Highlights
Advancing Collaborations across Belt and Road Countries (Mar 18)
As part of the “Belt and Road stories from HK” series organized by Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce, Dean Prof. Frederik ANSEEL shared the School’s collaborations with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting the partnership with Saudi Aramco on an MBA program and the new undergraduate program on Eurasian Business. (dotdotnews, brgcc.hk, YouTube, Weixin)
HKUST, IFEC, and Cyberport Host Web3 Ideathon to Empower Next Generation of FinTech Innovators (Mar 31)
Co-organized by the School’s Center for Technology and Business Ecosystem, the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) and Cyberport, the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Ideathon: AI, FinTech and Financial Literacy attracted over 300 students in 107 teams from local institutions to develop solutions to real-world financial challenges using innovative technologies. (HK Economic Journal and infocastfn.com)
OTHERS
Security Risks Associated with AI Agents (Mar 29)
In an interview at i-Cable TV news talk show, Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. HUI Kai-Lung discussed the risks posed by AI agents, as well as developments in AI and stablecoins, warning about the security risks associated with using the popular AI agent OpenClaw, which requires users to grant access rights.
Leveraging Strategic M&As to Mark up Prices for New Offerings (Mar 29)
In an HK Economic Journal column article, Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung examined how businesses leverage strategic M&As to phase out legacy products and mark up prices for new offerings.
Shifting Balance of Power in the Middle East (Mar 27)
A Master Insight column article by Prof. Emeritus Francis LUI, Dept of Economics, argued that the recent US-Israeli war on Iran has dramatically shifted the balance of power in the Middle East in Iran’s favor.
HK as Safe Haven amidst War in Middle East (Mar 27)
Asst. Prof WANG Xiaoliang, Dept of Finance, wrote an HK Economic Times column article about how HK could become a safe haven for capital from the Middle East seeking refuge from war
AI’s Productivity Boost (Mar 26)
According to a Sina report, Assoc. Prof. WANG Wenbo, Dept of Marketing, delivered a speech at the Knowledge Impact Conference on new business ideas in the AI era, highlighting how AI can lower costs by 80-90% and significantly boost productivity in short dramas.
HK’s Opportunities under "15th Five-Year Plan" (Mar 25)
According to reports in Wenweipo, tkww.hk (1), tkww.hk(2), Prof. XU Yan, Dept of ISOM, attended a policy briefing about the "15th Five-Year Plan" to discuss the new development opportunities for HK over the next five years.
US-Iranian Conflicts Likely to Persist (Mar 25)
In a Master Insight YouTube channel video commentary, Prof. Emeritus Francis LUI, Dept of Economics, anticipated that the US-Iranian conflicts are unlikely to end anytime soon, since the targeted strikes on Iranian leaders have galvanized the country to unite against the enemies.
China Shows Resilience amid Oil Supply Disruptions (Mar 25)
A Commonweath Magazine article by Adjunct Prof. Alicia GARCIA-HERRERO, Dept of Economics, examined China's strategic preparation and resilience in the face of an oil shock, backed by its massive buildup of crude oil inventories, investments in refining capacity, and relative strength.
Driving Profits through Planned Obsolescence (Mar 23)
An HK Economic Journal column article by Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung looked into how electronic product suppliers drove sales and profits through planned obsolescence.
FT: HKUST MBA Ranked 24th Globally (Mar 22)
According to reports by TOM, szhww.com, ZAKER, and chnews.net, the HKUST MBA program has been ranked 24th globally in the Financial Times, while maintaining the first place among MBA programs in HK. This marks the 15th time since 2008 the program has been placed among the world's top 25.
Promoting Quality Service (Mar 20)
According to a Sing Tao Headline.com report, Assoc. Prof. SIU Kam-Wing, Dept of Economics, were among the guests officiating at the presentation ceremony of Sing Tao Service Awards 2025.
Forecasting US-Iranian Conflicts (Mar 20)
A Master Insight column article by Prof. Emeritus Francis LUI, Dept of Economics, discussed the geopolitical implications and potential development of the conflicts between Iran and the US-Israel alliance.
Family Offices Take Lead in Philanthropy (Mar 20)
In an HK Economic Times column article, Prof. Winnie Peng, Director of Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office wrote about family offices taking lead in philanthropy.
6G Development Takes Time Despite Breakthroughs (Mar 16)
In an HK Economic Times column article, Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung wrote that a Peking University-led research team has achieved a breakthrough in 6G by integrating fiber-optic and wireless systems, generating optimism for a more interconnected, intelligent, and efficient future communication. However, comprehensive, large-scale implementation will still take considerable time and further innovation.
Inflation-betting Effects of Bonds (Mar 14)
An Economic Digest column article by Assoc. Prof. YU Jialin, Dept of Finance, explored the inflation-betting effects in bond yields.
China Fosters Dual AI Engines (Mar 14)
In reports published in Nfnews.com, hunantoday.cn, epaper.oeeee.com, HKUST Institute for Financial Research Asst. Director TANG Bo was quoted as saying that Greater Bay Area (GBA) with its advantages in "hardware + supply chain" and the Yangtze River Delta with its strengths in "hardware and software" are becoming China's dual AI engines.
Hidden Costs of Asking for Reviews (Mar 14)
An HK Economic Journal column article by Assoc. Prof. WANG Jing, Dept of ISOM, delved into the negative effects of companies' strategy of soliciting customer feedback.
AI Death Spiral: More Hype than Reality (Mar 13)
HK Economic Times published an article titled “The AI Death Spiral: More Hype than Reality“ by Prof. Allen Huang, Head of the Dept of Accounting.
Promoting Development of Public Administration (Mar 13)
Various media reported that Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung was among guest speakers at the HK Institute for Public Administration 20th anniversary celebration forum.
(PR Newswire, BusinessFocus, Line Today, ZAmag.net, quamnet, infocastfn.com, finance.yahoo.com, 88iv.com, insightnews.network, formosalive.com, taipeipost.org, sina, am730, owlting.com, money.udn.com, Macau Monthly)
OpenClaw Prompts Reflection on AI Application (Mar 13)
According to a nfnews.com report, HKUST Institute for Financial Research (IFR) Asst. Director Tang Bo stated that despite its security loopholes, the rise of OpenClaw has prompted the industry to reflect on AI hardware and application, triggering a return to rationality after the market frenzy.
Bond Issuance Supports HK’s Long-term Development (Mar 10)
In a tkww.hk article regarding the HK Government's plan to issue bonds worth HK$160 billion to HK$220 billion annually over the next five years, Assoc. Dean Prof. FONG Yuk-Fai noted that the anticipated interest rate cuts in the US could reduce the cost of bond issuance in HK, and bond issuance remains viable option for HK despite geopolitical uncertainties.
Widening Wealth Gap in AI Era (Mar 9)
In an HK Economic Journal column article, Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung discussed the widening wealth gap in the AI era, and suggested that as inequality deepens, policymakers and society should be mindful of the issues regarding wealth distribution, not just efficiency.
China’s Tech Sector No replacement of Property as Growth Driver (Mar 6)
In an interview with CNBC and MSN.com, Prof. JIN Keyu, Dept of Finance, discussed the release of China's 2026 Government Work Report at the "Two Sessions" meeting, as well as US President Trump's upcoming trip to China against the backdrop of the conflict in Iran.
Top Ten Events in 2025 (Mar 6)
In an Master Insights’ YouTube channel video commentary, Prof. Emeritus Francis LUI, Dept. of Economics, reviewed the top ten events in 2025, including the Russia-Ukrainian conflict, Japan's military expansion, the risk of a US debt default, and China surpassing US in GDP based on purchasing power.
Leveraging HK’s and Shenzhen’s Strengths in Advancing AI (Mar 6)
In an HK Economic Times column article, Chair Prof. LI Jiatao, Dept. of Management, wrote about leveraging HK’s and Shenzhen’s complementary strengths to create a pioneering force in AI.
“AI slop” Hurts Consumers and Creators (Mar 5)
According to a new study conducted by Assoc. Prof. June SHI, Dept of Marketing and other scholars, low-quality AI content hurts both consumers and professional content creators. The study suggests that platforms should label AI content to improve transparency. (UF)
Research: How AI Is Changing the Labor Market (Mar 5)
In a Harvard Business Review article on how AI is changing the labor market, Asst. Prof. Wilbur CHEN, Dept of Accounting, was noted for co-authoring the working paper "Displacement or Complementarity? The Labor Market Impact of Generative AI."
Technological Commercialization Efficiency Reveals City Competitiveness (Mar 2)
HK Economic Journal ran an article by Assoc. Provost (Academic Development) Prof. Hui Kai-Lung on evaluating a city's competitiveness through the efficiency of technological commercialization and the related benefits to society.
China’s Involution Trap: Profitless Growth Cannot Last (Mar 1)
In a thewirechina.com article on China's involution trap, Adjunct Prof. Alicia García-Herrero, Dept of Economics, stated that China's economy faces profitless growth due to intense competition and rising "zombie" companies, necessitating market reforms for sustainable development.