Lingnan’s President Prof S. Joe Qin appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today, 12 March, the appointment of Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute for a two-year term from 13 March 2026 to 12 March 2028.

President Qin said he was honoured to be appointed, and looks forward to working closely with experts from different sectors to promote coordinated progress in artificial intelligence (AI) research, industrial applications, and talent cultivation in Hong Kong. “Lingnan University is committed to producing liberal arts talents for the digital age. This appointment not only provides me with an opportunity to use my academic expertise for the public good, but also represents recognition of Lingnan University’s success in nurturing digital-age students. AI has become a major driving force behind global technological innovation and industrial transformation. If Hong Kong is to remain competitive in the next wave of hi-tech expansion, we must advance simultaneously in fundamental research, technology transfer, talent development, and governance frameworks. The Institute will accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong, and strengthen collaboration among universities, research organisations, and industry. I look forward to contributing to the Institute, working with the Board and the Government to define Hong Kong’s strategic role in the evolution of AI+, and promoting a closer bond between research outcomes and industry needs.”

President Qin noted that the value of AI lies not only in technological breakthroughs, but also in its ability to address real-world challenges, increase economic transformation and reinforce overall competitiveness. He emphasised that responsible and ethical use of AI is just as important as technological growth.

“In the digital era, public AI literacy and ethical awareness will form an important foundation for economic sustainability. Improving AI education and skills training will not only help people to understand and apply new technologies, but also help Hong Kong to build a healthy and maintainable innovation and technology ecosystem,” he added.

President Qin is known throughout the world as a scholar in data science and engineering, with particular research expertise in industrial AI and smart manufacturing. Prior to joining Lingnan University, he was the Fluor Professor at the Viterbi School of Engineering of the University of Southern California, and also served as the inaugural Dean of the School of Data Science and Chair Professor of Data Science at the City University of Hong Kong, and as Vice President and Presidential Chair Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. He has unrivalled experience in both international academia and higher education leadership.

A Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA), as well as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) ,the US National Academy of Inventors, the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), President Qin received both the CAST Computing in Chemical Engineering Award from AIChE and the IEEE Control Systems Society Transition to Practice Award in 2022, the only scholar from the Chinese Mainland to receive both honours.

President Qin was also on the Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list from 2022 to 2025, ranking first among scholars in both the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR in the Industrial Engineering and Automation career-long impact category. He has published more than 470 papers in international journals, book chapters and conference papers, and holds 15 US patents. His research spans data science and analytics, machine learning, system identification, smart manufacturing and smart cities, and has made a significant contribution to the application of data-driven technologies in industry and society.

Lingnan University provides a liberal arts education that actively advances interdisciplinary research, and its success in data science and AI has been encouraged in recent years under the leadership of President Qin. Its Liberal Arts + Technology interdisciplinary policy promotes AI + X education and research, integrating AI with energy, materials, the environment, and the humanities and social sciences. This is to nurture research-oriented talents and equip them with both technological capabilities and a humanistic perspective. Lingnan came first worldwide for UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025.

In future, Lingnan will continue to use its assets as a liberal arts university with a sharp focus on interdisciplinary research aligning with national and Hong Kong SAR government innovation and technology strategies. Through interdisciplinary research–academia–industry collaboration, and human investment, it will support Hong Kong in becoming an international innovation and technology hub, and promote the wider application of AI technologies across society and industry.