Activities

The ASPIRE Forum, the annual general meeting of the ASPIRE League, was hosted by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and held from July 7 to 11 at the HKUST main campus.

The symposium was held under the theme “Advancing Health & Medicine through AI & Technology.” Leading researchers from each member university and a partner institution delivered presentations highlighting cutting-edge work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, medicine, and engineering:

“Visionary Initiative for Health: New Endeavor through Cross-disciplinary Effort”
Prof. Fumihiko ISHIKAWA, Science Tokyo
“Cancer Whole-genome Sequences for AI-driven Personalized Oncology”
Prof. Young Seok JU, KAIST
“In Search of Good Memory: From Germinal Centers to Neural Circuits”
Prof. Hai QI, Tsinghua University
“Bridging Minds and Machines: The Power of Human-AI Collaboration in Mental Health”
Prof. Wilson GOH, NTU Singapore
“Robust AI in Ultrasound: Applications in Fetal Imaging and Cardiology”
Prof. Xiaomeng LI, HKUST
“Scaling Impact: Design, AI and Convergent Health Innovation”
Prof. dr. ir. Richard GOOSSENS, TU Delft

Following presentations by six researchers — including one from Delft University of Technology representing the IDEA League — a panel discussion was held, chaired by Professor Bertram Shi (Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology).

On the afternoon of July 10, the Vice Presidents & Senior Staff Meeting was held with vice presidents and senior staff from each member university in attendance, chaired by Vice President Tim Cheng (HKUST) and Professor Nobuhiro Hayashi, Secretary General of the ASPIRE League and Vice President for International Strategy and Engagement at Science Tokyo.

Participants shared updates on institutional priorities, recent initiatives, and international strategies, strengthening mutual understanding across the League.

As this year marked the renewal period for the League’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an updated agreement was approved and signed. Following the signing ceremony, Science Tokyo provided a report on the ASPIRE Undergraduate Engineering Design
Challenge 2025 (ASPIRE UEDC 2025), an exchange program for undergraduate students held in June, and then participated in a discussion about the future activities of the League.

In addition, proposals submitted for the 2025 cycle of the ASPIRE League Partnership Seed Fund (startup research support between member universities) were reviewed. Following the meeting, nine research outcome presentation sessions were held online for joint research projects previously supported by the Seed Fund.

This year’s student workshop took place from July 7 to 11 at HKUST. Twenty-six graduate students from each member university gathered for an in-person workshop. Additionally, graduate students from Delft University of Technology in the European IDEA League also participated.

The workshop, titled "HKUST Entrepreneurship Bootcamp," focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in health and medicine. Students were divided into four interdisciplinary teams composed of members from different universities, fostering cross-cultural and collaborative learning.

On the final day, July 11, students presented the results of their group work aligned with the forum theme “Advancing Health & Medicine through AI & Technology” to the vice presidents and symposium speakers. The students were divided into four mixed-university teams and proposed AI-based products and services to support people’s health:
1. A teddy bear measuring children’s vital signs, such as temperature and heart rate.
2. Glasses for early-stage dementia support.
3. A platform providing fitness training to maintain elderly health.
4. An insole for shoes that monitors and analyzes elderly gait patterns to prevent falls.

Of the four teams, three proposed products aimed at Hong Kong’s aging society. In just five days, they conducted market research, developed business models, and delivered substantial presentations. Each team received questions and advice from vice presidents and symposium speakers, and awards were presented to each team.

The next chair institution for 2026 will be Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The upcoming ASPIRE League events are scheduled to be held at NTU: the undergraduate program will take place from June 22 to 26, 2026, followed by the ASPIRE Forum from July 6 to 10, 2026.