INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
The Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) provides essential resources and support for advancing interdisciplinary research, including funding opportunities, grant management assistance, and facilitation of multidisciplinary collaborations to foster an environment where interdisciplinary research thrives across diverse fields:
- Incubator: Drive groundbreaking research by facilitating cross-disciplinary collaborations and nurturing emerging areas
- Special Academic Zone: Hiring faculty in emerging areas for interdisciplinary research, and promoting new pedagogical approaches to enrich our research landscape
- Bridge to HKUST (Guangzhou): Supporting cross-campus initiatives under the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses”, such as joint research projects
AIS cultivates a vibrant, enabling ecosystem that empowers faculty and students to pursue interdisciplinary ideas and address complex real world challenges. Through dedicated administrative support and targeted initiatives, AIS nurtures collaboration, experimentation, and intellectual exchange across disciplines. Key platforms include the AIS Support Fund for Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations, International Conference Leadership Fund, HKUST-Tsinghua Cross-Institutional Research Fund, Sustainability Seminar Series, AIS Lightning Talks, and the Best Research Awards.
Beyond resources and platforms, AIS embeds interdisciplinarity at the heart of academic recognition. Interdisciplinary Research and Impact are explicitly valued in faculty assessment for academic review, substantiation, and promotion—affirming AIS’s commitment to scholarly excellence that extends beyond disciplinary boundaries and generates meaningful societal impact.
The following offices also offer administrative assistance for interdisciplinary research:
- Fok Ying Tung Graduate School
- Health, Safety and Environment Office
- HKUST Library
- HKUST Sustainability Office
- Information Technology Service Office
- Office of Knowledge Transfer
- Office of the Vice-President for Research and Development
- Research Office