Please enjoy the event highlight video to relive the inspiring moments from February 4, 2026!
Celebrating Achievements and Shared Vision
HKU IDS Welcomes the Three Musketeers for a Special Visit - February 4, 2026
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (IDS) was honoured to host the three generous donors from The Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation – Mr. Stanley Chu, Mr. Lawrence Fung, and Mr. KC Leong – along with distinguished guests at our premises in the Graduate House, No. 3 University Drive, The University of Hong Kong.
The full-day programme included a warm reception with poster displays, welcome and opening remarks, research sharing sessions, interdisciplinary presentations, a closed-door strategic discussion, an interactive robotic lab visit, and a networking lunch. The event provided a valuable opportunity to express deep gratitude, showcase IDS’s progress, engage directly with our scholars and students, and align on future ambitions.
Steadfast support from the leadership
Prof. Yi Ma, Director of IDS, warmly welcomed the donors and highlighted the Institute’s rapid growth and impact. He expressed profound appreciation for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in transforming IDS from a visionary idea into a significant force in data science within Hong Kong and beyond.
Prof. Stephanie Ma, Vice-President (Research), representing HKU leadership, underscored the University’s strong commitment to advancing AI across teaching and research. She noted that the establishment of HKU IDS stands as a flagship initiative to build a leading hub for interdisciplinary research in data science and artificial intelligence.
Meeting great minds and young talents, embracing interdisciplinary research outcomes
The programme featured outstanding contributions from IDS scholars and collaborators:
- Research achievements were presented by Prof. Chao Huang, Prof. Qingpeng Zhang, Prof. Xihui Liu, Prof. Andrew Luo, and Prof. Alec Kirkley.
- Interdisciplinary projects were shared by Prof. Ben Kao (School of Computing and Data Science), Prof. Shihui Feng (Faculty of Education), and Prof. Herman Cappellen (Department of Philosophy).
- Engaging robotic demonstrations in Room 335 (Haking Wong Building) were led by groups under Prof. Hongyang Li and Prof. Yanchao Yang, allowing donors to interact directly with the technology.
These sessions vividly demonstrated IDS’s strengths in Fundamental Data Science, Explainable AI, Human-Machine Interplays, Smart Society, and emerging interdisciplinary areas.
A Shared Commitment to Excellence
We look forward to sharing with the Three stakeholders our accomplishments at our next height of success next year. Looking ahead, IDS remains dedicated to broadening partnerships, deepening societal impact, and building a vibrant platform where great minds converge to advance data science for the benefit of academia, industry, and the wider world.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the three Musketeers for their vision, trust, and generosity. Your presence continues to inspire and empower our community.
