecture, ranking top among all institutions; CityU is also ranked 2nd in physics and astronomy, earth science (including environmental science), history, and creative media; we are ranked 3rd in mathematics, civil engineering, psychology, communications and media studies, and linguistics. 

A number of disciplinary research areas at CityU are highly recognised in the report with their outstanding performance. For instance, the establishment of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences is confirmed to be a significant achievement. The collaboration with Cornell University, together with the investment for and building of the One Health Tower, has boosted the University’s interdisciplinary research. The report also stressed that the research outputs in several areas including physics, material and nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering at CityU are deemed to be of world-leading quality. The radio frequency technology at CityU’s State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves is also a world-class facility and the coverage of nuclear and risk engineering is unique to Hong Kong.

CityU is one of the most progressive universities in the world over the last decade. For example, according to the latest metrics compiled by Stanford University, over 140 CityU faculty members are listed among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists; and CityU is ranked top in Citations per Faculty in the QS World University Ranking averaged over a 5-year period from 2017 to 2021 in Hong Kong, reflecting the high academic standard of our faculty and our excellent research performance.

CityU is also committed to promoting knowledge transfer. In the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2021, our teams won 12 awards, which was the highest number of awards among all universities in Hong Kong. One of the projects titled “An Energy-Free, Low-Cost and High Cooling Performance Passive Radiative Cooling Technology for Building Applications” received the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, the highest recognition among all awards. 

Moreover, CityU announced the launch of a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, HK Tech 300, days ago. With an allocation of HK$500 million, the Programme aims to establish 300 start-ups championed by CityU students in three years, and establish the largest university-based entrepreneurship programme in Asia, contributing to the development of economy and technology in the society.
 
President Way Kuo of CityU was delighted with the results. “CityU faculty members are repeatedly recognised across a range of significant global rankings and international exhibitions of inventions, which is consistent with our research assessment results. CityU will continue to focus on academia, advocate the principle of the ‘integration of teaching and research’ and develop into a world-class university for professional education and thereby contribute to society,” he said.

In response to the spread of Covid-19 across the globe, CityU researchers from a wide spectrum of disciplines, including veterinary medicine, biomedical science, data science, biomedical engineering, environmental science and architecture, are committed to investigating different methods and solutions such as public health strategy and measures for preventing the spread of virus to protect public health and safety.

Media enquiries:
 
Ms Lee Pik-kwan, Office of Vice-President (Research and Technology) (Tel: 3442 8925 or 9210 3513)
Ms Helen Mok, Communications and Public Relations Office (Tel: 3442 6827or 9859 3321)