Nano science and technology is perceived as one of the key emerging areas of technology advance that will affect mankind in the 21st century. At The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), faculties have started research work related to nano science and technology more than a decade ago. The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) was established in 2001 at the HKUST, with Prof Ping Sheng of the Physics Department appointed as the founding Director to coordinate and promote research in nano science in HKUST. Prof Che Ting Chan of the Physics Department was the Director from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2012. Prof Jiannong Wang of the Physics Department became the Director starting from January 1, 2013.
Dr William Mong Man Wai and the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Ltd. donated HK$10 million to INST. In recognition of the donation of Dr William Mong and the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Ltd., and the continuous support of Dr William Mong for HKUST in pursuing research excellence, INST was renamed to the William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology (WMINST) on February 1, 2008. The WMINST Steering Committee was set up to assist and advise the Director in the operation of WMINST. All major expenditures of the Mong donation have been approved by the Steering Committee.
To fulfill its role as the facilitator of nano science research, WMINST has approved seed money for small scale exploratory projects, and has committed a substantial proportion of its available resources to procure community equipments that are housed in central facilities. WMINST also hosts workshops, conferences and seminars related to nano science. The long term goal of WMINST is to nurture collaborative research programs that can attract a significant amount of external funding, and to create research outputs that can have a lasting impact.
The missions of WMINST
- to pursue world-class fundamental research in the area of nanostructured materials;
- to create critical interdisciplinary opportunities;
- to train human resources; and
- to partner with local and regional industry for technology transfer of research results.
The goals of WMINST
- to forge a multidisciplinary collaborative team;
- to generate new knowledge in the physics and chemistry of nanostructured materials and their attendant properties, with an eye towards industrial applications;
- to strengthen scientific interactions with other local research groups and top research groups around the world in nanostructured materials;
- to work with local industries to exploit commercialization opportunities emerging from nanostructured materials research;
- to provide general support to industry through better scientific understanding of such materials;
- to educate students in the science and technology of nanostructured materials; and
- to disseminate the most up-to-date discoveries and their implications to the general public.
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