AsianScientist (Feb. 17, 2012) – Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) officially opened Asia’s first social media research laboratory this Wednesday.
Called the HKUST NIE Social Media Laboratory, the lab will specialize in the study of social media culture and technologies, and aim to bring academic and commercial significance to the development and application of social media in the region.
Prof James She will direct the new laboratory within the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at HKUST.
Present at the ceremony were Prof. Tony F Chan, President of the HKUST; Mr. Samson Tam, JP, Member of Legislative Council (Information Technology); Prof. Khaled Ben Letaief, Dean of School of Engineering of the HKUST; Mr. Herman Lam, CEO of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited; Ms. Jan Wong, General Manager of Openrice Ltd.; and Mr. Charles Mok, Founding Chairman of the Internet Society Hong Kong.
During the opening speach, Prof. Chan said:
“At HKUST, we believe that innovation should play a strong role in the globalized world. We are proud to establish the first social media laboratory in Asia.”
“With this laboratory, our faculty and researchers are taking an active part in nurturing research and development talents in the blooming new arena of social media, and building Hong Kong as a leading hub of creative media and IT technologies in the region.”
One of the laboratory’s first collaborations are with Cyberport, a cluster of technology and digital content tenants owned and managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is in turn wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Other collaborations are with local telecommunication giant PCCW; international digital content provider Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.; and local social media group OpenRice.com.
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Source: HKUST.
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