The Faculty of Engineering was delighted to host a delegation from the Materials Genome Institute of Shanghai University (SHU) on 27 November 2025, led by its Founding Dean, Professor Zhang Tong-Yi, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The visit featured a guest lecture by Professor Zhang as part of the Mainland Scholar Series and a tour of the Innovation Wing, highlighting dynamic synergies in research between the two institutions.
The visit commenced with an interactive tour of the HKU Engineering Innovation Wing. Professor Zhang and the SHU delegation explored a range of student projects and engaged in meaningful exchanges with our students on interdisciplinary applications from robotics to digital archaeology.
Professor Zhang Tong-Yi and the SHU delegation explore student projects and exchange ideas with our students at the Innovation Wing.
An in-depth look at a robotics project. The visit fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas on applying engineering solutions across diverse fields.
The core of the visit was a Mainland Scholar Series featuring Professor Zhang, sharing with The core academic event was a Mainland Scholar Series lecture delivered by Professor Zhang, titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) + Materials and AI + Mechanics." The session was hosted by Associate Dean (Mainland Affairs) Professor Yang Lu, with Dean Professor David Srolovitz and Professor Mingxin Huang, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in attendance. Professor Zhang presented a compelling vision of the field, emphasizing the integration of "hard" foundations like AI labs and robots with "soft" foundations like AI computation, all guided by deep domain knowledge to accelerate innovation in materials and mechanics.
The visit served as a fantastic opportunity to bridge HKU Engineering's expertise with SHU's world-leading work in Materials Informatics, opening avenues for future collaborative projects where AI converges with robotics and advanced materials.
The event concluded with a group photo, marking a significant step in strengthening institutional ties.
A group photo of the Shanghai University Delegation led by Professor Zhang Tong-Yi with HKU Engineering representatives.
We extend our sincere thanks to Professor Zhang and his team—including Professor Sheng Sun, Professor Jian Huang, and Dr. Tao Lyu—for their visit and look forward to building on these connections for future interdisciplinary research initiatives.
Background:
Professor Tong-Yi Zhang is the founding dean of the Materials Genome Institute at Shanghai University, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a prominent advocate for AI4Science (AI4S) and AI4materials. He is also the founding director of the Materials Genome Engineering division in the Chinese Materials Research Society (CMRS), the founding director of the Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Materials Informatics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), and the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Materials Informatics. He is a leading force in promoting AI + Materials, AI + Mechanics, Materials Genome Engineering, and Materials/Mechanics Informatics, with a particular focus on advancing materials AI labs and materials AI computations.