SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being 

Common Core Program

The Common Core Program requirements are mandatory for all undergraduate students, ensuring every graduate has the opportunity to engage with sustainability. For the 2024-25 academic year, over 20 Common Core courses are directly related to Sustainability and the SDGs, making sustainability education an integral part of the foundational curriculum for all students.

Extended Major in Sustainability

For students seeking deeper engagement, the Extended Major in Sustainability is available in combination with Science, Engineering, Business, Humanities and Social Science, and most Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies majors. In 2024-2025, it offers 55 courses covering a range of SDG topics, providing an interdisciplinary pathway for students across disciplines.

Other Relevant Programs

Additional specialized degree programs further integrate SDGs into the curriculum, including the BSc in Environmental Management and Technology (EVMT) , the BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance (SGFN) , and the BSc in Ocean Science and Technology (OST). These multi-disciplinary programs equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address specific sustainability challenges.

For more details on the integration of SDGs across the HKUST curriculum, please click here.

HKUST offers courses such as:

LIFS 1010 – Introduction to Biological Sciences: Introduces fundamental biological principles, including human organ structure and function, which are essential for understanding health and disease .
ENVR 1030 – Environment and Health: Explores how environmental agents like pollution and pathogens impact human health from population and community perspectives

According to Science Direct, from 2021 to 2025, HKUST published 1,894 research papers addressing SDG 3. 

10.5% of them are in the top 10% cite score and around 70.9% are internationally co-authored. 

HKUST Develops Multiple Smart Devices to Advance Medical Innovation 

A research team led by Associate Prof. SHEN Yajing at HKUST has developed three innovative smart medical devices integrating AI and robotics to improve health monitoring, surgical assistance, and rehabilitation. The devices include PhyTac, an AI hand-interaction system with 97.7% accuracy for assessing hand function; a portable wireless spirometer for home-based lung monitoring; and the world's smallest multifunctional surgical robot (0.95 mm) for minimally invasive procedures. These breakthroughs not only help doctors overcome diagnostic and treatment bottlenecks but also provide powerful tools for personalized rehabilitation and remote patient care, paving the way for transformative applications across the healthcare industry.

Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Diagnosis: HKUST Launches Large AI Model "MOME" for Testing

HKUST researchers led by Prof. CHEN Hao have developed MOME, a large AI model that uses multiparametric MRI to diagnose breast cancer with expert-level accuracy. Trained on China's largest dataset, MOME also predicts treatment response and shows potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies. Now undergoing clinical validation across more than ten hospitals, this innovation highlights AI's transformative role in enabling non-invasive and personalized cancer management.

PanopticAI: HKUST Alumni Startup Pioneers Contactless Health Monitoring with FDA-Cleared App 

Three HKUST engineering alumni—Dr. Kyle WONG, Dr. Nick CHIN, and Teric CHAN—have developed the world's first mobile app for contactless pulse rate measurement cleared by the US FDA. Using rPPG technology, the app analyzes subtle skin color changes via smartphone camera to measure vital signs like heart rate, breathing rate, and stress levels within 30 seconds. Their startup, PanopticAI, has secured funding and a diverse customer portfolio, with the team now working to enhance blood pressure monitoring accuracy, aiming to transform remote healthcare accessibility.

HKUST Develops New Model to Study Brain Injury Repair

A research team led by Prof. LIU Kai at HKUST has created a new injury model to study how the brain rewires itself after damage. The team identified ways to boost nerve regrowth and speed up recovery, cutting repair time from 6 months to 3 months. This work deepens understanding of brain repair and could help develop future treatments for nerve injuries and diseases.

HKUST Develops Versatile Microfluidic Probe for Cell and Organoid Studies 

HKUST researchers are developing a multi-functional, reversible microfluidic probe to improve cell and organoid research. The probe addresses challenges in organoid-on-chip systems, including live cell retrieval and creating more realistic physiological models. This technology has potential applications in drug screening, disease modeling, and personalized medicine.

HKUST Chemists Innovate Synthesis of Complex Molecules for Drug Discovery

HKUST researchers led by Prof. SUN Jianwei and Prof. LIN Zhenyang have developed a catalytic method to synthesize chiral bridged polycyclic compounds—complex molecular structures found in many natural products and drug molecules. By enabling faster and more efficient synthesis of these valuable compounds, this breakthrough could accelerate drug discovery and development for a range of diseases.

Smoke-Free

As a leading institution of higher education, HKUST is committed to fostering a healthy and safe environment for its community. A key aspect of this commitment is HKUST's policy to maintain a smoke-free campus, in accordance with the Hong Kong Public Health Ordinance.

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HKUST Partners with Top Private Hospitals to Advance Third Medical School Initiative

HKUST forged partnerships with HKSH Medical Group and Hong Kong Adventist Hospital to advance its initiative to establish Hong Kong's third medical school. Through these collaborations, HKUST students will gain access to short-term clinical courses, practicum opportunities, and clinical rotations at both institutions, as well as staff exchanges and joint research initiatives in fields such as proton therapy and artificial intelligence. The partnerships also leverage Adventist Health's global network of hospitals and universities to enrich teaching quality with international clinical instructors, while co-developing Centres of Excellence to support community health. These strategic alliances, together with HKUST's existing collaborations with leading hospitals in the Greater Bay Area and Beijing, strengthen the foundation to nurture future physicians equipped with clinical competence, a scientific mindset, and compassionate care.

HKUST Forges Strategic Partnerships with PKU and Tsinghua to Build Medical Collaboration Network 

HKUST has signed strategic agreements with Peking University (PKU) Health Science Center and Tsinghua University School of Medicine to deepen collaboration in medical education, research, and clinical applications. Building on long-standing ties, HKUST will work with PKU on student clinical training, faculty exchanges, and joint MD-PhD programs, while collaborating with Tsinghua on translating cutting-edge technologies into clinical applications and cultivating medical management talent. These partnerships, together with HKUST's existing alliances with Beijing's top medical institutions, establish a comprehensive network spanning medical education, research, and clinical practice, strengthening the foundation for HKUST's planned third medical school.

HKUST and SIIC Launch Hong Kong Biotechnology Fund 

HKUST has partnered with SIIC to launch the Hong Kong Biotechnology Fund, aimed at supporting life science ventures and fostering innovation in the biotech sector. The initiative seeks to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into commercial applications, providing funding and resources to promising biotech startups and research projects. This collaboration leverages SIIC's investment expertise and HKUST's research strengths to drive the growth of Hong Kong's biotechnology ecosystem, reinforcing the region's position as an emerging hub for biomedical innovation.

HKUST Start-ups PanopticAI and SmartCare Partner with Gleneagles Hospital to Pioneer AI-Driven Patient Care

HKUST-nurtured startups PanopticAI and SmartCare have partnered with Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong to deploy AI-powered smart clinic solutions at the new Gleneagles MediCentre, set to launch in late 2025. The collaboration integrates PanopticAI's FDA-cleared camera-based vital signs monitoring—which can measure heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels in under 30 seconds—with SmartCare's AI consultation platform powered by multimodal large language models to enhance clinical workflows, streamline patient triage, and deliver seamless, personalized care. This partnership exemplifies how HKUST's entrepreneurship ecosystem—through incubation, mentorship, and funding—translates cutting-edge research into real-world healthcare applications.

Sinovac Fellowship Program 

HKUST has received a US$1.5 million donation from Sinovac Foundation to establish the Sinovac Fellowship Program, supporting 13 faculty members from the Division of Life Science with HK$300,000 annually for three years. The program aims to nurture talent in life sciences, biomedical sciences, and biotechnology by enabling promising scholars to advance their research and drive medical technology innovation. The donation reflects Sinovac's commitment to supporting researchers and confidence in HKUST's scientific achievements, helping translate research into clinical applications and contributing to Hong Kong's development as an international health and medical innovation hub.

Reviving Joyful Bites: HKUST Curates Inclusive Soft Meal Dim Sum Experience

HKUST organized an inclusive Yum Cha experience for over 100 seniors with swallowing difficulties, featuring soft-textured dim sum that comply with international dysphagia diet standards. The event showcased HKUST startups Elevatefoods Technology, which uses 3D printing to produce nutritious soft meals three times faster than traditional methods, and PanopticAI, which enables personalized nutrition through contactless health monitoring. This addresses the health needs of Hong Kong's rapidly aging population—where 60% of nursing home residents experience swallowing difficulties.

Spreading Joy in Elderly Homes

In collaboration with the Haven of Hope Bradbury King Lam Community Health Development Centre, 24 HKUST volunteers visited elderly individuals living alone in the Hang Hau area across three service sessions. Volunteers spent quality time engaging with the elders, listening to their life stories, and distributing fresh groceries to meet their practical needs. Through these simple yet meaningful exchanges, the volunteers were inspired by the elders' resilience and genuine smiles, creating warm connections that enriched both generations and highlighted the importance of companionship and care for vulnerable elderly in the community.

Mental Health Support 

The HKUST Counselling and Wellness Center students and staff are available for counselling sessions and access with a 24-hour helpline for support. In the past year 2022-2025, the center has provided over 5000 counselling and Special Educational Needs (SEN) sessions as well as conducting 130 wellness activities. The Center offers regular programs and workshops to address key mental health topics, and we hope to refresh students with insights that promote self-care and connection with their hearts. 

Peer Support Community 

Each year, numerous enthusiastic undergraduate and postgraduate students volunteer to join two distinctive programs: the Peer Companion Training Program and the SENtastic Leader Program. The volunteer team has expanded to over 220 students and participants receive relevant training and service opportunities that empower them to form core teams, develop collaborative ideas, and create a caring and inclusive environment within the community. 

Medical Facilities

HKUST provides comprehensive on-campus medical and dental services for the entire campus community, including full-time students, staff, and their eligible family members. General check-up services and medicine prescription is free for all students to promote inclusive health access for all.

Sport Facilities

HKUST provides a diverse array of cutting-edge sports and recreation facilities to promote the overall well-being of its students, staff, and their family members. These facilities are open to the entire campus community, including full-time and part-time students, staff, retirees, and Sports Facilities User Card holders.

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