What happened
The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) launched the Centre for Music Therapy Research (CMTR) in Shenzhen on 16 September. The centre will focus on AI‑assisted music‑therapy research, traditional Chinese music, arts‑based healing, and digital music with immersive technology, aiming to address demand for innovative healthcare talent and deepen Guangdong‑Hong Kong integration.
THEi held a launch ceremony at the Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen, attended by government officials, industry leaders, and academics, and featured an “Emotional Healing Show” concert.
The centre is directed by Ms Liu Ying, Visiting Associate Professor in THEi’s Department of Digital Innovation and Technology, with research support from Dr Pang Yan of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, CAS.
Strategic MoUs were signed with the Key Laboratory of AI‑Enabled Music Therapy at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre to foster collaboration on research, talent training, and international exchange.
Source details: macaubusiness.com ↗
Why it matters
The centre targets a growing need for non‑pharmacological mental‑health solutions in the Greater Bay Area, using AI‑enabled EEG analysis and Five‑Tone theory to develop personalised wellness interventions. By pairing Hong Kong’s global perspective with Shenzhen’s rapid development, it seeks to create market‑ready talent, therapeutic products, and industry benchmarks, potentially shaping how AI is applied in music‑based health care.
AI‑based EEG technologies are positioned to deliver non‑clinical wellness solutions for conditions such as sleep disorders, which affect an estimated 300 million people, and elder‑care needs for roughly 320 million seniors in China.
The centre’s focus on interdisciplinary training aims to produce “work‑ready” professionals equipped with clinical, technological, and commercial expertise, addressing a talent gap in the rapidly expanding health‑tech sector.
By integrating AI, AR/VR, and traditional Chinese music, the centre could set new standards for evidence‑based, culturally resonant music‑therapy interventions across the GBA and beyond.
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What to watch next
How quickly the centre’s AI‑assisted therapies move from research to commercial products, the uptake of its professional training programmes, and the impact of its partnerships with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory on regional standards for music‑therapy practice.
Progress of the centre’s AI‑assisted music‑therapy research projects and any peer‑reviewed results that validate efficacy.
Launch and enrollment numbers for the short‑term professional training programmes and their employment outcomes.
Expansion of partnerships and potential commercialization of therapeutic products or platforms derived from the centre’s research.