J.C.DISI has launched the following “Northern Metropolis SoInno Actions":
Action 1: “PolyU Northern Metropolis Future Forum” Season 1 was held in July 2025 under the theme “Urban-Rural Integration Beyond Infrastructure,” attracting nearly 500 participants. Following this, we convened a roundtable discussion with over 30 professionals and collaborated with relevant PolyU departments, as well as the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)'s "Xiqu and Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre” (XICH), to submit the Policy Recommendation Paper (Chinese only) for a “Cantonese Opera Art and Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Centre” and the “Northern Metropolis Cultural Heritage Trail” to the Chief Executive's Policy Unit. We are pleased to note that Paragraph 192 of the 2025 Policy Address proposes to “connect rural attractions,” which aligns with our vision for the “Northern Metropolis Cultural Heritage Trail.”
Action 2: We are actively collaborating with professors from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics and the Department of Building and Real Estate at PolyU to prepare and apply for research funding. This initiative aims to advance digital archival preservation for Phase 1 research related to the “Northern Metropolis Cultural Heritage Trail” by employing cutting-edge geospatial technologies. These include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial alignment and surveying techniques, aerial and ground-based laser scanning, and topographic analysis technologies. Our ultimate goal is to connect the cultural heritage of the Northern Metropolis with its blue-green resources, as outlined in Paragraph 192 of the Policy Address. We envision future integration with Shenzhen and Guangdong Province's greenways to realise sustainable living, conservation, and the ongoing transmission of intangible cultural heritage.
Action 3: For the Season forum theme “Where Conservation Meets Prosperity in the Northern Metropolis,” we are organising a two-day, one-night study tour in Q1 2026 with Dr Ivy WONG Siu-wai, a PolyU expert in China's rural revitalisation. The tentative itinerary covers Guangzhou and Foshan, focusing on four dimensions: art-tech integration, cultural-tourism convergence, industrial regeneration, and ecological co-benefits. Through field research, we aim to gain inspiration for building a more resilient future community in the Northern Metropolis. The “Langtou Experiment” was showcased at the 2025 Venice Biennale Pavilion, and our study site, “Langtou Village in Huadu,” became China’s first rural revitalisation project selected for the Biennale, based on its comprehensive “rural construction + practice” model.
Action 4: Prior to the formal launch of the Season 3 forum, we initiated related action projects to foster the theme “Community Empowerment.” We are collaborating with The Salvation Army to leverage its “School-based After School Care Service Scheme (Expansion Plan)” to engage students and families, thereby gaining deeper insights into the needs and aspirations of the Queens Hill community. This initiative combines The Salvation Army's expertise in welfare service innovation with J.C.DISI's strengths in spatial design and social innovation, exploring how software solutions can drive hardware design and service transformation. Through a case study of Queens Hill, we aim to propose concrete recommendations demonstrating how an integrated hardware-software design framework can enhance community resilience and connectivity, assist new families in integrating more swiftly into their environment, and promote sustainable community development in the Northern Metropolis.
Action 5: We are currently piloting this approach at the Choi Hung public housing estate, in collaboration with the School of Nursing at PolyU, Community CareAge Foundation, graduates from the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, and The Church Of Christ In China Kei Wa Primary School. Through community education and research, we are establishing early intervention studies and actionable evidence for relocating elderly households. We will develop a “Dementia-Friendly Redevelopment Relocation Guide” to address the challenges posed by Hong Kong's super-aged society and the needs of over 20 redevelopment estates. This lays a solid foundation for inclusive, livable communities to accommodate future large-scale population migration in the Northern Metropolis.
Action 6: Over 27 NGOs in Hong Kong and Macau are utilising our Dementia Simulation Game Kit to promote dementia education within communities, collectively furthering the development of dementia-friendly communities.
Action 7: We have launched the “Shaw STEAMS for Good” programme, aimed at establishing a STEAMS curriculum continuum for primary and secondary schools. In collaboration with over 40 schools, we will translate PolyU's cutting-edge research into STEAM+S (Social) curricula for primary and secondary school education. Currently, we are working with the HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School in Yuen Long. By integrating outcomes from PolyU Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), we enable Primary 4 to Primary 6 students to learn how to create healthier ice cream using fat substitutes as a starting point. Through experiential learning + design thinking, we cultivate students' interest in future foods, biotechnology, and sustainable development.
Subsequently, we will align with PolyU's upcoming AI language learning reforms in 2026 to further explore systematic STEAMS + AI teaching continuity from primary through secondary and tertiary education. We are tentatively naming this initiative “Smart STEAMS AI+” to support talent development in line with the future needs of the Northern Metropolis.
(Updated in December 2025)
