The University of Hong Kong held the HKU Talent Forum in Beijing

The University of Hong Kong held the HKU Talent Forum in Beijing on October 31, 2026, bringing scholars, industry leaders, and public sector representatives to the HKU Beijing Centre for an exploration of talent development and innovation in the era of artificial intelligence.

Themed “Leading the Infinite: The Global Ambitions of China and HKU,” the forum connected frontier research, university education, industry practice, and international exchange, with a focus on cultivating individuals equipped with scientific literacy, innovative capabilities, and global perspectives.

Professor Lin Chen, Vice President (Business) at HKU and coordinator of the forum series, set the tone in his opening remarks, emphasising that talent is not about passively adapting to the future, but about using knowledge, courage, and responsibility to shape it.

The development of artificial intelligence brings not only tremendous opportunities but also exposes numerous challenges, he noted. Amid such uncertainty, the definition of outstanding talent has moved beyond mere technical proficiency or the attainment of benchmarks, requiring a deep sense of critical inquiry, a solid theoretical foundation, substantial depth of knowledge, and the capacity for independent and innovative thinking.

The forum featured two masterclasses given by HKU faculty. Professor Xiao-Jing Wang, Chair Professor at the School of Computing and Data Science and School of Biomedical Sciences, shared insights from his research on computational neuroscience. Professor Bing Zhang, Chair Professor of Astrophysics and Founding Director of the Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, discussed recent developments in astrophysics and space science.

Keynote speakers included Academician Zhou Zhonghe of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who spoke on rebuilding trust mechanisms in science in the AI era; Professor Xue Lan, Dean of Tsinghua University's Schwarzman College, who addressed the restructuring of higher education infrastructure; and Mr Huo Xuewen, Director of the Economic Committee of the Beijing Municipal CPPCC, who emphasised the importance of talent development to Hong Kong’s future.

Two panel discussions and a fireside chat rounded out the programme. The first panel, moderated by Professor Lin, explored demand for technological talent and higher education reform. A fireside chat moderated by Professor Yang Wang, Vice-President (Institutional Advancement) of HKU, featured industry leaders from firms like JD and Xiaomi discussing human-machine collaboration and evolving career pathways. The final panel, moderated by Professor Anderson Shum, HKU Vice-President (Research), examined how technological innovation and cultural exchange can deepen China's global engagement.

The HKU Talent Forum series aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among government, employers, alumni, and strategic partners. Previous editions were held in Shanghai, Qianhai, and Hong Kong.

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