PolyU has reinforced its global research leadership, ranking second in Hong Kong with 428 scholars listed among Stanford University’s 2025 World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists. The University also rose to 83rd place in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, marking five consecutive years in the global top 100. These milestones reflect PolyU’s commitment to impactful research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

In the latest World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists List, which assesses career-long and single-year citation impact across 22 fields and 174 sub-fields, 259 PolyU scholars were recognised for their career-long contributions. Including those honoured for single-year impact, the total reaches 428, placing PolyU second among Hong Kong institutions.

Leading career-long impact in Hong Kong and beyond

PolyU leads globally in the number of top-cited scientists in Building and Construction and Operations Research, based on citations from 1960 to 2024. It also ranks first in Hong Kong across 25 sub-fields (including sub-fields tied with other local institutions), demonstrating its extensive research influence.

Notably, four PolyU scholars rank in the global top 10 for career-long citation impact:

• PolyU President Professor Jin-Guang Teng (Civil Engineering, 7th)

• Professor Edwin Cheng T. C., Dean of the Faculty of Business, Fung Yiu – Wing Hang Bank Professor in Business Administration and Chair Professor of Management (Operations Research, 6th)

• Professor Poon Chi-sun, Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering, Distinguished Research Professor, Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (Building and Construction, 6th)

• Professor Weng Qihao, Director of the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence (Geological and Geomatics Engineering, 7th)

Additionally, 19 PolyU scholars rank among the global top 50, making PolyU Hong Kong’s leader for top 10 and top 50 most-cited scholars. It is also the only university in Hong Kong with scholars listed in Criminology; Strategic Defence and Security Studies; and Social Work based on career-long citation impact.

Fifth year in THE top 100

Building on its research excellence, PolyU secured the 83rd position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, marking its fifth consecutive year in the global top 100. Among 2,191 universities across 115 countries on 18 indicators, PolyU earned full scores for three consecutive years in “Research Excellence” and “Research Productivity” and for two consecutive years in “Patents”. These achievements reinforce PolyU’s role in advancing Hong Kong as a global education and innovation hub.