Members of CUHK, the CUHK Sat-1 development team and representatives of partner organisations attend the satellite launch ceremony The research team and collaborating partners attend the satellite launch

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) successfully launched “CUHK‑1,” the world’s first AI large‑model satellite dedicated to urban sustainability, on 12 February. The satellite entered its planned orbit and will form Hong Kong’s first low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellation together with the previously launched “Hong Kong Youth Science and Innovation Satellite,” enabling advanced applications in smart cities, disaster reduction, and sustainable regional development. Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral camera and an on-orbit deployment of the DeepSeek large model, CUHK‑1 can perform near-real-time data processing in space, overcoming the traditional delay caused by ground-based data handling. CUHK engineers optimised the model to meet the constraints of on-orbit computing and operational stability.

Professor Dennis Lo, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, remarked that the launch marks a significant breakthrough for the University in space technology and AI integration, and reinforces its commitment to nurturing young talent and advancing global research collaborations. CUHK‑1 will support environmental monitoring, intelligent transport, and emergency response for cities across the Greater Bay Area and beyond, contributing to Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for satellite data and applications.

Professor Nathalie Wong (front row, centre), Professor Wang Xin (front row, left) and Dr Ding Xiaofan (back row, 2nd left) with fellow members of the Department of Surgery at CUHK

A research team led by Professor Nathalie Wong from the Department of Surgery at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been awarded the Second‑Class Prize in Natural Sciences at the Ministry of Education (MOE) Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards 2025 for its project, “Unique Genome Features of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, their Functional Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications.”

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of China’s most prevalent and deadly cancers. Over the past 12 years, Professor Wong’s team has made significant advances in understanding HCC and establishing a comprehensive RNA splicing landscape using third-generation sequencing that identified 362 novel transcripts and potential therapeutic targets. Professor Wong expressed that the award is a strong affirmation of the team’s work, and future clinical studies will translate their findings into long‑term benefits for liver cancer patients.

Call for Nominations: Joint Postdoctoral Fellows Training Programme (Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau and CUHK)

Nominations are now called for the Joint Postdoctoral Fellows Training Programme in collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau. This initiative supports global research collaboration and innovation, which offers a living allowance of RMB 300,000 for selected Postdoctoral Fellows at CUHK.

Research Areas: Integrated Circuits, Biomedical Sciences, AI, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Eligibility: CUHK full-time academic staff (Associate Professor or above)

Application Deadline: Thursday, 9 April 2026

Details can be found at https://ro.cuhk.edu.hk/en/research/internal-funding-opportunities/all-funding-opportunities/funding-schemes/shanghai-municipal-talents-work-bureau-and-cuhk