The national 15th Five-Year Plan proposes “building a modernised industrial system” and “accelerating the national development as an aerospace power.” Prof. Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, highlighted in an article in Wen Wei Po that Hong Kong, serving as both a “super connector” and “super value-adder,” possesses distinct advantages in regional collaboration and internationalisation. By fully leveraging its core strengths in fundamental research, global networks, financial services, and talent attraction, Hong Kong can synergise with aerospace forces in Chinese Mainland, playing a dual role as both a “connector” and an “enabler” in advancing the nation’s vision of becoming an aerospace power.
PolyU has been proactively aligning with the national aerospace development strategy and has identified aerospace engineering and deep-space exploration as core research directions. Initiatives include co-organising the 2026 China Space Conference “Flying to Deep Space-International Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation & Development” with the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the International Astronautical Federation in April; the contribution of PolyU’s Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations to the success of various national space missions since 2010; and the upcoming establishment of the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy. These efforts aim to span from campus to industry, and from local, regional levels to the wider national and international arenas—thereby supporting the National aerospace strategy.
Online Coverage:
Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4nbMSqQ
