HKU STAR Lab

08/06/2026

We are excited to share that HINCare has been featured in a spotlight article by am730, highlighting the platform's development and social impact as Hong Kong’s pioneering AI-powered cloud time-banking platform.

Developed by Prof. Cheng and the HKU STAR Lab in 2020, HINCare leverages AI to connect volunteers with elderly individuals and others in need. Through an innovative “time credit” system, the platform facilitates sustainable community mutual support by matching users for essential services, such as medical accompaniment and home assistance.

To date, HINCare has expanded its service network across all 18 districts of Hong Kong, mobilizing over 20,000 active users and partnering with more than 20 NGOs. The project has also received multiple local and international awards, including a Silver Award at the 51st Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

To learn more, please read the full article:

有見及此，香港大學人工智能及數據科學部主任兼教授鄭振剛教授，率領香港大學社會技術與研究實驗室（HKU STAR Lab），開發全港首個智慧雲端時間銀行系統「HINCare」。系統透過人工智能技術優化義工配對流程，大幅提升效率.....

28/05/2026

We are pleased to share that Prof. Cheng has been featured in a Sing Tao Headline news article highlighting his latest work on applying AI for social good on May 28, 2026.

In response to the challenges of an ageing population, Prof. Cheng led the development of “HINCare,” a timebanking system that leverages AI to connect volunteers with the elderly or others in need. The platform supports services such as medical accompaniment and home assistance, while converting service hours into “time credits” to foster a sustainable and supportive community.

The project has received international recognition with a Silver Award at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, and continues to expand in forms of cross-centre timebanking via “TimeTeer” mobile app, and “OpenCare” event platform.

Prof. Cheng emphasized lifelong learning and the need for stronger AI literacy in society. He encouraged students to harness AI wisely, while maintaining critical thinking and ethical judgment.

To learn more about Prof. Cheng’s insights, please view the full article:
https://www.stheadline.com/daily-hongkong/3576983/

15/04/2026

HINCare Appears in HKU IMPACT - Knowledge Exchange Engagement Stories

The University has long been committed to making a positive impact on society through knowledge exchange (KE). The HKU KE website showcases inspiring stories of researchers’ achievements in ‘Impact’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Partnership’, ‘Global’, and ‘Engagement’ each month.

We are proud to share that the HINCare project, led by Prof. Reynold Cheng, has been featured in HKU IMPACT, recognizing its remarkable social impact. Over the past six years, the project has been awarded eight prestigious honours, including the Hong Kong ICT Awards, Asia Smart App Awards, Social Capital Builder Awards, and HKU Engineering Knowledge Exchange Award. More recently, in the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (March 2026), HINCare project was awarded a Silver medal. This recognition highlights how community‑facing digital innovations can combine technical rigour with tangible social impact: improving NGO operations, expanding volunteer networks, and building social capital across Hong Kong’s districts.

To learn more about the HINCare project and its impactful work, please visit the following link: https://www.ke.hku.hk/story/engagement/hincare-programme

17/03/2026

We are proud to announce that the HINCare project has been awarded a Silver Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.

The annual International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (IEIG) is one of the world’s most prestigious events dedicated exclusively to inventions and innovations. Bringing together inventors, research institutions, and industry leaders from around the world, the exhibition provides an important platform for showcasing technological breakthroughs and fostering international collaboration.

About HINCare:
HINCare is a large-scale data-driven software system that supports volunteering and timebanking. Its AI based on our Heterogeneous Information Network (HIN) match needy users and volunteers effectively. It features a user-friendly app, and a cloud service for data management and analytics. HINCare has been used by 20K users and 20 NGOs in Hong Kong, generating a social capital of HKD$7 million. HINCare makes volunteering easy, scalable, and affordable, with a long-term mission of cultivating a mutual-help culture.

13/02/2026

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing you and your family joy, prosperity, and good fortune in the Year of the Horse.

19/01/2026

We're honoured to share that our Leader, Professor Reynold Cheng, will be speaking at the Google Cloud Education Summit Hong Kong 2026!

Join him on Jan 31 for his session on "Data Science for Social Goods: STAR Lab’s Experience," where he'll explore how we can harness technology to tackle societal challenges and serve vulnerable communities.

Event details:
Date: 31 January, 2026 (Saturday)
Registration Time: 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Event Time: 2:00 PM - 5:20 PM
Venue: Meeting Room N201, 2/F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Phase 2)
Address: 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Event Link: https://cloudonair.withgoogle.com/events/hk-google-cloud-education-summit-2026 #

27/01/2025

Wishing you all the good fortune, health and happiness in the Year of the Snake!

20/12/2024

Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with good cheer and health in the coming year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

29/05/2024

「Live Talk」 HINCare: Intelligent Timebanking for Volunteering Services

Date: 30/05/2024
Time: 3:00 pm
Streaming Link: https://live.bilibili.com/21813994

Prof. Reynold Cheng, the coordinator of the HINCare project, has been invited to give a live talk on the topic of “HINCare: Intelligent Timebanking for Volunteering Services” at AI 2000.

In the talk, Prof. Cheng will introduce the HINCare project and discuss the development of a Timebanking platform as well as the use of Heterogeneous Information Network (HIN) technology to help volunteers and beneficiaries with service matching. The HINCare project is an initiative aimed at promoting the development of volunteer services. Through a timebanking platform, participants can exchange their time to provide volunteer services to those in need. During the talk, Prof. Cheng will share the progress and achievements of the HINCare project, and provide an in-depth look at the operational model of the timebanking platform and the application of HIN technology.

08/03/2024

Congratulations to Prof Reynold Cheng on receiving HKU Excellence Awards 2023

HKU STAR Lab is very pleased to announce Professor Reynold Cheng has received the Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award 2023 from the prestigious HKU Excellence Awards 2023!

The HKU Excellence Awards are a salute to the exceptional and inspirational accomplishments of academic staff at the University, and a celebration of the diverse range of disciplines and specialisations at the University.

For more information about the HKU Excellence Awards 2023: https://www4.hku.hk/award/ceremony/