Asia has evolved into a leading force in higher education, research and innovation, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can be a bridge linking education exchanges between East and West, university presidents and education experts told the Asia Universities Summit 2026 in the SAR on Wednesday.

The three-day summit, co-hosted by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and London-based education firm, Times Higher Education (THE), has gathered more than 600 university chiefs, policymakers, as well as academic and industry leaders from Asia and worldwide to exchange ideas, share experiences and build partnerships that expand beyond individual institutions.

In her opening remarks, HKUST President Nancy Ip Yuk-yu said Asia is no longer simply for affecting global change, but shaping the direction of innovation, talent development, and societal transformation globally.

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Phil Baty ---THE’s chief global affairs officer -- said the world is witnessing a true shift and a serious tilt in the balance of power in international higher education and research from West to East.

Citing a report by The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in March which shows that China has surpassed the United States in total research and development investment, Baty said it’s great news that “new knowledge creation is not a zero-sum game”.

Jeff Sze Chun-fai, acting secretary for education of the HKSAR, told the conference that universities today aren’t just knowledge creators, but also drivers of innovation, resilience and societal impact. Amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability, he urged the higher education sector to turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

Ip also noted that in an era of technological change and uncertainty, universities must become open and permeable, forging closer ties with industry, government and the community.

She stressed the importance of global collaboration, adding that the HKUST has been engaging with top institutions of higher learning and enterprises to help develop the planning university town in Hong Kong’s mega township project, the Northern Metropolis.

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Lim Mei Mei, THE Asia Pacific president, agreed that partnerships are essential to meet global challenges, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, that require interdisciplinary research and international cooperation.

For Hong Kong, Lim said the city’s appeal lies in its unique role as an international hub and a bridge between East and West, offering a range of distinctive features. The SAR’s universities, for instance, are able to integrate traditional Chinese elements into research -- an approach that has drawn strong global interest.

Referring the Northern Metropolis initiative, she noted that while Hong Kong aims to attract top global talents and universities, similar to other education hubs worldwide, it must also carve out its own unique identity.

“Hong Kong needs to begin thinking deeply about what sort of research areas to profile in order to attract top talent around the world,” she said.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com