HKU Research Institutes: State Key Laboratories, InnoHK Centres, and Strategic Research Architecture

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Comprehensive Information Database · 04 Research Module This article catalogues HKU's State Key Laboratories (SKLs), the government's flagship InnoHK Research Centres, the HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), CAS-HKU Joint Laboratories, and strategic research themes. All information is sourced from the HKU website, official laboratory pages, and official press releases; years, partner institutions, and host faculties are cited wherever possible. In accordance with this archive's editorial policy (00–12 Neutral Factual Domain), entries concerning the current Vice-Chancellor's own research in nano-optics and optical quantum materials are recorded neutrally and by name.

# I. Overview: The Layers of HKU's Research Architecture

The University of Hong Kong is the territory's oldest and one of its most research-intensive comprehensive universities. Its research platforms can be broadly divided into the following layers. Understanding the approving/funding body for each layer is key to grasping HKU's research landscape.

According to HKU's "State Key Laboratories honoured" press release^※, HKU hosts the highest number of State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong. Its SKL system began with the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2005.

# II. State Key Laboratories (SKLs)

# 2.1 The Five Laboratories at a Glance

According to HKU Quick Stats "State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong"^※ and HKU's research page^※, the University of Hong Kong currently hosts 5 State Key Laboratories. On 25 August 2025, these five laboratories were presented with their official plaques at a ceremony held in Hong Kong (per HKU press release^※).

Note: Partner institutions are as listed on HKU's research page^※ for the parent State Key Laboratories.

# 2.2 Profiles of Each Laboratory

• State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases (SKLEID): According to the laboratory's official site^※, it was approved by MOST in October 2005 and is located at 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, within the Faculty of Medicine Building (under the School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine). Per HKU Admissions news^※ and multiple official reports, this laboratory was established by MOST in recognition of HKU scientists' contributions during the SARS response in 2003/2004. Its research spans emerging viruses (SARS, avian influenza, etc.), bacteria, fungi, and antimicrobial resistance. This is HKU's flagship research platform; for details, see signature-virology-infection.md.

• State Key Laboratory of Liver Research (SKLLR): Per the laboratory's official site^※, it was established in June 2010, with its mainland partner being the State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes (SKLORG) at the Shanghai Cancer Institute / Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The laboratory focuses on translational work from basic research to clinical practice, primarily targeting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of liver diseases (liver cancer, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, and liver transplantation-related issues). HKU is internationally renowned in the fields of liver disease and liver transplantation; for details, see liver-transplant-breakthroughs.md.

• State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry: Per the laboratory's background page^※, it was approved by MOST in 2010, formally established in 2011 under the name "State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry (HKU Partner Laboratory)", with its mainland parent being the State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC), CAS. The same page notes that it received an "Outstanding" rating in its 2017 assessment, and MOST agreed to drop the "Partner" prefix in 2018. Research areas include sustainable green catalysis, precision synthesis, synthetic biology, and new functional molecules. Professor Vivian Yam of HKU's Department of Chemistry is a representative scholar in this field.

• State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Per multiple HKU/Faculty of Medicine reports^※ and the official research page, it was approved by MOST in 2013 and established within the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, with its mainland partner being the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Nanjing University. It focuses on the basic research of metabolic chronic diseases and the development and clinical application of macromolecular therapeutics.

• State Key Laboratory of Optical Quantum Materials (New in 2025): Per an HKU press release^※ and HKU Horizons report^※, this laboratory received its plaque at the 25 August 2025 ceremony. It is HKU's newest nationally recognised State Key Laboratory, integrating photonics with two-dimensional materials to advance research in quantum materials and metamaterials. According to The Quantum Insider report^※, the laboratory is led by the Vice-Chancellor of HKU, the internationally renowned nano-optics and metamaterials scientist Xiang Zhang (張翔), and its research points toward the "building blocks" for quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum computing.

# 2.3 Other Related National-Level Platforms

• State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution: According to HKU's research page^※, this laboratory is hosted by City University of Hong Kong (CityU), and HKU is one of its six collaborating universities. It is therefore not counted among the five SKLs hosted by HKU and is recorded in this archive only as a collaborative platform.

# III. CAS-HKU Joint Laboratories

In addition to the State Key Laboratories, according to HKU's research page^※, HKU has jointly established 4 laboratories with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS):

These joint laboratories date back further than the SKL system in some cases, reflecting HKU's long-standing collaboration with CAS in fundamental disciplines such as materials science, chemistry, and earth sciences.

# IV. InnoHK Research Centres (9 Led by HKU)

# 4.1 The InnoHK Initiative and HKU's Position

InnoHK is the HKSAR government's flagship R&D initiative designed to develop Hong Kong into a global research collaboration hub, with its physical base at the Hong Kong Science Park. The initiative is organised into two clusters: Health@InnoHK (healthcare) and AIR@InnoHK (AI and robotics).

According to an HKU 2021 press release^※ (14 October 2021), the University of Hong Kong secured the largest share of the government's InnoHK research clusters — a total of 9 research laboratories, the highest number among local universities — with a total funding of over HK$3 billion over five years. Six of these laboratories fall under Health@InnoHK and three under AIR@InnoHK.

# 4.2 The Nine Centres at a Glance

Based on the HKU 2021 press release^※ and the InnoHK@HKU website^※:

# V. HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI)

According to the official HKU-SIRI introduction^※ and an HKU opening ceremony press release^※, the HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI) was established in March 2011 with the support of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. It serves as a vital vehicle for extending HKU's research into mainland China, responsible for technology transfer, industrial incubation, bringing in key laboratories and research centres, nurturing interdisciplinary research talent, and strengthening HKU's collaboration with industries in Shenzhen, the Pearl River Delta, and across the nation. Early resident research units included the E-Business Technology Institute, the Water Environment Research Programme, the Biomaterials Research Centre, and the Smart Grid Research Centre.

Note: HKU-SIRI (the Shenzhen institute, focused on research and technology transfer) is distinct from the teaching/training entity set up in Shenzhen by the HKU Business School, which has its own dedicated page. This archive distinguishes between the two and does not conflate them.

# VI. Strategic Research Themes and Theme-based Research Scheme

# 6.1 University-wide Strategic Research Architecture

According to an HKU Strategic Development document^※, HKU has employed a framework of Strategic Research Areas (SRAs) and Strategic Research Themes (SRTs) since 2008 to concentrate its research capacity. Areas covered include infectious diseases, precision medicine, smart materials, computer security, and environmental sustainability. In recent years, HKU has also organised several Strategically Oriented Research Theme clusters spanning biomedical and health technologies, future innovation technologies, smart systems and sustainable society, and smart data, e-commerce, and automation.

# 6.2 Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS)

The Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) is a competitive funding initiative launched by the Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2010, focusing on themes of strategic importance to Hong Kong (understanding and preventing disease, developing a sustainable environment, strengthening Hong Kong's strategic position as a regional and international business centre, and emerging research and innovations). According to an HKU press release^※, in the 2022/23 TRS round, HKU secured HK$168 million in total funding for 5 research projects. The overall performance in competitive grants is detailed in achievements.md.