Facebook
The “Social Technology and Research Laboratory” (STAR Lab) is a HKU team that aims to develop novel IT technologies for serving the society. We are also interested in “Data Science for Social Good”, researching data-driven approaches that can benefit the public, NGOs, and government. The STAR Lab is now working with over 20 NGOs on family- and elderly- related projects.
We are proud to announce that Professor Reynold C.K. Cheng, Division Head (AI & Data Science) of the School of Computing and Data Science at The University of Hong Kong (HKU-CDS), has been named to the 2025 AI 2000 Global Artificial Intelligence Scholars List. He has also received the 2025 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award – Honourable Mention in the area of Database, recognizing his impactful research contributions over the past decade.
The AI 2000 initiative, developed by the AMiner team at Z.AI, annually identifies the 2,000 most influential scholars worldwide in Artificial Intelligence. The selection draws on large-scale academic data covering 44 leading conferences and journals across 20 research areas in AI.
For the 2025 edition, the list was curated from 258,760 papers published between 2015 and 2024, involving contributions from 293,909 scholars globally. From this dataset, 100 scholars in each research area were selected, honouring those who have made outstanding and influential contributions to advancing the frontiers of AI research and innovation.
Professor Cheng’s recognition underscores the global impact of his research in databases and artificial intelligence, and highlights CDS’s ongoing commitment to excellence in data-driven research and innovation.
Congratulations to Professor Cheng on this distinguished international recognition!
Professor Reynold Cheng, as a principal investigator of the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, shared insights and innovative approaches in the use of technology and data for family service advancements during the session, themed “Convening Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration on Digital Transformation of Family Services”.
The Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project (“JCSFL Project”) aims at leveraging advanced Information and Communication Technologies in support of more effective and innovative service delivery provided by all NGO-operated Integrated Family Service Centres and Integrated Services Centres to promote family well-being and enhance the sector’s capacity in the use of technology and data for family service innovations that can respond to emerging service needs.
The 3-day event showcases good practices of the JCSFL Project and Hong Kong’s experience, facilitating knowledge transfer and sharing on leveraging technologies and data to enhance delivery of innovative and effective family services among local and international field experts, professionals, NGOs and academia, creating a network and platform for future collaboration and sustainable development.
Professor Reynold Cheng was thrilled to receive the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Excellence Awards 2024 as a member of the project “JC JoyAge: Jockey Club Holistic Support Project for Elderly Mental Wellness” (JC JoyAge), promoting mental wellness for Hong Kong’s elderly.
The KE Excellence Awards is a university-level award to recognise outstanding KE accomplishments that have made significant economic, social, environmental or cultural impacts to benefit society.
JC JoyAge is led by Professor Terry Yat-Sang LUM of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Other team members include Professor Samson Shu-Ki TSE, Professor Paul Wai-Ching WONG, Professor Siu-Man NG, Professor Vivian Weiqun LOU, Dr Stephanie Ming-Yin WONG, Dr Dara Kiu-Yi LEUNG and Ms Angie Kwan-Yu SHUM of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences; and Professor Wai-Chi CHAN of the Department of Psychiatry at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.
JC JoyAge, a territory-wide project launched in 2016, focuses on addressing the problem of elderly depression, enhancing the capacity of professional and non-professional manpower, and raising public awareness of elderly mental health. The project has established a community-based supporting network for senior citizens to improve their resilience in dealing with the challenges of ageing. Over 10,000 older adults at risk of or with depressive symptoms have experienced significant improvements in mental health and quality of life through this project.
Learn more about JC JoyAge at https://research.jcjoyage.hk/
For more photos and videos about the HKU Excellence Awards 2024: https://www4.hku.hk/award/ceremony/media-gallery/129
