Nano science and technology is perceived as one of the key emerging areas of technology advance that will affect mankind in the 21st century. At The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), faculties have started research work related to nano science and technology more than two decades ago. The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) was established in 2001 at the HKUST, with Prof. Ping Sheng of the Physics Department appointed as the founding Director to coordinate and promote research in nano science in HKUST. Prof. Che Ting Chan of the Physics Department was the Director from 2007 to 2012. Prof. Jiannong Wang of the Physics Department became the Director in 2013 and ended the term in 2017. Prof. Ho Bun Chan of the Physics Department became Director in 2017.  Prof. Ophelia K. C. Tsui of the Physics Department is the current Director.

Dr. William Mong Man Wai and the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Ltd. donated HK$10 million to INST.  In recognition of the donation of Dr. William Mong and the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Ltd., and the continuous support of Dr. William Mong for HKUST in pursuing research excellence, INST was renamed to the William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology (WMINST) on February 1, 2008.  WMINST received donation from Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Ltd. in sum of HK$1 million and HK$2.5 million in 2017 and 2019 respectively.  The WMINST Executive Committee was set up to assist and advise the Director in the operation of WMINST.  All major expenditures of the Mong donation have been approved by the Executive Committee.

To fulfill its role as the facilitator of nano science research, WMINST has approved seed money for small scale exploratory projects, and has committed a substantial proportion of its available resources to procure community equipments that are housed in central facilities.  WMINST also hosts workshops, conferences and seminars related to nano science.  The long term goal of WMINST is to nurture collaborative research programs that can attract a significant amount of external funding, and to create research outputs that can have a lasting impact.

Please click here to view a video about WMINST (2017).