Congratulations to Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu, Professor of CEE, for securing HK$910,000 from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government.
Prof. Leu’s research project, titled “Development of Sensor-based Air VOCs Analyzer for Non-invasive Testing (SAVANT) for Early Diagnosis of Tree Brown Root Rot Disease”, aims to develop an innovative instrument, “Sensor-based Air VOCs Analyzer for Non-invasive Testing (SAVANT)”, for the early diagnosis of Brown Root Rot Disease (BRRD). BRRD is a difficult-to-detect tree disease that affects the roots and causes irreversible damage to tree health. The transmission mechanism of this disease and its ability to spread between diseased and healthy trees are not fully understood, posing a safety hazard. The development of SAVANT will help establish a long-term, real-time tree disease detection system, offering tree management solutions for Hong Kong and preventing BRRD outbreaks.
The ITF is designed to enhance the added value, productivity, and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economic activities. Through the ITF-ITSP, the Government seeks to support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes in collaboration with companies.
We again extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Leu. His research into early diagnosis of tree diseases will significantly enhance tree health management, ultimately fostering greener urban environments and improving the overall quality of life in the living community.
