Media Releases

PolyU and Cheoy Lee Shipyards forge strategic partnership to advance alternative-powered vessel technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Cheoy Lee Shipyards have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote research and innovation in artificial intelligence robotics, alternative-powered vessels and green materials. This collaboration aims to drive breakthroughs in electric vessels, sustainable manufacturing technologies and renewable energy. The signing ceremony was held on the PolyU campus. The MoU was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr Martin LO, Director of Cheoy Lee Shipyards. Prof. Christopher Chao remarked, “PolyU is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and promoting academic-industry collaboration. This partnership with Cheoy Lee Shipyards exemplifies the synergistic advantages of academia and industry collaboration, paving the way for a new era of intelligent and sustainable vessels and reinforcing Hong Kong’s leadership in green shipping.” Mr Martin Lo stated, “This collaboration marks a new milestone in the long-term partnership between PolyU and Cheoy Lee Shipyards. Our shared vision is to combine the University’s research excellence with the Shipyard’s industry expertise to drive the future of shipbuilding and sustainable maritime development, moving towards smarter, greener and more sustainable growth.” PolyU and Cheoy Lee Shipyards will collaborate on scientific research, testing environments and application scenarios, promoting comprehensive innovation and advancing sustainable maritime technologies and energy-efficient transportation. This partnership will inject strong momentum into Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.   ***END***

PolyU researchers drive commercialisation of energy-efficient solar cell technology towards 40% efficiency milestone

Third-generation solar cell technology is advancing rapidly. An engineering research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has reported a breakthrough in their review of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs), focusing on addressing challenges that include improving efficiency, stability and scalability. The team has conducted a comprehensive analysis of TSC performance and provided strategic recommendations, which aim to raise the energy conversion efficiency of this new type of solar cell from the current maximum of approximately 34% to around 40%. The team hopes to accelerate the commercialisation of perovskite/silicon TSCs through industry-academia-research collaboration, while aligning with the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality and promoting the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence through renewable energy. The research team comprises leading scholars including Prof. LI Gang, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology and Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy, and Prof. YANG Guang, Assistant Professor, both of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. They conducted a critical review of the challenges and future prospects of perovskite/silicon TSCs. Their review article, “Towards efficient, scalable and stable perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells”, has been published in the international journal Nature Photonics. Tackling stability and manufacturing challenges “While lab-scale devices have shown impressive efficiency advancement, further efforts are needed to improve their reliability, including minimising efficiency losses from small-area devices to large-area modules,” said Prof. Li Gang. “Special focus should also be given to ensuring that the manufacturability of materials and methods aligns with industrial standards.” To address these issues, Prof. Yang Guang and the team has highlighted several critical technical challenges. First, the intrinsic instability of perovskite materials under environmental stresses such as moisture, oxygen, ultraviolet light and thermal fluctuation remain a major challenge. Secondly, translating tandem devices to commercial-scale modules requires overcoming hurdles related to uniformity, defect control and large-area fabrication. Although preliminary outdoor testing of perovskite/silicon TSCs has been conducted, certified data on their long-term reliability remain scarce. To better assess the actual lifetime and commercial potential of these cells, the researchers recommend rigorous accelerated stability testing based on standardised procedures outlined by the International Electrotechnical Commission. Additionally, while perovskite raw materials are relatively low-cost, the use of rare elements and heavy metal lead in most cell designs raises significant environmental and regulatory concerns. The research therefore advocates for the development of sustainable alternatives, along with efficient recycling or lead sequestration strategies to enable viable commercialisation. Promoting industry-academia-research collaboration to accelerate deployment and drive cost reduction and efficiency gains The PolyU team advocates for industry-academia-research collaboration through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates material science, device engineering and economic modelling to advance this promising photovoltaic technology. “The development of efficient and reliable perovskite/silicon TSCs must address these remaining scientific challenges to achieve lower levelised electricity costs,” said Prof. Yang Guang. “The team hopes this research review will facilitate the transition of the technology from laboratory studies to commercial fabrication, while closely aligning with the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality. By providing a stable supply of high-efficiency renewable energy, we aim to deliver green and reliable power support for high-energy-consuming industries such as artificial intelligence, thereby helping to achieve a low-carbon transformation of the energy structure.” ***END***

PolyU-Shaoxing Technology and Innovation Research Institute officially inaugurated, four major research centres to support industrial upgrading

Jointly established by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the People’s Government of Keqiao District, Shaoxing, the PolyU-Shaoxing Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute) was officially inaugurated yesterday, together with a plaque-unveiling ceremony to mark the setting-up of InnoHub@Shaoxing. This represents a new phase of collaboration in technological innovation between Hong Kong and Shaoxing, opening a new chapter in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Marking the official establishment of the Institute, the inauguration ceremony in Shaoxing was officiated by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement); Prof. John XIN, Director of the Institute, together with Ms WU Dengfen, Deputy Secretary of the Shaoxing Municipal Party Committee and Mayor; Ms ZHANG Xue, Vice Mayor of the Shaoxing People’s Government; Mr JING Yao, Deputy Secretary of the Keqiao District Party Committee and District Mayor; and Mr PAN Xiaodong, Standing Committee Member and Head of the Organisation Department of the Keqiao District Party Committee. Dr Lam Tai-fai remarked, “The Institute is Shaoxing’s first collaborative platform between the Shaoxing Government and academic partner outside Shaoxing, fully demonstrating the strong emphasis placed by all levels of Government on higher education and technological innovation. PolyU will work hand in hand with Shaoxing to deepen collaborative innovation among Government, industry, academia and research sectors, encouraging the translation of high-calibre research outcomes for mutual benefit and growth.” Ms Wu Dengfen said, “Since Keqiao District and PolyU signed the agreement to jointly establish the Institute last September, we have worked together closely. In just over a year, the Institute has been established and brought into operation, and has become a national-level intellectual property protection demonstration zone. This provides enterprises and talent with strong support for innovation and an enabling environment for development.” The Institute has established four major research centres, focusing on smart textiles, modern residential construction, carbon fibre composite materials, and food nutrition and health. Prof. Christopher Chao noted that these research areas are closely aligned with national strategies and the mission of local industry clusters. By leveraging PolyU strength in research innovation and knowledge transfer, the Institute will drive technological innovation and the commercialisation of research outcomes, thereby promoting sustainable regional development. The event also featured a plaque presentation marking the setting-up of InnoHub@Shaoxing, during which Dr Lam Tai-fai and Prof. Christopher Chao presented the plaque to Prof. Dong Cheng and Prof. John Xin. Agreements were signed between the Institute and several local enterprises in Shaoxing to promote collaboration in technological innovation and deepen industry integration. The Institute is not only a research platform but also a significant initiative to support PolyU’s deep integration into the innovation ecosystem of the Yangtze River Delta and to serve the Nation’s regional development strategies, becoming a model of cooperation between Hong Kong and Shaoxing. Moving forward, the Institute will adopt a development philosophy of “openness, synergy and efficiency”, pooling innovation resources at home and abroad to address the practical needs of Keqiao industries and inject fresh momentum into Shaoxing’s high-quality development, making greater contributions to national technological innovation. At the same event, Dr Lam Tai-fai (2nd from left) and Prof. Christopher Chao (1st from left) presented a plaque to Prof. Dong Cheng (2nd from right) and Prof. John Xin (1st from right) to mark the setting-up of InnoHub@Shaoxing. Agreements were signed between the Institute and several local enterprises in Shaoxing to promote collaboration in technological innovation and deepen industry integration. ***END***

Vice Minister of Science and Technology Mr Chen Jiachang leads delegation to PolyU

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PolyU J.C.DISI hosts “Northern Metropolis Future Forum Season 2”, advocating for the “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework”

Through its “PolyU Northern Metropolis Future Forum” series, The Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is advocating for a comprehensive five-pathway “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework”. Season 2 of the Forum was hosted today with the theme “Where Conservation Meets Prosperity in the Northern Metropolis,” focusing on practical pathways of “Ecological Empowerment” and “Experience Empowerment.” It brought together experts from the Government, academia, industry and local charitable/non-profit organisations to explore how to transform the traditionally perceived dichotomy between conservation and development into a mutually beneficial economic model. Formulating a “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework” In his welcoming remarks, Prof. LING Kar-kan, PolyU Interim Vice President (Campus and Facilities) and Director of J.C.DISI, emphasised that the Institute serves as a convergence point for knowledge and practice, and advocates for the “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework,” aiming to collaborate with all sectors of society to build a “Beautiful Northern Metropolis.” Through a lens of social innovation, it seeks to advance a vision for the Northern Metropolis that is “people-centred, nature-inspired and harmoniously prosperous”, creating economic value rooted in conservation. Prof. Ling stated, “J.C.DISI hosted the Forum with the aim of creating a cross-sectoral exchange platform. We will continue to gather insights from all stakeholders, draft policy recommendations for submission to relevant departments and actively seek funding to launch pilot projects under the ‘Northern Metropolis SoInno for Good Initiative’. This is not a short-term project; rather, it is a concrete strategic action that implements the latest six-year PolyU Strategic Plan, which aims to propel innovation and impact through sustainable partnerships with the wider community.” Prof. Ling also introduced the concept of the regenerative economy, noting, “This goes beyond merely being an advanced version of sustainable development, also signifying a fundamental revolution in the economic paradigm that redefines the relationship between humans and nature. The development of the Northern Metropolis represents a historic opportunity for Hong Kong to become a global benchmark for regenerative economies. We must move away from outdated notions that oppose development and conservation, and instead foster a new era of economic prosperity grounded in shared value.” Thematic Session 1: Ecological Empowerment – Transforming Fisheries and Agriculture into Multifunctional Industrial Ecosystems Thematic Session 1 featured Mr Patrick LAI, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Prof. James FANG Kar-hei, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Food Science and Nutrition; Ms Nicole WONG, Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Fund-Hong Kong; and Mr Jackie LING, Founder and President of the Association of Hong Kong Agricultural Development and Construction. This session explored how to transform the fisheries and agriculture of the Northern Metropolis from single-purpose production into multifaceted industrial ecosystems that encompass ecological, landscape, educational and tourism values. Mr Patrick Lai outlined the policy vision of the “Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries.” He emphasised, “Through the pilot projects, including the Long Valley Nature Park and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, the Government will deepen partnerships with stakeholders to explore the integration of conservation efforts, and agricultural and fishery activities into new economic frameworks.” Prof. James Fang outlined the development directions of PolyU’s existing marine aquaculture and ecological conservation research, demonstrating how it supports the Government’s policy objectives in advancing modern aquaculture. “Our research team is committed to exploring the relationship between sustainable aquaculture technologies and ecosystem balance. We aim to develop aquaculture models that simultaneously enhance production, improve water quality and support marine biodiversity.” Ms Nicole WONG articulated her view that the true value of wetland ecosystems far surpasses traditional perceptions. They serve not only as natural carbon sinks, flood regulators, biodiversity reservoirs and water purification systems, but should also be viewed as an integrated whole. Through “Nature-based Solutions”, natural capital can be transformed into sustainable momentum for community development. The development of the Northern Metropolis presents an ideal opportunity to establish a new partnership that embodies the principle of “conservation and development as a win-win”, enabling wetland conservation and local innovation to be mutually reinforcing. Mr Jackie Ling shared a vision for transforming the currently abandoned fishponds in the Northern Metropolis into assets with ecological and commercial value. “We can engage businesses to empower fish farmers, creating a streamlined model from production to sales that stabilises demand for fisheries. This approach can generate diverse value from the fishponds, developing ecological tours and attracting tourists with guesthouses and restaurants. Once the fishponds generate commercial value, they can create job opportunities and promote talent training.” Thematic Session 2: The Experience Economy – Redefining Tourism and Nature Interaction Models Thematic Session 2 featured Prof. Stephen TANG, Head of the Countryside Conservation Office of the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR; Prof. Haiyan SONG, Associate Dean of the PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism; Ms Josephine WOO, Head of the Holistic Education Department of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden; Mr Scott LIM, NbS Project Manager of The Nature Conservancy; and Mr Paul CHAN, Chairman of the Hong Kong Community Heritage Foundation. This session examined how to move beyond “zero-impact” sustainable tourism by rebuilding ecosystems and revitalising cultural heritage through enriching travel experiences. Prof. Stephen Tang shared the Government’s initiatives for promoting rural revitalisation and ecological conservation in remote areas. He highlighted collaborations within the Blue and Green Recreation, Tourism and Conservation Circle with various universities and stakeholders, including a partnership with the PolyU School of Design on the Kuk Po project, as well as other initiatives such as the Lai Chi Wo and Mui Tsz Lam projects. “Through a tripartite collaboration model involving the Government, the community and villagers, we have launched joint projects that resonate with the harmonious coexistence of rural culture and nature.” Prof. Haiyan Song responded to the “Tourism is Everywhere” policy outlined in the Policy Address, discussing how technology can be harnessed to drive regenerative tourism and create a sustainable future for the Northern Metropolis. He emphasised, “Regenerative tourism is not simply about sightseeing, it involves leveraging the natural and cultural resources of the Northern Metropolis to craft unique travel experiences. This approach allows visitors to engage in ecological restoration and cultural heritage preservation processes while generating sustainable income for the local community.” During the case discussion, Ms Josephine Woo shared an innovative experience centred on environmental education and ecological research, “By recognising the importance of habitat diversity and biodiversity conservation, we can sustainably operate various tourism and educational experiences using environmentally friendly methods. For example, our thoughtfully designed activities in regenerative agriculture, deep ecology, art and transformative experiences are all aimed at recovering operational costs, enabling the public to engage in conservation and research in diverse ways.” Mr Scott Lim shared valuable insights from the Pak Nai wetland restoration project, illustrating how nature-based solutions can effectively address climate change, protect biodiversity and create economic opportunities. He emphasised, “Nature is not only something to be preserved, it is also a vital partner in tackling environmental and social challenges.” Mr Paul Chan shared insights from the perspective of deep cultural tourism on how to transform abundant blue-green Northern Metropolis resources and cultural heritage into unique experiential assets. He remarked, “Culture is not a static relic; it is a living tradition.” Through the concept of “Tourism Innovation Studio,” he designed the “Do Good Tour” project to revitalise traditional villages, farmlands and historical sites, thereby fostering sustainable development and providing economic benefits for the community. In her closing remarks, Ms Sam LAM, Deputy Director of J.C.DISI, provided an update on the progress of the seven Northern Metropolis SoInno Actions since the “PolyU Northern Metropolis Future Forum Season 1” in early July. She also announced that Forum Season 3, focusing on “Community Empowerment,” would be hosted early next year. The first three seasons of the “PolyU Northern Metropolis Future Forum” aim to establish the “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework” through five empowerment pathways: digital, cultural, ecological, experiential and community. J.C. DISI will continue to harness this framework to unite diverse stakeholders from the Government, industry, academia, research, investment, civil society, culture, youth, science, environment and media, transforming social innovation ideas into concrete pilot projects. The Forum will address topics such as community co-creation, the low-altitude economy, creative tourism in the Northern Metropolis, youth and diverse talent development, intergenerational inclusion and child-friendly cities, leveraging the power of social innovation to create a vibrant and beautiful Northern Metropolis. The five-pathway “Beautiful Northern Metropolis SoInno Action Framework” ***END***

PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute unveiled, propelling medical and health industry development across regions

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) yesterday hosted an unveiling ceremony with the Wuhan Municipal People’s Government and the Qiaokou District People’s Government for the jointly established PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Institute). This milestone event marks a new chapter in advancing the medical and health industry development between Hong Kong and Wuhuan. Mr SHENG Yuechun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee, said he attached great importance to the collaboration and held in-depth discussions with the PolyU delegation, led by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, on the future development of the Institute. The unveiling ceremony in Wuhan was officiated by Dr Lam Tai-fai; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Mr MENG Hui, Vice Mayor of Wuhan; Mr JIANG Tiebin, Deputy Head of the Organisation Department of the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal Talent Work Bureau; Mr ZHU Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; Ms DONG Danhong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology Innovation; Ms BAI Meixia, Acting Director of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China’s Wuhan Economic and Trade Office; and Mr ZHOU Geng, Secretary of the Qiaokou District Party Committee, who witnessed the official establishment of the Institute in Wuhan. Dr Lam Tai-fai said, “We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Hubei Provincial Government, the Wuhan Municipal Government and the relevant departments for their trust and support, enabling PolyU to become the first university in Hong Kong to establish a technology and innovation research institute in Wuhan.” He added that the Institute will focus on ophthalmology and optometry, digital health, rehabilitation sciences, advanced medical technologies and smart ageing. By integrating Hong Kong’s research strengths with Wuhan’s robust healthcare industry, the Institute aims to drive technological innovation and product development for local enterprises, contributing to regional and national innovation. Mr ZHAO Hongliang, Deputy Secretary of the Qiaokou District Party Committee and Mayor of the District Government, remarked, “Hubei and Hong Kong share close cultural ties and common values. As a hub for Hong Kong-funded enterprises, Qiaokou has a solid foundation for collaboration with Hong Kong. PolyU’s academic excellence and leading research capabilities align closely with Qiaokou’s key industries, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, and art and design.” He noted that the collaboration will drive deep integration of technological innovation and industrial development, creating a multiplier effect. Qiaokou will provide high-quality spaces, a comprehensive ecosystem and liveable environment, hoping that all parties can seize opportunities and achieve shared success in the future. During the Ceremony, Prof. Christopher Chao and Ms HE Min, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Organisation Department of the Qiaokou District Party Committee officiated at the plaque presentation for the Qiaokou District Overseas (Hong Kong) High-Level Talent Recruitment and Cultivation Base. Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Institute and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at PolyU School of Optometry, together with Mr CHEN Hua, Vice President of the Hong Kong Hubei Association and Founding Partner of Gaosen Capital, launched the PolyU Wuhan Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Fund. Prof. Christopher Chao (left) and Ms He Min, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Organisation Department of the Qiaokou District Party Committee (right) conducted the plaque presentation ceremony for the Qiaokou District Overseas (Hong Kong) High-Level Talent Recruitment and Cultivation Base. Prof. He Mingguang, Director of the Institute and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the PolyU School of Optometry (left) and Mr Chen Hua, Vice President of the Hong Kong Hubei Association and Founding Partner of Gaosen Capital (right), unveiled the plaque for the PolyU Wuhan Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Fund. Prof. Marco Pang, Director of the Institute’s Rehabilitation Centre and Head of the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (1st from left), represented the Institute in signing agreements with various enterprises. At the same event, the Institute signed framework agreements and joint laboratory cooperation agreements with 22 local enterprises, ecosystem partners and collaborative laboratories in Wuhan to facilitate research projects, strengthen collaboration in technological innovation and deepen industry integration. The Institute features a 4,000-square-metre facility with 17 specialised laboratories, bringing together top research teams led by six PolyU professors. Four major centres have also been set up in ophthalmology and optometry, optoelectronic health monitoring, smart ageing and rehabilitation, and smart nursing. ***END***

PolyU honours two distinguished personalities at 31st Congregation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its 31st Congregation today, presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai and President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG. At the ceremony held in the Jockey Club Auditorium on campus, Honorary Doctorates were conferred upon two prominent figures, while Doctor of Philosophy degrees were awarded to the graduating students. The two honorary degree recipients were (in alphabetical order of last name; please refer to the Appendix for the recipients’ biodata): Mr HAN Bicheng, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qiangnao Technology - Doctor of Technology honoris causa Prof. Barry James MARSHALL, 2005 Nobel Laureate (Physiology or Medicine); Director of the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, The University of Western Australia; PolyU Distinguished Honorary Professor - Doctor of Science honoris causa Prof. Jin-Guang Teng extended his warmest congratulations to the honorary doctorates and doctoral graduates. In a time when artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are transforming the way people live, learn and work, he encouraged the graduates to embrace technology with curiosity, responsibility and creativity. He added, “PolyU is committed to preparing our students for the AI era. At the forefront of integrating AI into education, the University implemented compulsory AI education for all undergraduates back in September 2022. We also established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January this year to meet the growing demand for talent and expertise in the age of AI and set up the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence in April to propel the University to the forefront of AI research and applications. Looking ahead, we will further leverage AI to transform our educational offerings. We have launched the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, aiming to integrate AI and smart technologies into a student-centred approach that fosters innovation and promotes the wider use of AI and educational technologies in learning and teaching.” Prof. Teng advised the graduates, “As Hong Kong develops into an international innovation and technology centre and our Nation grows into a global science and technology powerhouse, exciting opportunities await those who are ready to innovate and lead. With the strong foundation you have developed at PolyU, we are confident that you are well-positioned to seize these opportunities and shape a brighter future.” The University is conferring academic awards on a total of 11,519 students this year, including 477 Doctor of Philosophy degree graduates, 204 professional doctoral degree graduates, 37 Master of Philosophy degree graduates, 6,371 taught master’s degree graduates, 4,401 bachelor’s degree graduates, 15 postgraduate diploma recipients and 14 higher diploma recipients.   ***END***

PolyU hosts thematic seminar on “Exploring the Theory and Practice of China’s Diplomacy”, featuring keynote speeches by former ambassadors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture, Confucius Institute of Hong Kong and Mainland Development Office, in collaboration with the China Foreign Affairs University, today hosted the thematic seminar “Exploring the Theory and Practice of China’s Diplomacy” at the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre on the PolyU campus. The event drew a full house, attracting over 230 PolyU faculty members, students, alumni and members of the public. Two former ambassadors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were invited as keynote speakers: Ambassador LUO Linquan, former Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in the Hellenic Republic and in Ireland, Consul General (Ambassadorial Rank) of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco, and current Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association; and Ambassador SUN Gongyi, former Director-General level Counsellor of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Mauritius.They shared their insights and first-hand diplomatic experiences while exploring the theory and practice of building a “China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, guiding the audience through the development of China’s foreign policy. Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, remarked, “Through reform and opening-up, China has developed into the world’s second-largest economy. China’s diplomatic endeavours are not only crucial to the Nation’s development but are also closely linked to Hong Kong’s future. With the unique advantage of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, Hong Kong should leverage its role as a bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, fully embracing its role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ to contribute to the Nation’s diplomatic efforts. PolyU is committed to nurturing socially responsible students with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective, equipping them to drive societal progress and contribute to the Nation’s development. Today’s seminar is a key event of the ‘PolyU Chinese Culture Festival’ and we are grateful to the ambassadors for sharing their experiences, which will deepen our students’ understanding of China’s diplomatic work and strengthen their sense of belonging, recognition and pride.” Ambassador Luo Linquan has held numerous diplomatic posts and possesses extensive experience in foreign affairs. In his keynote speech entitled “Insights into Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs: First-hand Diplomatic Experiences”, he noted that throughout his decades-long career as a diplomat, he had experienced and handled many major diplomatic incidents. During China’s large-scale evacuation of citizens from Libya in 2011, as the then-Chinese ambassador to Greece, with the support of the Greek government, he managed to charter three cruise ships in a few hours, helping 13,000 Chinese citizens evacuate from Libya through Greece and return home. “This was the largest, fastest and most effective overseas protection operation for Chinese citizens since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. We acted swiftly and decisively, embodying the principle of diplomacy for the people, putting people first and valuing life above all,” he said. Another keynote speaker, Ambassador Sun Gongyi, studied at the China Foreign Affairs University and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and has rich experience in African diplomacy. Speaking on “The Theory and Practice of Building a ‘China-Africa Community with a Shared Future’”, he highlighted the importance of launching this initiative. “Amid great changes unseen in a century, marked by strategic competition and multilateral struggles, Africa is a key partner China can rely on. For example, in international organisations and multilateral forums, African countries are often the strongest supporters of China’s proposals and assertions. The significance of the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future extends beyond bilateral relations — it contributes to the creation of a new and fair international order, which holds great importance for the entire world,” he stated. During the Q&A session, the response was enthusiastic. One participant Prof. C. C. CHAN, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Distinguished Chair Professor of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, posed questions and shared his insights. He expressed great admiration for the courage of Chinese diplomats in carrying out their duties without fear for their own safety. He also shared that during his visit to Sweden, local officials praised China’s strong diplomacy, which is backed by robust economic and defence capabilities. Ambassador Sun highlighted that the political concept of “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”, proposed by China’s leadership, has been incorporated into UN General Assembly resolutions, reflecting the country’s wisdom in grasping global trends and the trajectory of human destiny. ***END***

PolyU PReCIT hosts inaugural forum of the Global Thought Leaders Forum Series, examining transformation of global political and economic landscape

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and innovative scientific research, with its Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) striving to contribute to the advancement of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world through interdisciplinary policy research. PReCIT has organised the new Global Thought Leaders Forum Series and hosted the inaugural forum today in collaboration with the PolyU Mainland Development Office (MDO) and Student Affairs Office. Featuring a keynote speech on the ongoing transformation of the global political and economic landscape by Prof. ZHANG Weiwei, Director of the China Institute at Fudan University, the Forum attracted over 500 PolyU students, staff and members of the public. The Forum was held at the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre and was broadcast live across other venues on the PolyU campus. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President and Director of PReCIT, and Prof. LU Haitian, Director of MDO and Core Member of PReCIT, delivered speeches, while Dr Laura LO, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement), Prof. Horace MUI, Interim Dean of Students and Core Member of PReCIT, and other distinguished guests attended the event. In his welcoming speech, Prof. Christopher Chao said, “In today’s complex and ever-changing global landscape, technology and innovation are not only engines of development but also influence international relations, models of governance and even the development of modern civilisation. With the PReCIT Global Thought Leaders Forum series, we envision creating a platform that gathers influential thought leaders worldwide and promotes informed dialogue on cutting-edge technology and policies.” Themed “A Century of Transformation, Choices of Great Powers,” the inaugural forum explored the strategic choices of the three major powers - China, the United States and Russia - in this historical tide, as well as the profound implications of their choices for the evolution of the entire national order. Prof. Zhang Weiwei emphasised that the world is experiencing unprecedented changes, with the rise of the East and the decline of the West becoming an irreversible historical trend. This transformation is reflected not only in the restructuring of the international political and economic landscape, but also in technological revolutions, competition between systems and transformations in forms of civilisation. Prof. Lu Haitian stated, “PReCIT will continue to invite global thought leaders to serve as distinguished speakers for the Series, focusing on key issues such as technology ethics, innovative governance and sustainable development, aiming to stimulate diverse perspectives, explore solutions, and collaborate in constructing an inclusive and developing a future global blueprint.” Bringing together top scholars, policymakers, industry leaders and innovation pioneers from around the world, the PReCIT Global Thought Leaders Forum Series casts a spotlight on the policy challenges, governance frameworks and future development strategies faced worldwide in the face of technological change. Facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge sharing, the Forum Series will serve as a bridge to connect international intellectual resources and promote the deep integration of technology and the humanities, driving sustainable development and social welfare improvements.   ***END***

PolyU reshapes AI training paradigm, significantly reducing costs and democratising AI research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) has announced achieving several milestones in Generative AI (GenAI) research. The PAAI team is pushing the boundaries of AI with a novel collaborative GenAI paradigm known as Co-GenAI, which has the potential to transform frontier model training from a centralised, monolithic approach into a decentralised one. Significantly lowering training resource requirements, protecting data privacy and removing resource barriers such as graphics processing unit (GPU) monopolies paves the way for a more inclusive and accessible environment for global institutions to participate in AI research. Advances in GenAI research are presently constrained by three major barriers: training foundation models being so computationally prohibitive that only a few organisations can afford it, effectively excluding global academia from frontier model development; domain knowledge and data remaining siloed due to privacy and copyright concerns, particularly for sensitive information in healthcare and finance; and foundation models being static and unable to evolve with emerging knowledge, while retraining each frontier model ab initio consumes an enormous amount of resources and makes rapid iteration impossible. To tackle these challenges, the PAAI team has developed a novel model training framework that enables ultra-low-resource training and decentralised model fusion. The framework is theoretically grounded and has been validated through extensive real-world applications. PolyU is the first academic institution to open-source an end-to-end FP8 low-bit training solution that covers both continual pre-training (CPT) and post-training stages. This approach will set a new standard for training models with FP8 ultra-low resources while maintaining BF16 precision, in turn revolutionising the practice of model training and positioning PolyU among the few institutions worldwide to master this advanced training technique. Compared with BF16, FP8 delivers over 20% faster training, reduces peak memory by over 10% and dramatically lowers training overheads while maintaining performance. The pipeline integrates CPT, supervised fine-tuning (SFT) and reinforcement learning (RL) to achieve BF16 quality while shortening training time and reducing memory footprint. The team has begun exploring even lower-cost FP4 precision training, with initial results reported in academic publications1. In medical applications, the models trained by these pipelines outperform all peer models on diagnosis and reasoning across all key areas2. In research agent application, the models also demonstrate exceptional performance in complex task handling, generalisation and report quality3. Until now, foundation model training has followed scaling laws: more parameters yield broader knowledge and stronger performance. However, centralised training typically requires millions of GPU hours—a resource available to only a few organisations. The PolyU InfiFusion model fusion achieves a key milestone in model fusion research: it uses only hundreds of GPU hours to fuse large models that would otherwise require 1–2 million GPU hours to train from scratch. The team has merged four state-of-the-art models in 160 GPU hours4-5, avoiding million-scale training budgets while delivering fused models that significantly outperform the originals across multiple key benchmarks. The team has published the first theoretical validation of model fusion—a concept championed by Thinking Machines Lab. Through rigorous mathematical derivation, they proposed the “Model Merging Scaling Law,” suggesting there is another viable pathway to artificial general intelligence (AGI)6. Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PolyU PAAI, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Computing, stated, “Ultra-low-resource foundation model training, combined with efficient model fusion, enables academic researchers worldwide to advance GenAI research through collaborative innovation.” The team has also demonstrated the potential of its training pipelines through applications across specific domains, including state-of-the-art medical foundation and cancer AI models that achieve best-in-class performance. With the integration of high-quality domain-specific data, these models can adapt to medical devices for different scenarios, including personalised treatment and AI-based radiotherapy for oncology. In this context, the team is now collaborating with Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. PAAI has also introduced a leading agentic AI application in deep search and academic paper assistance—a graduate-level academic paper writer with agentic capability that supports a multimodal patent-search engine for end-to-end research and manuscript drafting. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, stated, “AI is a key driver in accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. The newly established PAAI is dedicated to expediting AI integration across key sectors and developing domain-specific models for diverse industries. These initiatives will not only solidify the leading position of PolyU in related fields, but also help position Hong Kong as a global hub for GenAI.” The research project led by Prof. Yang Hongxia is supported and funded by the Theme-based Research Scheme 2025/26 under the Research Grants Council, the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, and the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme under Cyberport. It marks a significant step forward for Hong Kong in global AI innovation and accelerating the democratisation and industrial implementation of AI technology.   1InfiR2: A Comprehensive FP8 Training Recipe for Reasoning-Enhanced Language Models,  https://arxiv.org/html/2509.22536v3 2InfiMed: Low-Resource Medical MLLMs with Advancing Understanding and Reasoning, https://arxiv.org/html/2505.23867 3InfiAgent: Self-Evolving Pyramid Agent Framework for Infinite Scenarios, https://arxiv.org/html/2509.22502 4InfiGFusion: Graph-on-Logits Distillation via Efficient Gromov-Wasserstein for Model Fusion, https://arxiv.org/html/2505.13893 5InfiFPO: Implicit Model Fusion via Preference Optimization in Large Language Models, https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.13878 6Model Merging Scaling Laws in Large Language Models, https://arxiv.org/html/2509.24244   ***END***