News

Congratulations to AMA Scholars on NSFC Young Scientist Scheme Awards

We are delighted to announce that two outstanding young scholars from the Department of Applied Mathematics have been awarded highly competitive research grants under the 2025 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Young Scientist Scheme. This remarkable achievement highlights the excellence and innovation of AMA in advancing mathematical research. NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type A) 國家自然科學基金青年科學基金項目(A類) Principal Investigator: Prof. LI Buyang Project Title: 數值分析 Approved Funding: RMB 2,800,000 NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type B) 國家自然科學基金青年科學基金項目(B類) Principal Investigator: Prof. CUI Jianbo Project Title: 隨機偏微分方程數值方法 Approved Funding: RMB 2,000,000 The NSFC Young Scientist Scheme (Type A) was formerly known as the “Distinguished Young Scholars Fund” (原國家傑出青年科學基金項目), while the Type B scheme was previously the “Excellent Young Scientists Fund” (原優秀青年科學基金項目). These prestigious grants recognize the exceptional potential and research capabilities of our young scholars. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. CUI Jianbo and Prof. LI Buyang for their outstanding achievements and wish them continued success in their research endeavors. AMA remains committed to fostering a vibrant research environment and supporting the next generation of scientific leaders.

AMA’s Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research Announces Open-Source Release of Advanced GPU Solvers

The Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research (IOR) at the Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA), PolyU, is proud to announce the open-source release of two powerful GPU solvers, HPR-QP and HPR-LP, developed in collaboration with Beijing University of Technology. The PolyU team was led by Professor Sun Defeng, Head of Department, Chair Professor of Applied Optimisation and Operations Research, and Director of IOR. HPR-QP and HPR-LP are Julia-based implementations of the Halpern Peaceman–Rachford (HPR) method, designed to efficiently solve large-scale convex composite quadratic programming (CCQP) and linear programming (LP) problems on GPUs. Now freely available to the global research community on the open-source platform GitHub, these solvers are poised to benefit both academia and industry by supporting advanced computational optimisation and a wide range of real-world applications. About the Research Centre for Intelligent Operations Research (IOR) Established in August 2024, IOR is dedicated to pioneering research in operations research, optimisation algorithm design, solver development, and their applications, leveraging state-of-the-art AI methodologies. Intelligent operations research is a dynamic and sophisticated scientific domain focused on developing cutting-edge algorithms and models to automate and enhance decision-making processes, and to uncover optimal solutions within highly complex systems. The Centre is committed to advancing knowledge and innovation in intelligent optimisation and operations research, while fostering a vibrant and responsible research community that delivers practical benefits to society at large. For more details and access to the solvers, please visit: HPR-QP: A GPU Solver for Convex Composite Quadratic Programming in Julia HPR-LP: A GPU Solver for Linear Programming

Congratulations to Chair Professor Xiaojun Chen on Being Invited as a Speaker at ICM 2026

We are delighted to share that Chair Professor Xiaojun Chen has been invited to deliver a 45-minute lecture at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2026, which will take place in Philadelphia, USA, from July 23 to 30, 2026. Held every four years since 1897, the ICM is the premier international event in mathematics, uniting the world’s leading mathematicians to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and shape the future of mathematical research. The congress also serves as the stage for presenting the most prestigious awards in mathematics, including the Fields Medals, IMU Abacus Medal, Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, and Chern Medal Award, which recognize outstanding contributions to the field. Professor Chen’s invitation to speak at this distinguished event is a significant honor, underscoring her exceptional achievements, international recognition, and expertise in mathematical optimization. Prof. Chen’s research interests focus on mathematical optimization theory and dynamic stochastic variational inequalities with applications in data sciences and AI. She published over 100 papers in top journals in applied mathematics. She is the Project Coordinator/Principal Investigator of several large grants from Hong Kong Research Grant Council and Croucher Foundation. Prof. Chen is a fellow of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), a fellow of American Mathematical Society (AMS) and a fellow of Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). She has served as Head of Department of Applied Mathematics and Director of University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics in PolyU. She is Co-Director of CAS Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science and PolyU Joint Laboratory in Applied Mathematics and also Director of the CITIC-PolyU Interdisciplinary Mathematical Digital AI Joint Laboratory. She serves on the editorial boards of eight SCI journals including SIAM Journal on Optimization and SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, and served SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis as an Associate Editor for 12 years. For more information about ICM 2026, please visit https://www.icm2026.org/.  

RGC ECS 202526

On June 30, 2025, the Research Grants Council (RGC) announced the results of its General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) for the 2025/26 academic year. We are delighted to report that AMA has achieved remarkable success, securing funding for 14 projects. The RGC’s GRF and ECS are highly competitive funding schemes designed to support innovative research initiatives at universities throughout Hong Kong. AMA’s exceptional performance in this funding round highlights our steadfast commitment to research excellence and our substantial contributions to advancing knowledge in the field of Applied Mathematics. With the continued support of the RGC, AMA is well-positioned to pursue impactful research that brings meaningful benefits to society. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated faculty members, whose hard work and perseverance have made this accomplishment possible. We also warmly congratulate the following colleagues whose projects have been awarded funding in this round: Prof CHEN Kexin Prof CHEN Xiaojun Prof CUI Jianbo Prof DAI Min Prof FU Guanxing Prof HU Xianpeng Prof LIN Yanping Prof QIAO Zhonghua Prof SUN Defeng Prof WANG Zhian Prof YU Xiang Prof YUAN Yancheng Prof ZHANG Zhu Prof ZHOU Zhi -- END--  

Online Booking for Exam Paper Review, 7 - 9 May 2025

The online registration for exam paper review would be scheduled between 7 - 9 May 2025. Make appointment here

PolyU and CITIC Group Join Forces to Establish AI Joint Laboratory

On March 27, 2025, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and CITIC Group signed a framework agreement to advance AI innovation through industry-academia-research partnerships, contributing to Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology hub. They agreed to establish the "CITIC-PolyU Interdisciplinary Mathematical Digital AI Joint Laboratory" to foster collaboration between academia and industry. The agreement signing and plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by Ms. Lilian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Mr. Daniel, CHEUNG Yee Wai, Deputy Commissioner for Digital Policy Office (Digital Infrastructure). The agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr. Guoquan WANG, Vice President of CITIC Group, under the witness of Ms. Lilian CHEONG, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, Mr. Guohua XI, Chairman of CITIC Group, and Mr. Wenwu ZHANG, Vice Chairman and President of CITIC Group. Following the signing, Prof. TENG and Mr. XI officiated the plaque unveiling ceremony, marking the official launch of the joint laboratory. Prof. Xiaojun CHEN, Chair Professor of Department of Applied Mathematics, also signed project agreements/ Memoranda of Understanding with CITIC subsidiaries, including CITIC Heavy Industries, CITIC Telecom International, CITIC Pacific Special Steel, and CITIC Bank, under the witness of senior management from both parties: Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU Professor Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU Professor Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU Mr. Guohua XI, Chairman of CITIC Group Mr. Wenwu ZHANG, President of CITIC Group Mr. Guoquan WANG, Vice President of CITIC Group Mr. Lei ZHAO, General Manager, Technology and Digitalization Department of CITIC Group  PolyU and CITIC Group will leverage their strengths and joint forces to explore frontier technologies, including AI, embodied intelligence, industrial intelligence, FinTech, data optimization, and digitalization. They will cultivate engineering and research talent, foster academic exchange, and expand their cooperation. --- END ----- (Please refer to the full version in Chinese version)

PolyU Mathematics and Statistics and Operational Research Achieve Record High QS World University Rankings in 2025

We are proud and excited to share that PolyU has achieved remarkable global recognition in the field of applied mathematics. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, PolyU has reached a record high, ranking 31st in "Statistics and Operational Research" and climbing from 117th to 66th place in Mathematics, an impressive rise of 51 places. The "Statistics and Operational Research" subject has been ranked among the World Top 100 for eight consecutive years, showcasing our consistent excellence. These achievements highlight the department's dedication to fostering a culture of academic excellence and innovation. Our faculty's commitment to cutting-edge research and our students' hard work have been instrumental in reaching these milestones. These rankings reflect our ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of knowledge and to prepare our students to excel in a rapidly evolving, data-driven world. The Department of Applied Mathematics is committed to providing a rigorous and dynamic learning environment. Our focus on interdisciplinary research and collaboration with industry partners ensures that our graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to address complex real-world challenges. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain dedicated to advancing the field of applied mathematics and operational research. We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and contributing to the global academic community.

AMA Staff Members Received PolyU Long Service Awards 2024

Our heartfelt congratulations to the nine AMA staff members who were honored at the PolyU Long Service Awards Ceremony on February 21, 2025, for their loyal service to the University and department over the years. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held a Long Service Awards Ceremony today to honour staff members for their loyal service to the University over the years. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, presented certificate and souvenir to the long-serving staff members as a token of appreciation from the University. The Long Service Award scheme was introduced in 1990 to recognise staff members who have served PolyU for a considerable number of years and to foster their sense of belonging to the University. Starting from last year, the scheme has included those who have served the University for five or ten years. The Award presentation ceremony not only provides a collegial gathering for the long-serving staff but also an opportunity for the University to publicly acknowledge their years of dedicated service.  Length of Service Name   Post 35 years Ms Ida Man Clerical Officer II 25 years Prof. Xiao-qi Yang Professor 25 years Prof. Joseph Lee Associate Professor 20 years Ms Cynthia Hau Senior Executive Officer 15 years Prof. Guofeng Zhang Associate Professor 15 years Prof. Raymond Sze Associate Professor 10 years Prof. Ting Kei Pong Professor 10 years Dr Bob He Lecturer 10 years Ms Olivia Tsui Assistant Officer Please click here for more information about the ceremony. --- END---

Department of Applied Mathematics Signs MoUs with China Life (Overseas), Deloitte Consulting and Generali Hong Kong Limited to Launch Talent Referral Programme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce the successful signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between its Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) and three leading companies: China Life (Overseas), Deloitte Consulting, and Generali Hong Kong. The MoUs aim to establish and promote the Talent Referral Programme, an initiative designed to create a framework for cooperation, enabling further discussions to implement the programme and foster mutual interests among the parties involved. These agreements mark significant steps towards fostering industry-academia collaboration and enhancing career opportunities for students in the field of actuarial science. On 20 December 2024, AMA held the signing ceremonies with China Life (Overseas) and Generali Hong Kong. The MoUs, signed by Prof. Sun Defeng, Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics at PolyU, Mr. Shan Gang, General Manager of the Actuarial Department at China Life (Overseas), and Mr. Ronald Tse, Chief Actuary and Chief Product Officer of Generali Hong Kong, will officially take effect from January 1, 2025, for a period of two years. The Talent Referral Programme will provide AMA postgraduate students with exceptional opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings. This collaboration aligns with PolyU's mission to enhance students' educational experiences and prepare them for successful careers in actuarial science. Prof. Sun expressed his enthusiasm about the partnerships, stating, "These collaborations mark a significant moment for the Department of Applied Mathematics. They offer our students a unique chance to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, thereby enhancing their educational experience and preparing them for successful careers in actuarial science. These collaborations not only benefit our students but also enrich our department by fostering a closer relationship with industry leaders." The MoUs set the stage for AMA to work respectively with China Life (Overseas), Deloitte Consulting, and Generali Hong Kong to determine areas and subjects of cooperation. These agreements pave the way for fruitful partnerships that benefit students, the university, and the industry. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Simon Lam, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Life Insurance (H.K.) Company Limited, and Mr. Ken Chan, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), for their invaluable contributions in making these collaborations possible. 

AMA Scholars Receive NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme Award for 2024/25

We are delighted to announce that Professor Qiao Zhonghua and Dr. Cui Jianbo have received funding support from the NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme for the 2024/25 exercise. Their proposals are among the 7 awarded submissions from PolyU. The Research Grants Council (RGC) recently released the results for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and RGC Joint Research Scheme for the 2024/25 exercise. This year, the NSFC and RGC have agreed to support a total of 50 research projects out of 616 eligible applications, with a total funding amount of HK$59.666 million (excluding on-costs). For the 2024/25 exercise, PolyU submitted 148 eligible preliminary proposals and 25 full proposals for consideration by the NSFC and RGC. We are proud to share that 7 full proposals from PolyU have been awarded funding, totaling HK$8.217 million, which represents 13.77% of the total awarded funding. Congratulations to all involved!