A research team has developed a technology that enhances the lifespan and stability of all-solid-state batteries by utilizing a rubber-like elastic ion-conductive material. Dr. Dong Wook Kim and his research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in collaboration with Professor Seong-Ju Hwang’s team at Yonsei University and Professor Ho Seok Park’s team at Sungkyunkwan University, developed a technology that incorporates an “elastic ion-conductive polymer” into sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries to reduce cracking and interfacial degradation generated during charge-discharge cycling and thereby improve battery durability.

Penn Engineering researchers discovered that sea star skeletons do more than provide strength—they also guide light. The finding reveals how nature combines structural support and sensing in a single material, offering new inspiration for lightweight, multifunctional materials and bioinspired engineering.

The Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited (CSHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6 July 2026 to jointly establish the ‘CSHK HKU Engineering Flagship Programme Scholarship’. This strategic collaboration aims to support outstanding undergraduate students across the Faculty's three flagship programmes, while promoting academic-industry collaboration and nurturing future engineering talent with a global perspective.

Researchers at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have uncovered a critical, underrecognized trade-off in global environmental policies: while essential for improving public health, large-scale air pollution reductions are unintentionally intensifying warm-season surface urban heat islands (UHI) in humid climates. Published in the prestigious journal Nature Cities, the findings highlight the urgent need for integrated policies that address both air quality and urban heat adaptation, particularly in rapidly urbanising, humid regions.

The teams Sapientia and Virtus of the HKU Robocon group from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) clinched multiple awards at this year's "Robocon Hong Kong Contest 2026", winning the Championship, Second Runner-up respectively, and Best Team Spirit Award and Best Performance Award. As champion, the team Sapientia will represent Hong Kong as the home team at the upcoming “ABU Robocon 2026” in August, competing against 15 countries and regions.

A research team from the Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has introduced robot-assisted microsurgery in Hong Kong for the first time. The team successfully completed 48 procedures, including the world’s first robot-assisted liver transplant surgery and trans-hairline robotic microvascular surgery. Clinical data indicate no complications related to the use of the robotic micro-surgical platform. All anastomoses were patent with no long-term complications. This breakthrough highlights the leadership of HKUMed and Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) in advancing precision surgery and setting new global benchmarks in complex surgical care.

Researchers have traced the journey of a plastic bottle cap recovered near the waters of southern Japan by combining data from the label, chemical clues in tiny shells, and ocean current simulations. They found 307 organisms, including a polychaetae worm not found in Japanese waters before. The findings, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, show that when species that significantly shape their environments (ecosystem engineers) colonize plastic debris, entire micro-communities can be transported over extended periods, with implications for invasive species risk and marine biodiversity conservation. 

Five biotech startups from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are participating in the BIO International Convention 2026 (BIO 2026), taking place from 22 to 25 June 2026 in San Diego, United States. The HKU teams are showcasing a range of cutting-edge research achievements across vaccine development, innovative therapies, precision diagnostics, and AI-enabled medical technologies, demonstrating the University’s leadership in knowledge transfer and its commitment to translating world-class research into impactful clinical solutions.