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PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology Hosts NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and Dallas Mavericks Guard Max Christie for Li-Ning Elite Sports Tech Session

Exclusive Closed-Door Biomechanics Data Capture Held as Only University Stop on Hong Kong Tour — A Rare Front-Row Experience for Sports-Tech Students of PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology   Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology (BEST) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) had the distinct honour of welcoming three-time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade alongside Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie to the PolyU campus on the afternoon of 7 October 2026. This visit served as the exclusive university stop on the athletes’ Hong Kong tour. Jointly organised by Li-Ning Sports Science Research Center alongside PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology, and supported by PolyU Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), the closed-door session focused on elite sports technology data acquisition. Delegates from Li Ning Company Limited included Mr Yuru HONG, Vice President and Chief Sports Officer, and the team from Li-Ning Sports Science Research Center. The primary objective of the assessment was to capture precise musculoskeletal profiles and high-velocity movement kinematics of world-class basketball athletes. Utilizing state-of-the-art facilities at PolyU, both athletes underwent comprehensive evaluations, including 3D foot scans, treadmill gait analysis, and motion capture assessments. The captured metrics will establish high-end reference benchmarks for ongoing sports engineering, footwear and equipment R&D, and academic research. Held as a strictly by-invitation, closed-door event, access was reserved exclusively for students enrolled in sports-tech students from Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology, alongside PolyU student-athletes. The rare occasion offered sports-tech students the privileged opportunity to gain firsthand, courtside exposure to elite diagnostic workflows and biomechanical testing protocols operating at the highest echelon of professional basketball. Following the scientific assessment, the event transitioned into an energetic interactive session. Dwyane Wade broke down the technical footwork and mechanics of his iconic signature "Euro-step" with members of the PolyU Men’s Basketball Team, offering elite insights into momentum transfer and joint control. Max Christie then joined PolyU student-athletes on the court for a high-energy shooting contest, capping off an inspiring afternoon of sports science and athletic excellence. The successful collaboration between Li-Ning and PolyU exemplifies the vital link between academic biomechanical research and the global sports industry. By uniting elite sporting talent, cutting-edge diagnostic technology, and the next generation of sports-tech innovators, the visit underscored PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology’s ongoing commitment to pushing the frontiers of sports technology and delivering world-class, immersive learning experiences.   About PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University traces its roots back to the “Biomedical Engineering Programme” within Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (JCREC) established in 1987. Formally established as the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2012 and renamed in 2026 to embrace the fast-growing sports technology sector, it strives to innovate for the betterment of human health by providing a supportive and enriching education and research journey for aspiring students, researchers, and professionals in the field.   About Ling Ni Group Li Ning Group is a leading sports brand company founded in 1990 by Mr. Li Ning, renowned as the "Prince of Gymnastics". With comprehensive capabilities in R&D, design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and retail operations, the Group mainly operates in professional and leisure footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories under the LI-NING brand. In June 2004, Li Ning Company became the first sports goods company from mainland China listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 02331.HK). After more than 30 years of development, Li Ning Group has become a leading enterprise in China’s sports industry.

A New Chapter: Strategic Expansion from Biomedical Engineering to Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology

Effective 1 October 2026, the Department of Biomedical Engineering has officially been retitled as the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sports Technology. This evolution reflects our strategic expansion and deepening expertise in innovations across the healthcare and sports technology sectors. It also reinforces our commitment to high-impact, interdisciplinary research and future-ready education, driving holistic advancements in human health. We extend our sincere gratitude to our community and industry partners for their ongoing support and collaboration.

Delegation from Shanghai Administration of Sports visited RISports

The delegation led by Mr LU Lin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, visited the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 23 September 2026. The delegation also included Ms REN Limin, Principal of the Shanghai Second Sports School (Shanghai Sports Centre); Mr ZHAO Defeng, Director of the Physical Fitness Research and Health Guidance Centre at the Shanghai Institute of Sports Science; Ms ZHANG Ling and Ms CHEN Yunxia, Olympic champions and rowing athletes from the Shanghai Competitive Sports Training Management Centre; Mr XIAO Zhuhao, Coordinator of the General Office at the Shanghai Competitive Sports Training Management Centre, Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau and Head of the Shanghai Sports Advocacy Group; and Ms MA Xiaoyang from the General Office of the Shanghai Science and Technology Sports Management Centre. The delegation and PolyU RISports discussed potential academic and research collaborations, fortifying the ties between Shanghai’s sports sector and PolyU RISports, while laying a solid foundation for future partnerships across elite sports, sports science research, and sports innovation.

2026 PolyU Information Day

The 2026 PolyU Information Day will take place on 10 October 2026 (Saturday) at 10:00am-5:00pm. Department of Biomedical Engineering has prepared different activities for visitors to learn more about our Undergraduate Programmes: BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering and BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and Technology. Info Booth for consultation: FG Wing at 10:00am-5:00pm BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering (JS3150) programme seminar: room PQ306 at 1:00pm-1:45pm BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and Technology programme seminar: room PQ306 at 2:00pm-2:45pm Open house lab visit (Human Locomotion Laboratory): room ST414 at 10:00am-5:00pm Guided tour (Common Biological Laboratory & Human Locomotion Laboratory): meeting at our Info Booth (located at FG Wing) at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm Guided tour (Prosthetics & Orthotics Laboratory): meeting at our Info Booth (located at FG Wing) at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm Come and be part of this event!   How to find us on PolyU campus (venues of our various department activities) Our department activities on 10 October 2026

Latest Research Offers Insights That Can Help Athletes Develop More Effective Strategies

Long-distance running, and marathons in particular, has been gaining in popularity. A marathon tests more than aerobic capacity. Fatigue also affects movement control and impact absorption. As published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Ir Prof. Ming ZHANG, Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, and his research team investigated how runners adapted their lower-limb coordination and impact loading during a full outdoor marathon, with particular attention to the effects of mileage and straight versus curved running paths. The study shows that runners actively adapt their movement strategies during a full marathon. These insights can help trainers build more effective strategies that prioritise coordination stability alongside endurance. Find more details about Ir Prof. Ming ZHANG's study in the full article on Innovation Digest: https://polyu.hk/GgGVi   Uncover more sports science research studies from PolyU in Innovation Digest Issue 9 (Theme: Gear Up to the Summit: Next-Gen Sports Science Elevating Athletes to Their Zenith): https://polyu.hk/dFYeh

MSc in Sports Technology and Management: Study Tour in Mainland China

The MSc in Sports Technology and Management students continued their global learning journey in Mainland China. Alongside their study tour in Spain, our students also completed an enriching study trip to Mainland China to explore the region’s rapidly evolving sports ecosystem. The itinerary was packed with high-level visits to top sports brands, research institutions, world-leading high-tech companies, and state-of-the-art training facilities – giving students hands-on insights into sports engineering that enhances elite athlete development. They also had exclusive visit to Beijing Sports University and Shanghai University of Sport, premier first-class institutions affiliated with the General Administration of Sport of China. Students got an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how advanced biomechanics and data-driven sports engineering come together to nurture world-class athletes. 🏋️‍♂️📊 This trip provided an invaluable bridge between academic theory and real-world industry practices, leaving our students inspired to drive future innovation in sports tech. Learn more about our MSc in Sports Technology and Management: here

MSc in Sports Technology and Management: Study Tour in Spain

Our MSc in Sports Technology and Management students embarked on an immersive study tour across Spain in June 2026, exploring the heart of Europe’s vibrant sports industry. Designed to bridge classroom theory with real-world applications, the trip gave students an insider look into sports engineering, elite athletic performance, and global sports management. Through hands-on workshops and direct exchanges with leading industry experts, participants gained valuable insights into the latest global advancements shaping the market. A major highlight of the journey was attending the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026. Experiencing a world-class Formula 1 race firsthand allowed students to analyse elite-level event operations, high-performance data analytics, and fan engagement strategies in real time. 🏁🏎️ The trip was a truly transformative experience. Beyond broadening their global perspectives, students returned deeply inspired – equipped with newfound knowledge and industry connections that will directly enrich their ongoing academic journey and future careers in sports technology. Learn more about our MSc in Sports Technology and Management: here

Distinguished Lecture "Advances in Computational Sports Biomechanics" by Professor Justin FERNANDEZ

Distinguished Lecture "Advances in Computational Sports Biomechanics" by Professor Justin FERNANDEZ   Date: 31 August 2026 (Monday) Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm (HK Time) Speaker: Professor Justin FERNANDEZ   Professor   Department of Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering   Auckland Bioengineering Institute   University of Auckland, New Zealand Venue: Room HJ303, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (face-to-face only) Registration: https://polyu.hk/aTOMw   About the speaker Prof. Justin FERNANDEZ is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering, and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours first class) in Engineering Science (1999) and a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Auckland (2004). Between 2005 and 2010 he completed an ARC postdoctoral fellowship at Melbourne University in Mechanical Engineering and was a research scientist at the CSIRO. From 2011 to 2013 he was an Aotearoa Fellow funded by the Robertson Foundation in the Auckland Bioengineering Institute. He is a Principal Investigator in the musculoskeletal modelling group where he leads research into computational biomechanics, orthopaedics, sports science, brain mechanics, and ADHD. His work integrates biomedical imaging, gait analysis, wearable sensors, large population data, statistical models, and computational mechanics. His research strongly focuses on clinician engagement. Distinctions/Honours: Vice Chancellors prize for best doctoral thesis (2004, University of Auckland) Aotearoa Bioengineering Fellowship (2011-2013, University of Auckland) ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006-2008, University of Melbourne) Winner of the 2017 Healthtech Care Award (MedTech CoRE) - best translational project Editorial board of Medical Engineering and Physics Adjunct Professor at Ningbo University, Institute of Health, China Co-founder of Formus Labs (www.formuslabs.com)  

Distinguished Lecture "Intelligent Robotics for Effective Stroke Rehabilitation Treatment: Challenges and Opportunities" by Professor Shane Sheng Quan XIE

Distinguished Lecture "Intelligent Robotics for Effective Stroke Rehabilitation Treatment: Challenges and Opportunities" by Professor Shane Sheng Quan XIE   Date: 21 August 2026 (Friday) Time: 11:45am-12:45pm (HK Time) Speaker: Professor Shane Sheng Quan XIE   Chair of Robotics and Autonomous Systems,   Director of the Rehabilitation Robotics Lab,   School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering,   University of Leeds, UK Venue: Room Y301, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Zoom: https://polyu.hk/UfRFq ((Meeting ID: 842 6154 8170  ;  Passcode: 762518)   Abstract Stroke and neurological diseases have significant impact on our society, robotic technologies have shown potential for delivering effective care and presented many opportunities for the healthcare industry. The talk will cover the recent development of robotics for stroke rehabilitation, the research gaps and the need for new technologies in neuroscience, robotics and artificial intelligence. The talk will introduce an EPSRC-funded project on intelligent reconfigurable exoskeletons tailored to meet patients’ needs, deliver effective diagnosis and personalised treatment, and monitored remotely by rehabilitation therapists. Examples of some of the current ongoing research work at the Leeds Centre for Assistive/Rehabilitation Robotics will be presented including pneumatic Peano muscle, DEA, soft exoskeleton, bilaterial robot, neuromuscular and brain computer interfaces. The focus is on enabling technologies for those whose strength and coordination have been affected by amputation, stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and ageing.   About the speaker Prof. Shane (Sheng Q) Xie, Ph.D., FRSNZ, FEngNZ, FIEEE, FASME, FIMechE and FAAIA, is the Chair of Robotics and Autonomous Systems and Director of the Rehabilitation Robotics Lab at the University of Leeds, and he was the Director of the Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics Centre at the University of Auckland, New Zealand (NZ, 2002-2016). He has 30 years of research experience in healthcare robotics and exoskeletons. He has published 500 refereed papers and 8 books in rehabilitation exoskeleton design and control, neuromuscular modelling, and advanced human-robot interaction. He has supervised 15 postdocs, 100 PhDs and 80 MEs in his team with funding of £30M from five countries since 2003. His team has invented three award-winning rehabilitation exoskeletons. He is an expert in control of exoskeletons, i.e. impedance control, adaptive control, sliding mode control, and iterative learning control strategies. He has received many distinguished awards including the New Zealand Science Challenge Award, the David Bensted Fellowship Award, and the AMP Invention Award. He is an elected Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand, Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, Fellow of IEEE, ASME, IMechE and AAIA. He was the Technical Editor for IEEE/ASME Transaction on Mechatronics, Associate Editor for Mechatronics Elservier and Editorial member of many top journals in Mechatronics and Robotics.  

Congratulations to Ir Prof. Yongping ZHENG on winning two awards at the PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2025

Congratulations to Ir Prof. Yongping ZHENG on receiving two awards at the PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2025 (Category of Award: Inventor): 🏆 Top Patents Filing Award 🏆 Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award The PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) is a prestigious university-level accolade that recognises academic departments and faculty members for their exceptional commitment to knowledge transfer and intellectual property creation. Prof. ZHENG’s remarkable contributions to innovation and technology commercialisation are truly inspiring, paving the way for impactful solutions that benefit society. His well-deserved recognition reflects both his visionary research and BME’s dedication to translating academic achievements into real-world applications.