Partnerships 

At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), we are committed to building impactful partnerships that drive sustainability initiatives forward. Through collaborative initiatives with global and local entities, we aim to catalyze innovation, foster cross-sector dialogues, and champion sustainable practices to address pressing global challenges from a regional standpoint.

 

Global Partnership

 

The International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN)

HKUST is a member of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), which provides an international forum to support higher education institutions in exchanging information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in research and teaching. As part of ISCN, HKUST actively collaborates with global peer institutions to develop best practices for tackling challenges in SDG achievements.

Recognized for our Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab (SSC) initiative, we received the Honorary Member Award from ISCN in 2022. This initiative aims to address global sustainability challenges and foster a sustainability mindset through innovations focused on improving the public good.

Honorary Member Award 2022: Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab (SSC) initiativeAs a member of the ISCN Living Labs Community of Practice, HKUST representatives have shared our campus's sustainability progress and innovative ideas at ISCN conferences in Mexico (2023) and Lausanne (2024), underscoring our commitment to sustainability.

 

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) 

HKUST is an active member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Hong Kong, an organization that bridges science, policy, and development practices to optimize SDG achievements across global, regional, national, and local scales.The SDSN collaborates with a diverse array of entities, including UN agencies, private sector, governmental bodies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups globally. The SDSN network is spearheading several global initiatives, including:

•    SDG Metrics & Indices – Developing indicators and data measurement systems to track progress on the SDGs and help target resources, policies, and programs based on SDG performance. It includes the U.S. Cities SDG Index, and the SDG Index, which ranks 193 countries on their SDG achievements and commitments.

•    SDG Academy – An online education platform offering free, graduate-level courses on sustainable development for students worldwide.

•    The World in 2050 – An initiative developing science-based transformational and equitable pathways to sustainable development, providing fact-based knowledge to support SDG policy and implementation.

•    World Happiness Report – A survey assessing the global state of happiness.

As a sustainable development leader, HKUST supports The Summit of the Future, advancing SDGs and recognizing higher education's role. Additionally, as an SDSN member, HKUST collaborates with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust (co-host of the Hong Kong chapter, an NGO) on strategic planning and SDG-related policy guidance and intervention delivery.

Joint Declaration on Embracing a Living Lab Approach to Promote Carbon Neutrality 

The Joint Declaration on Embracing a Living Lab Approach to Promote Carbon Neutrality, spearheaded by HKUST, unites universities globally to combat climate change and secure a sustainable future for all. Acknowledging universities' pivotal role in research and innovation to mitigate climate impacts, we commit to advancing carbon-neutral solutions through our campuses as "living labs." This commitment includes upholding UN Sustainable Development Goal 13, fostering hands-on research and learning, nurturing partnerships for campus-based innovation, sharing best practices, and driving research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations. 

Lab Zero Campus Alliance 

The Lab Zero Campus Alliance is initiated by HKUST with the aim to drive accelerated applied research in campus and regional decarbonization challenges through a "Living Lab" approach, recognizing its efficacy in translating lab bench research into tangible cost-effective solutions. By focusing on capacity-building, research collaboration, and regional partnerships, the Alliance seeks to drive sustainable solutions while promoting knowledge sharing and innovation. As the permanent secretariat, HKUST will oversee Alliance activities, including community engagement, workshops, case studies, and collaborative research projects, ensuring effective coordination and support for members. 

 

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 

HKUST is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a leading association for the advancement of sustainability in higher education. As a designated institution for Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum to increase the accessibility and diversity of sustainability-oriented training, HKUST offers workshops to support faculty from other institutions in addressing diverse sustainability challenges and interests. 

 

Local Partnerships

 

Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC) 

HKUST plays a pivotal role within the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC), a platform established in 2010 by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to facilitate collaboration among the eight publicly-funded universities in Hong Kong. The HKSCC focuses on:

•    Promoting member universities' efforts to implement sustainability solutions through research, teaching, policies, operations, and outreach

•    Facilitating best practice exchanges via programs, projects, and specialist groups

•    Hosting public sustainability discussions through meetings, conferences, and digital platforms, engaging diverse entities to develop solutions and policies

•    Encouraging information and resource sharing as universities expand their sustainability initiatives

The HKSCC emphasizes sharing best practices, implementing the Hong Kong Declaration and monitoring environmental performance indicators in the sector.

HKUST co-chairs several working groups, including those on Sustainability Performance, Sustainability Education, and Joint University Campaigns. Additionally, HKUST serves on the Steering Committee for the Jockey Club Sustainable Campus Consumer Programme (JCSCCP), funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust—a recognized non-governmental organization. In 2020, HKUST assumed the role of convenor for the HKSCC and chaired its executive committee.

 

 

Industry Partners

 

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) 

HKUST collaborates with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to advance sustainable technology innovation and development.  

HKUST is a supporting organization for HKSTP's "Green in Prop+Con" initiative, which serves as a platform to source and match global and local green tech solutions with corporate partners' specific ESG needs.  

Additionally, the HKUST x HKSTP Co-Ideation Program is an entrepreneurship supporting program to support aspiring entrepreneurs in transforming their innovative ideas into viable businesses, including mentorship, training, and a direct pathway to HKSTP's Incubation program, fostering a conducive environment for entrepreneurial success and sustainable technological advancement. 

Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge 

HKUST is a Corporate Partner of the Hong Kong Green Tech Challenge, a joint imitative between Carbonless and the HKSTP. The Challenge aims to identify tangible opportunities in the building and construction portfolios to adopt and deploy green technologies in support of our sustainability and net-zero roadmaps. The university provides opportunity statements, use cases and projects in our pipelines to the Challenge.