The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has established itself as a cradle of innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting a dynamic ecosystem that continually evolves. As of August 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,815 active start-ups, including 10 unicorns and 14 successful exits (IPO or M&A) and have generated well over HK$400 billion in economic impact for the region and beyond. These achievements reflect HKUST's commitment to translating research outcomes into significant commercial and social value, with Clear Water Bay emerging as a vibrant hub for technology and deep-tech startups.
Over the decades, HKUST has nurtured tens of thousands of innovative talents and is recognized for building a robust entrepreneurial infrastructure spanning academic support, industry engagement, and knowledge transfer.MPhil in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE)programme is a flagship initiative intended to reshape postgraduate education towards problem-driven, multidisciplinary and project-based learning, specifically for those who aspire to become leaders in deep technology sectors. field.
Why Choose TIE at HKUST?
You're not just getting a degree, you're joining a community of innovators, researchers, and future founders. TIE gives you the tools, network, and support to make it happen!
Educational Objectives
The MPhil in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme at HKUST aims to nurture visionary leaders who can bridge the worlds of cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial impact. Our educational objectives are to ensure every graduate is equipped to:
Tackle Deep-Tech and Societal Challenges
Develop rigorous technical knowledge and apply it to complex, real-world problems, particularly in emerging sectors like health-tech, marine-tech, sustainable-tech, and design-tech.
Drive Multidisciplinary Innovation
Integrate insights across disciplines and collaborate in diverse, cross-functional teams to build, iterate, and implement impactful technological solutions.
Lead and Launch Market-Ready Ventures
Acquire entrepreneurial skills—market discovery, design thinking, minimum viable product (MVP) development, fundraising, regulatory navigation, and scaling—to move innovations from concept to commercialization.
Engage Industry and Global Ecosystems
Form strong connections with academic, business, and industrial partners to gain up-to-date exposure, mentorship, and hands-on experience in technology transfer and startup creation.
Demonstrate Ethical Leadership and Professional Excellence
Exhibit outstanding communication abilities, team leadership, ethical awareness, and adaptability in fast-changing technological and business environments.
Achieve Both Individual and Team Milestones
Fulfill a rigorous individual thesis and collaborative team project, demonstrating the ability to contribute at both a personal and organizational level within the innovation space.
This dual focus on research mastery and real-world application prepares TIE graduates for successful careers as technology entrepreneurs and innovators in industry—empowering them to make a lasting impact in the global innovation ecosystem.
Curriculum
Program Structure
The TIE program is a full-time, 2-year journey emphasizing team-based product/service prototyping, industry engagement, and individual thesis research.
Students form diverse teams and iterate their prototypes with guidance from prime and supporting supervisors drawn from faculty and industry They will receive personalized feedback and resources to enhance their projects at every stage. Each team demonstrates its prototype or service and receives opportunities for commercialization and networking with industrial partners, ensuring they have the support needed to bring their innovative ideas to life.
The first year is funded by a guaranteed HKUST postgraduate studentship; after the first year, students are expected to seek external investment through organized pitch days and investor engagement sessions. Funding for the second year will be based on securing external support; students who are unable to obtain this may continue their studies as part of a standard research MPhil program.
The curriculum integrates core modules on Design Thinking and Entrepreneurial Literacy, broad elective options (including marine tech, AIoT for healthcare, and systems design), professional development, and language courses for holistic growth. Significant emphasis is placed on industry workshops, field trips, and seminars for exposure and skill-building.
Students are equipped for real-world challenges: from market discovery, team formation, MVP development, testing, pitching, regulatory navigation, fundraising, scaling, and (ideally) launch—culminating in both team demonstration and an individual thesis tied to their group’s innovation.
To graduate from the TIE programme at HKUST, students must complete:
12 credits of specialized coursework designed to build core competencies in technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
An independent thesis research project demonstrating deep technical and entrepreneurial expertise and original problem-solving.
For details about the curriculum and specific course offerings, please visit the Program Catalog.
Research Areas
Through the program study, candidates will establish a robust foundation in the following areas, a profound sense of curiosity, and an aptitude for learning are ideal for this program.
Low-altitude economy infrastructure, construction automation, 3D LLM agents, autonomous driving simulators, and socio-technical AI integration.
Academic and Industrial Partners
The TIE MPhil program is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application. Our program collaborates with a diverse range of academic institutions and industrial partners to provide students with a comprehensive learning experience.
Academic Partners
Our academic partners include leading universities and research institutions, including UC Berkeley, Olin College of Engineering, Shenzhen InnoX Academy, etc. Collaborative research projects and joint seminars can foster an environment of innovation, encouraging students to engage with current trends and challenges in technology.
Industrial Partners
We also collaborate with various industrial partners, including HKSTP, HKCRC, XBot Park, etc. By working closely with industry leaders, students will gain practical experience and insights into the entrepreneurial landscape.
Application and Financial Assistance
TIE requires a period of two years of study in full-time mode. For details on admission requirements and the application process, please visit the Program Catalog. Typically, all qualified students accepted to HKUST MPhil programs will receive postgraduate studentship (PGS) which carries financial assistance sufficient for an individual’s cost of living in Hong Kong. For detailed regulations, please visit the FYTGS webpage and Handbook for Research Postgraduate Studies for details.
Please apply through:
Program Contact
For inquiries, please contact the Program Office isdtie@ust.hk.
