THEi launches music theory research center to deepen GD-HK cooperation

The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) held the launch ceremony for its Center for Music Therapy Research (CMTR) at the Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen on Sept. 16, with the aim to address the demand for innovative healthcare talent while fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong integration.

The event gathered senior government officials and representatives from the business, higher education, and technology sectors, and featured strategic partnership signing ceremonies and a cross-industry networking reception, alongside an immersive "Emotional Healing Show" concert performed by celebrated musicians, including winners of "Golden Bell Awards" and "Wenhua Award," as well as former members of the renowned Twelve Girls Band.

THEi unveils CMTR in a launch ceremony held at the Sky Concert Hall on Sept. 16. Photos courtesy of THEi

In his opening remarks, Mr. Paul Chong Kin-lit, vice chairman of THEi's Board of Governors said: "As an applied discipline bridging art, science, and medicine, music therapy plays a pivotal role in tackling mental stress, broader wellness demands, and specialized healthcare needs. By extending the reach of our center to Shenzhen, we leverage the innovative ecosystem and expanding demand of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to pair global music therapy standards with cutting-edge technology — building a premier hub for scientific research, practical application, and community service."

Professor Alan Lau Kin-tak, president of THEi, emphasized in his keynote that higher education must stay attuned to modern trends and national developments "Music is undergoing a redefinition where sound, emotion, and AI intersect. As a pioneer in applied science and work-ready education, THEi sees growing demand in the GBA for expertise in non-pharmacological therapies, mental wellness, and the silver economy. By launching the Center in Shenzhen, we fuse academic research with regional innovation."

The center signs strategic MoUs to foster deep collaboration for ongoing development.

The newly launched center is directed by Ms. Liu Ying, visiting associate professor in the Department of Digital Innovation and Technology at THEi. She noted that the center maximizes synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by pairing Hong Kong's global perspective with Shenzhen's development speed to construct a regional cross-disciplinary hub. With a clear focus on problem-solving over sheer size, the center uses Five-Tone theory and AI-based EEG technologies to deliver non-clinical wellness solution and will advance practical training programs, therapeutic products, and industry benchmarks through the integration of arts, science, and commercialization.

The center also signed strategic MoUs with Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Center. The partnerships will foster deep collaboration across music arts research, professional talent training, and international exchange, laying a solid artistic foundation for the center's ongoing development.

Moving ahead, the center will focus its efforts on four core strategic pillars: advancing AI-assisted music therapy research to improve personalized non-pharmacological treatments; exploring traditional Chinese music to unlock its therapeutic emotional benefits; delivering arts-based healing to support seniors and individuals with special needs; and integrating digital music with immersive technology to drive music therapy beyond traditional stages into a smart, holistic era of care.