BEIJING and HONG KONG – China’s top scientific institutions today announced the results of their prestigious 2024 academic elections, naming prominent figures from global research hubs, including two senior administrators at leading Hong Kong universities, as new foreign members. The selections underscore a strategic push by Beijing to integrate international expertise into its core engineering and scientific advisory bodies.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) released their lists of newly elected academics on November 21. Among the notable additions to the CAE were Professor Shen Zu-jun, Vice-President of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and Professor Guo Yike, Chief Vice-President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Both were inducted as foreign members into the CAE’s Division of Information and Electronic Engineering.
Expanding Global Reach in Engineering and AI
The new cohort significantly expands the global footprint of both academies. CAS elected 73 new domestic members and 27 foreign members, while CAE added 71 domestic members and 24 foreign members.
The election of Professors Shen and Guo highlights the growing importance of the fields they specialize in: artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
Professor Guo, a British national, is internationally recognized for his work in data science and artificial intelligence. He plays a pivotal role in shaping HKUST’s research agenda. Professor Shen, an American national, specializes in the intricate areas of AI and supply chain optimization, a field made critically relevant by recent global logistics disruptions. Both academics were born in mainland China before pursuing advanced studies in the United States and the United Kingdom, illustrating a common academic path that bridges Eastern and Western scientific communities.
Their appointments come at a time when competition in technology and fundamental research is intensifying globally, particularly in areas like semiconductors, data management, and automated systems.
Roles of China’s Elite Academies
The CAS and CAE are China’s national non-profit organizations that serve as the highest academic bodies in science and technology. Academicians and foreign members are elected for life and act as high-level scientific and technical advisors to the Chinese government.
“These appointments are rarely purely academic; they are strategic endorsements of specific research directions,” said Dr. Lin Wei, an independent political scientist specializing in China’s science policy. “By bringing in top minds from institutions in Hong Kong, the UK, and the US, particularly in AI-related fields, Beijing is ensuring its engineering policy remains informed by global best practices and cutting-edge research.”
The induction of senior HKU and HKUST leaders also reinforces the academic connections between Hong Kong’s specialized research ecosystem and the mainland’s massive scientific infrastructure. Amid efforts by mainland authorities to integrate the Greater Bay Area, these individuals are poised to facilitate greater scientific collaboration and resource sharing.
Implications for Future Research
The expertise provided by the new foreign members is expected to influence strategic national technological initiatives. For instance, Professor Shen’s specialization in optimizing complex logistics systems could inform national efforts to build resilient supply chains, while Professor Guo’s data science background will likely assist China’s rapidly growing big data and smart city projects.
The newly elected foreign members will officially commence their advisory roles immediately, contributing their global perspectives to the nation’s most pressing scientific and engineering challenges. Future collaborations supported by such high-level appointments are anticipated to focus heavily on developing sustainable urban infrastructure and next-generation information technology.
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