Modern society places a high value on wellness, a concept going beyond longevity. It encompasses prevention, recovery, and holistic wellbeing. What was once a topic confined to healthcare has evolved into a strategic priority influencing urban planning, technological innovation, and social services. Artificial intelligence and big data are now powerful drivers, accelerating the growth of the global health industry and the development of smart cities.
Macao Polytechnic University is contributing to this transformation by creating a dynamic, cross-disciplinary ecosystem focused on "Smart Wellness and Care". Through advanced laboratories, international partnerships, doctoral programmes, and real-world research applications, MPU is harnessing AI to advance health and social wellbeing. Smart wellness is one of its major research applications, emerging as a catalyst for urban health governance and opening new pathways toward sustainable, healthy cities worldwide.
A Multifaceted Platform for Smart Wellness Research
As smart wellness education and research continue to advance, MPU launches four new laboratories in the newly built Academic Building. These include the Peking University Health Science Center – Macao Polytechnic University Joint Laboratory for AI and Smart Wellness, the joint laboratory established in collaboration with the University of Coimbra, Portugal, for AI-driven Nutraceutical Discovery for Healthy Longevity, the Sports Science Laboratory, and the Intelligent Medical Computing Laboratory. These initiatives fuse cutting-edge technologies with biomedicine, holistic health, and sports science, providing advanced research facilities and interdisciplinary environments for faculty and students. This milestone underscores MPU's strategic commitment to advancing its "AI + Health" research strategy, marking a decisive step toward a new frontier in innovation.
The laboratories are strategically positioned to leverage artificial intelligence technologies in advancing research across wellness, precision nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, disease prevention and control, and health management. Through upgraded research infrastructure, MPU aligns with the strategic objectives of smart and healthy city development while enhancing the academic and research experience for faculty and students. By integrating clinical resources, interdisciplinary expertise, and the industrial priorities of the Greater Bay Area, the laboratories accelerate a unified "research-teaching-application" model, transforming smart health concepts into practical solutions and establishing Macao's first comprehensive wellness research ecosystem that combines technological innovation, academic excellence, and societal impact.
Developing Interdisciplinary Talent in Wellness Technology
Aligned with the Chinese national strategy of "actively addressing population aging" and Macao's policy focus on enhancing medical services and elderly care, cultivating high-level professionals with both technological expertise and domain knowledge has become a critical priority. In response, MPU launches Macao's first PhD programme in Artificial Intelligence and Healthy Ageing in 2026/2027. This pioneering programme integrates AI technologies with health sciences, aiming to nurture versatile specialists who master advanced algorithms, understand clinical needs, and can translate technological innovations into tangible social value.
The programme features core modules such as Frontiers in Smart Healthy Ageing, AI-driven meta-analysis, and AI motion analysis, enabling students from diverse backgrounds (such as computer science, nursing, public health, and biomedical sciences) to collaboratively build an interdisciplinary framework that bridges technology and wellness concepts. Designed with a strong international focus, it brings together world-class faculty and engages students in global research projects, connecting them to international data and academic networks. With a curriculum that combines theoretical innovation and practical application, MPU is committed to cultivating wellness technology leaders with global vision and real-world expertise.
Driving Sino-International Collaborative Education
Health and wellbeing are universal goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, requiring collaboration across sectors and borders. MPU is expanding its global network by partnering with leading institutions such as Peking University Health Science Center and the University of Coimbra to co-develop academic programmes and research platforms. In collaboration with Shanghai University of Sport, MPU has launched joint initiatives in smart health and sports science to foster internationally oriented talent. These partnerships focus on areas such as AI-driven smart sports and health promotion technologies, enabling joint curriculum design, co-supervision of doctoral students, and collaborative research projects that strengthen students' skills in data analytics, interdisciplinary integration, and practical application.
Through these global collaborations, MPU brings world-class research resources to Macao, elevating its "Smart Wellness" education and research to new heights. Faculty and students benefit from international exchanges, cross-regional research, and global conferences, gaining insights into emerging trends in wellness technology. These efforts drive regional innovation in smart health and high-tech development, contributing to a resilient talent pipeline and supporting the vision of a Healthy Macao and a dynamic Greater Bay Area.
Smart Wellness Strategies in a Global Context
Public health challenges are becoming increasingly complex, and cities worldwide are not only focused on strengthening healthcare systems but also actively exploring technology-driven solutions for everyday health management. Data-powered health decisions and algorithm-driven personalised treatments are gradually permeating areas such as wellness, nutrition, and rehabilitation, reshaping the very concept of "healthy living". At the heart of this transformation lies Smart Wellness.
Starting from research and extending to societal needs and policy impact, MPU is driving innovation by reinforcing its traditional academic strengths while fostering interdisciplinary integration to create new knowledge domains. Through joint research, talent development, and collaborative supervision across institutions, MPU is committed to developing globally oriented smart wellness solutions that address pressing challenges such as diverse population structures and uneven distribution of health resources.
Smart Healthcare 4.0
Cross-Sectoral Synergy for Medical Technology