HKU Launches Phase II of Shanghai Zhangjiang Base, Ushering in a New Era of Shanghai-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation and AI Talent Development

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) celebrated a major milestone in its strategic development in Shanghai with the "HKU Magic Hour event and the grand opening of Phase II of the HKU Shanghai Zhangjiang Base on August 30. 

The landmark ceremony was attended by Mr Li Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Pudong New Area Committee; Ms Jiang Fan, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Working Committee of Education and Health; and Ms Zhang Difang, Deputy Governor of Pudong New Area. They joined Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, alongside HKU faculty, students, and alumni, to witness the opening of this state-of-the-art facility, marking a new chapter in education, research, and talent exchange between Hong Kong and Shanghai. 

Following the launch of HKU’s comprehensive Shanghai strategic blueprint in February this year, the completion and opening of Phase II within just six months signifies a rapid transition from strategic planning to full implementation and deepened development, significantly expanding HKU’s academic and research footprint in the Yangtze River Delta. 

Professor Zhang remarked, "If the launch six months ago was about embarking on a dream, this moment is about gathering our strengths, setting sail, and writing a new chapter of deepened cooperation and collaborative innovation between HKU and Shanghai.” 

Welcoming Hundreds of Global Students to a Full-Chain Innovation Ecosystem 

During the evening ceremony, Professor Xiang Zhang, Secretary Li Zheng, and other officiating guests led the lighting ceremony in front of Building 3. As a spectacular light show illuminated Building 3 and the adjacent Building 5, Phase II of the Zhangjiang Base was officially open. 

Addressing the audience, Professor Zhang shared his vision through the concept of the "Magic Hour": "The Magic Hour is the most beautiful time of the day. I hope everyone at the Zhangjiang Base can find their own 'Magic Hour' here, embarking on a marvelous journey of innovation." 

Serving as the cornerstone of this expansion, Building 3 functions as a state-of-the-art research and education hub, housing the AI Labs, research and collaboration labs, Intelligent Computing Research Center, andteaching collaboration labs dedicated to pioneering scientific inquiries. Complementing this academic focus, Building 5 is designed to enrich campus life and foster co-creation, featuring dedicated spaces for sports, student interaction, and collaborative projects. Notably, the ground floor of Building 5 introduces the "University Galleria" (大學雅堂), bringing HKU's centuries-old High Table Dinner tradition directly to Shanghai to enhance the student experience and deepen community bonding.

Professor Zhang expressed high hopes that HKU researchers and students would utilise this vibrant technological hub to push scientific boundaries, integrate with local industries, and build a full-chain innovation ecosystem combining research, education, and industrialization. Starting from September, the base will welcome over 500 students from around the world for the new semester, offering them hands-on research opportunities closely aligned with industry needs and market dynamics.

Shifting Paradigms: Cultivating Future-Ready Talents in the AI Era

Complementing the physical expansion of the campus, the 2026 HKU Talent Forum (Shanghai) was held on the same day to explore future-ready talent development. Themed "," the forum gathered HKU leadership, renowned scholars, and industry leaders to discuss the shifting demands on human talent in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Professor Chen Lin, Vice-President (Business Strategy) of HKU, moderated the forum. "As we discuss AI, large language models, and computing power, we must ultimately return to the human element," Professor Lin noted in his opening remarks. "What kind of talents should universities cultivate in the AI era? What does society actually need?"

Professor Xiang Zhang delivered a keynote address titled "Unbounded Computing Power, Brilliant Talents — HKU's Talent Mission in the AI Era," sharing insights on internationalised education, HKU's Shanghai strategy, and university-industry collaboration. Mr Jiang Ning, Deputy President of Shanghai Foreign Service (Group) Co., Ltd., also delivered a speech on redefining talent value through human-machine collaboration.

The forum featured two panel discussions focusing on "Industry Expectations of AI Talents" and "University-Enterprise Co-cultivation." Industry leaders explored how to integrate market demands into university curricula, creating authentic internship and practice opportunities for students.

The forum also hosted the HKU AI Labs Partnership Signing and Unveiling Ceremony. Collaborations were established in cutting-edge fields such as Embodied AI, Fintech, and AI Infrastructure, alongside partnership agreements with startup incubators under HKU’s School of Computing and Data Science (CDS), accelerating the translation of scientific research into industrial applications.

Bridging Traditions: The Inaugural High Table Dinner at Zhangjiang Base

The milestone day concluded with the inaugural High Table Dinner held at the Zhangjiang Base. As one of HKU's most cherished campus traditions, the High Table Dinner fosters academic heritage, community bonding, and intergenerational dialogue among scholars, alumni, and distinguished guests.

From the unveiling of the Phase II campus to the insightful dialogues at the AI talent forum, and finally, the inaugural High Table Dinner, the day’s events perfectly reflected HKU’s core philosophy: nurturing talent, driving front-end research, bridging industry partnerships, and enriching growth through University culture.

Moving forward, HKU will continue to leverage Shanghai as a key strategic anchor, combining the unique strengths of both Hong Kong and Shanghai. By embedding itself in Zhangjiang's world-class innovation ecosystem, HKU aims to drive interdisciplinary breakthroughs and cultivate global, future-oriented leaders, advancing steadily toward its vision of becoming a world-class university that leads the future of humanity.