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Partners
The Joint Laboratory is a partnership between a research-intensive university and a sports brand that equips national teams. Each brings what the other does not have.
HKUST contributes research capability, graduate talent and laboratory facilities. Li-Ning Group contributes industrial practice, sports expertise and market resources, and the product pipeline that research outcomes have to reach if they are to matter beyond a publication.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
HKUST is a world-class university known for its innovative education, research excellence and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 6th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, 3rd in the Times Higher Education's Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th globally and 1st in Hong Kong in the Times Higher Education's Impact Rankings 2025.
Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world's top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, HKUST's Computer Science discipline — which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning — has been ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for ten consecutive years.
Over 80% of the University's research work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong's University Grants Committee. As of January 2026, HKUST members have founded over 1,900 active start-ups, including 10 unicorns and 21 exits through IPO or merger and acquisition.
Li-Ning Group
LI-NING is a leading sportswear brand founded in 1990 by Mr. Li Ning, widely known as the “Prince of Gymnastics.” It was the first Chinese sports brand to sponsor China's national sports delegations at both the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, and maintains long-term partnerships with China's national teams in disciplines including shooting, diving and table tennis.
In 2025, LI-NING further reinforced its Olympic legacy by becoming the Official Sportswear Partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee for the period 2025 to 2028.
The Group has a long-term focus on core categories including running, basketball, fitness, badminton, table tennis and sports lifestyle products, while expanding into outdoor sports, tennis and pickleball. It collaborates with higher education institutions to advance sports science research and supports the innovation, research and application of cutting-edge sports technologies.
How the collaboration is structured
- A memorandum of understanding between the two parties sets the research programme and the areas of collaboration.
- A resource matching mechanism aligned with industry needs connects project questions to the people and instruments that can answer them.
- Joint work on core and common technologies, with outcomes translated into sports practice and product.
- A structured talent development mechanism spanning industry, academia and research.