PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTION STATEMENT

 

1. Purpose of Collection

The personal data collected will be used by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Office of Knowledge Transfer (OKT) of HKUST for the following purposes:

  • Facilitating the administration, application, assessment, protection, patenting, licensing, commercialization, transfer, and exploitation of intellectual property (IP), inventions, discoveries, research outputs and related innovation opportunities.
  • Managing collaborative partnerships, joint research projects, and related agreements.
  • Processing inquiries and applications for start-up incubation, funding programs, and investment/commercialization opportunities;
  • Managing communications and promotional activities, including event invitations and registration, publicity, and dissemination of information on OKT or University initiatives,
  • Enabling HKUST and OKT to comply with any applicable procedures, laws, regulations, court orders or valid legal processes (in each case whether in Hong Kong or overseas), including responses to government, statutory, regulatory or law enforcement authority;
  • Conducting quality assurance, surveys, review, statistical analysis, and research; and
  • Other purposes directly related or ancillary to any of the above.

 

2. Provision of Personal Data

The provision of personal data is voluntary unless otherwise specified; however, failure to provide certain information may result in the University or OKT not being able to process your application, registration or request for services, or to proceed with the related administrative arrangements or activities.

 

3. Disclosure and Transfer of Personal Data

Your personal data will be kept confidential. It will be accessed only by authorized University personnel on a need-to-know basis, and may be transferred or disclosed to the following parties where necessary for the Purposes stated above:

  • Other relevant University departments, offices or units involved in processing or supporting the relevant matter.
  • Governmental, statutory, funding, or regulatory bodies, in Hong Kong or overseas, as required by law or for reporting, compliance, audit or regulatory purposes.
  • External professional service providers, including for instance patent attorneys, legal advisors, auditors, consultants or IT consultants under duties of confidentiality.
  • Partner universities, research institutes, industrial collaborators, and companies in connection with specific collaborative projects, as governed by relevant agreements and University policy, and
  • Any other parties to whom HKUST or OKT is required to make disclosure under applicable laws, regulations, or court orders, or who are otherwise engaged in activities directly related to the above purposes.

Where necessary for the above purposes, personal data may be transferred to parties outside Hong Kong, subject to appropriate safeguards and confidentiality obligations.

 

4. Use of Personal Data for Direct Marketing

The University and/or OKT may from time to time use your name, contact details, and other relevant personal data collected for direct marketing purposes, such as sending you information about future events, seminars, workshops, programs, services, activities, or initiatives organized by HKUST, OKT and/or joint events held with industry or academic partners. These communications may be carried out through email, SMS, phone, or post.

 

5. Data Security, Retention and Disposal

HKUST takes reasonable and appropriate measures to prevent the loss, misuse, unauthorized access, alteration or disclosure of your personal data. Personal data are stored on secure university-managed systems, with appropriate access controls and periodic backups. Such data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil the Purposes or as required by applicable laws, regulations, or University policy, and will thereafter be securely destroyed or anonymized in accordance with the University’s privacy policy. Please refer to the University’s Data Privacy Policy Statement at https://dataprivacy.hkust.edu.hk/ for more information on how HKUST handles personal data.

 

6. Personal Data Access and Correction

You may at any time request access to and/or correction of your personal data held by HKUST in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“PDPO”). Requests should be made in writing to the Office of Knowledge Transfer at okt@ust.hk. A reasonable fee may be charged to cover the cost of processing the request.

 

7. Enquiries

For any enquiries relating to personal data, please contact:

Office of Knowledge Transfer

Room 3625B
3/F (Lifts 29-30), Academic Building
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
E-mail: okt@ust.hk