Building excellence in plant and agricultural biotechnology research:

During the past decade, the Center has assembled a world-class interdisciplinary team of researchers from several institutions. This team has successfully pursued a research approach that integrates state-of-the-art modern technologies with the traditional wisdom of breeders. It is also a significant example to demonstrate cross-institution deep collaboration in Hong Kong.

Establishing strategic research ties both nationally and internationally:

Using an approach that integrates state-of-the-art modern technologies with the traditional wisdom of breeders, the AoE center is conducting pioneering research on crop improvement (yield, quality, and stress tolerance) and the establishment of technological platforms (plant transformation, bioreactors, and bioactivities). The center’s members have taken part in a number of important international and national initiatives, such as the ProVitaMin Rice project supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the China National Transgenic Initiatives.

The Centre’s Output:

Our goals are to generate knowledge, products, and well-trained manpower. In sum, this team has generated 564 publications (261 in SCI journals with one-third ranked at the top 10% of the relevant category). Up to 2011, 16 patents were granted and 332 graduate/undergraduate students and skilled biotechnologists have been, or are being, trained.