As part of its longstanding strategic partnership with the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy (UNIBA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) co-organised a workshop titled “Smart Solutions for Sustainable Cities and Societies” from April 14 to16, 2026. Held in Hong Kong on the occasion of Italian Research Day (Giornata della Ricerca Italiana), the event was jointly organized with The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi). The workshop was convened by Prof. Yuhong WANG, Director of RNUS; Prof. Wendy Y. CHEN, Deputy Head of the Geography Department at HKU; Prof. Allen, Hao ZHANG, Head of the School of General Education and Languages from THEi, and Prof. Raffaele LAFORTEZZA, Professor from UNIBA.
On April 14, the academic session, RNUS at PolyU served as the local organizer. Prof. Daniel T.L. SHEK, Associate Vice President of PolyU; and Mr. Carmelo FICARRA, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, delivered welcome addresses.
The three-day intensive programme served as a platform for experts from PolyU and partner institutions to exchange cutting-edge expertise on pressing global challenges. Discussions centred on interdisciplinary themes, including:
• Sustainable Urbanisation: Leveraging IoT and AI for infrastructure monitoring and disaster prevention.
• Blue-Green Infrastructure: Advancing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to foster healthier urban environments.
• Food Security: Innovations in sustainable agricultural production and agri-tech solutions.
The workshop successfully deepened ties between PolyU and the Italian academic system, fostering a renewed framework for trilateral cooperation between academia, industry, and public institutions.
In addition to the academic sessions, the UNIBA delegation, together with PolyU representatives, visited the InnoEx exhibition. This visit showcased Hong Kong’s thriving innovation ecosystem —highlighting developments in the low-altitude economy, mobility, and AI-driven medical services—further illustrating PolyU’s pivotal role in the city’s innovation landscape.
https://conshongkong.esteri.it/en/news/dal_consolato/2026/04/hong-kong-smart-solution-for-sustainable-cities-and-societies-al-centro-della-collaborazione-universitaria-bilaterale/
