City University of Hong Kong (CityU) shines again in the top 100 worldwide universities granted US utility patents by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This news, announced on 15 June, places CityU at 51st in the world, the highest position in our history, and ranks us top among local universities for the 5th consecutive year.

 Under the leadership of President Way Kuo, CityU advocates “the integration of teaching and research” to align with world-class universities. In addition, CityU is committed to promoting a knowledge-based economy and is well-known as an innovation hub for research and professional education. As of 15 June 2021, CityU has applied for more than 1,100 patents for technologies around the globe, of which 603 have been granted.

President Kuo said CityU was deeply honoured to receive these prestigious accolades once again. “CityU is committed to creating applicable knowledge for social and economic advancement and to contributing excellent research performances for society,” he said.

Promoting knowledge transfer, CityU contributes by converting outstanding research into commercial products. For example, research led by Professor Liu Chain-tsuan, University Distinguished Professor, has discovered the ideal formula for complex nanoparticles, consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, titanium and aluminium atoms, achieving superb mechanical properties at room and elevated temperatures. The results of this highly relevant research have been patented.

 

To further nurture talent and develop a knowledge-based society, CityU announced in March 2021 the launch of a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, HK Tech 300, with a dedicated allocation of HK$500 million. HK Tech 300 aims to help CityU students to leverage the University’s intellectual properties to establish 300 start-ups in three years. It is the largest university-based entrepreneurship programme in Asia in terms of capital investment and scale.

CityU’s outstanding research capabilities have also been repeatedly recognised around the world. For example, CityU won 12 awards at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2021, including a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, five Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals, winning the highest number of awards among all universities in Hong Kong.

Founded in 2010, NAI comprises members from international universities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, among others. It encourages inventors to register innovative creations and intellectual property in order to educate and mentor world-class students and enable members’ inventions to benefit society. Since 2013, NAI has ranked the top 100 universities worldwide for the highest number of utility patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. CityU has obtained the most US patents among local universities for the past five consecutive years.