From 17 to 20 March 2026, Prof. Hayden So and two BSc(I&T) students, as member of the Maritime Talent Cultivation Alliance, joined a 50-member The Hong Kong Shipowners Association delegation to Dalian for the Xinde Green Shipping Forum 2026, taking part in visits and exploratory talks with organisations including the Dalian Commodity Exchange, Dalian Maritime University, the Dalian Changxing Island Economic Zone, Hengli Heavy Industry, the Dalian Northeast Asia International Shipping Centre Research Institute and the China Classification Society Dalian Branch. The visit aligned with Hong Kong’s goal of developing as a centre for commodity trading and green maritime fuel bunkering, and showcased the newly formed Maritime Talent Cultivation Alliance as a platform integrating industry, academia, research and practical applications to build a strong maritime talent pool.

The programme offered a valuable opportunity to experience different parts of the maritime ecosystem and to see how talent development, research and industry collaboration can work together to support the sector’s future. For the School of Innovation, the trip further underscored the importance of interdisciplinary learning and real‑world engagement in preparing students to contribute to emerging industries and complex innovation challenges, and we would like to thank The Hong Kong Shipowners Association for organising this meaningful exchange.