Interdisciplinary Research

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) aspires to be the leading university in Hong Kong and a global pioneer in interdisciplinary research and education. The institution is committed to delivering high-quality education and conducting impactful research that transforms society and the economy.

Our Approach

CityUHK is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research and education to address global challenges and improve society. The University’s Strategic Plan outlines five key research areas One Health, Digital Society, Smart City, Matter, and Brain. Each is designed to foster innovation and contribute to solutions for pressing real-world issues through interdisciplinary collaboration.

• One Health: This area focuses on interdisciplinary research collaborations addressing health-related issues involving the interactions between animal and human populations and their environments to improve health outcomes.
• Digital Society: This research area explores the relationship between technology and society, informed by the disciplines of humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, leading to substantial knowledge transfer activities.
• Smart City: This theme addresses regional and global concerns such as sustainable energy, climate change, and urban planning through innovative solutions across diverse disciplines.
• Matter: The study of matter involves interdisciplinary research in science, engineering, and technology to drive innovation through practical applications in various fields.
• Brain: This area covers neuroscience and artificial intelligence, aiming to understand the human-machine interface and improve productivity, contributing to advancements in human intelligence and society.

Research Institutes, Centres and Laboratories

CityUHK has established research institutes and centres that act as collaborative platforms for researchers from various scientific disciplines. These centres facilitate knowledge exchange and actively promote interdisciplinary research initiatives, creating a supportive environment for cross-disciplinary collaborations and innovation. This approach allows CityUHK scholars and researchers to harness diverse expertise and perspectives, enabling them to address complex, multifaceted problems effectively. A list of Institutes, Centres and Laboratories can be found here.

Faculty Development and Advancement

CityUHK is home to notable scholars and promotes interdisciplinary research to extend knowledge and address real-world problems. The university emphasises building critical mass and familiarity in interdisciplinary work, requiring leadership at the initial stages.

Global Scholar Recruitment

CityUHK seeks exceptional scholars to join us on substantiation-track in all academic fields, focusing on One Health, Digital Society, Smart City, Matter, Brain, and related interdisciplinary areas.

We have set joint-department appointments and established pioneering schemes to attract global talents and interdisciplinary scholars

Distinguished Visiting Professors Scheme is an international collaborative research initiative. Its mission is to elevate the university's international research network, enhance collaborative research activities, and expand its academic talent pool. The scheme invites outstanding academics with proven excellence in research and innovation from world-renowned universities or research institutions to join CityUHK and foster interdisciplinary collaboration with our faculty.

The Presidential Assistant Professors Scheme and the Global Research Assistant Professors Scheme are innovative initiatives designed to attract and nurture top global talents and promising early-career researchers. These schemes aim to create a competitive platform for exceptional young scholars from diverse academic backgrounds, fostering their development into world-class scholars and academic leaders. CityUHK seeks to establish a vibrant academic environment and a robust global network by encouraging innovative research directions and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Performance Review and Promotion

The evolution of academic disciplines is regularly reviewed to ensure that performance assessment criteria and standards reflect the growing importance of interdisciplinary research. One of the Key Performance Indicators specifically evaluates interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research, and multi-author publications.

When recommending faculty for promotion, departments must detail the candidate's contributions to interdisciplinary groups and research centres or institutes, along with any relevant group-based collaborative activities. Evaluating a faculty member's scholarly contributions includes explaining their role in interdisciplinary research activities. This approach ensures that the promotion process recognises and values faculty involvement in interdisciplinary research and collaboration.

For details, please refer to the following guidelines:
General Guidelines on Establishment and Approval of Assessment Criteria and Standards
Notes on the Preparation of Recommendations for Promotion with Substantiation of Assistant Professor to Associate Professor