Media Releases

PolyU connects young people with technology to promote anti-drug education under the Beat Drugs Fund

Technology profoundly connects young people to new knowledge, information and social communications. In designing its anti-drug programme, researchers in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have integrated creative and entertaining elements of technology into campaigns aimed at young people. In promoting the awareness about the harmful effects of drugs on young people, two PolyU projects have received support from the Beat Drugs Fund. The projects feature mini-film package production and parent-child workshops that adopt current technologies including virtual reality (VR) and interactive robots to engage young people and raise their awareness about drugs. These two community-based projects aim to encourage the participation of multiple stakeholders, including parents, teachers, social workers, counsellors and healthcare professionals, to comprehensively explore with young people effective approaches to combating the temptation of drugs. The project led by Prof. Hector TSANG Wing-hong, Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Head and Chair Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has initiated a VR-enabled mini-film package in order to effectively communicate anti-drug messages to young people. Prof. Tsang said, “Edutainment in health communication effectively supports strategies used by rehabilitation professionals to convey messages in substance abuse rehabilitation, not only in promoting community re-integration for those with substance abuse experience but also proactively combating the temptation of drug use among young people, in particular those drugs commonly misused including marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD). The use of innovative technology including VR in providing simulated experiences of side-effects of drug abuse among the youngsters can raise their anti-drug awareness.” The project led by Dr Katherine LAM Ka-wai, Research Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, establishes a community network by connecting nursing students with youngsters and their parents with interactive robot-assisted workshops on anti-drug awareness. Prof. Christina WONG, Director of Research and Innovation, said, “PolyU has always been committed to creating innovations that benefit society. To help effectively promote an anti-drug message, the two funded projects fully consider the culture and preferences of young people while providing stakeholders with sustainable programmes, which are of great significance.” Under the Beat Drugs Fund, the Regular Funding Scheme aims to support different sectors in society to propose further anti-drug projects, such as the organisation of preventive education and publicity programmes targeting the general public or specific groups; the provision of drug treatment and rehabilitation services to people with drug problems; and the conduct of research on drug abuse problems. Appendix: PolyU-led projects awarded the Beat Drugs Fund   ***END***

PolyU’s new Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab joins Hai Robotics to introduce smart delivery system for fostering co-creation and innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been playing a pioneering role in driving innovation and technology (I&T) and knowledge transfer in Hong Kong, nurturing numerous I&T talents and continuously enhancing its curriculum and research facilities, in order to empower students for the Industry 4.0 era. Among these accomplishments, PolyU has fostered the development of unicorn start-up Hai Robotics, which has successfully commercialised its scientific research for global markets with its world-leading autonomous case-handling robotic system. Joining hands with Hai Robotics, PolyU today officially launched the cutting-edge Smart Delivery System in its new Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AIR Lab) at the University’s Industrial Centre. The Smart Delivery System aims to strengthen PolyU’s robotics education and encourage co-creation and innovation among students and researchers. Dr Miranda LOU, PolyU’s Executive Vice President, said, “PolyU places a strong emphasis on whole-person education as well as innovation and entrepreneurship, in order to nurture talents who meet the needs of society. Over the years, PolyU has been strengthening its PolyVentures start-up ecosystem, supporting PolyU academics, researchers, alumni and students in their entrepreneurial endeavours. The University has also provided all-round support to start-ups at different stages of their development, helping them to translate and commercialise their research outputs for the benefit of society. The collaboration between PolyU and Hai Robotics, supported by the company’s warehouse automation solutions, will not only accelerate the University’s future R&D but also empower students to acquire knowledge about the application of novel smart technologies.” The AIR Lab is an innovative teaching and research platform, with a total area of 1,800 square metres. It is equipped with advanced robotic arms, robots, automatic guided vehicles, drones, as well as machine learning kits related to AI robotics and Industry 4.0. The Laboratory allows educators, students and researchers to explore various aspects of the emerging field of collaborative robotics, including application development, component fabrication, control system design, autonomous system development, and intelligent and AI algorithm design for robots. The Smart Delivery System comprises three components: Hai Robotics’ Autonomous Case-handling Robot system, PolyU’s Autonomous Mobile Robots, and an enterprise resource planning software system. It will support researchers in developing various collaborative robot application technologies, and offer a communal logistics service for the Lab’s users, making the venue a living laboratory. The AIR Lab currently houses 15 PolyU project teams that focus on the use of AI and robotic technologies in areas such as healthcare, rehabilitation, sports technology, engineering, energy, computing, and sustainability. Hai Robotics was founded in 2016 by two graduates of the PolyU Department of Electronic and Information Engineering – Mr Richie CHEN, a 2012 graduate, and Mr Bing FANG, who graduated in 2014. The start-up has grown rapidly by capitalising on the manufacturing advantages of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the opportunities of the Mainland China market. It soon expanded its global presence, with a valuation that has now reached around US$2 billion. Mr Fang returned to his alma mater today to share his experiences and encourage young people to gain a sound understanding of the environment and the opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in the GBA in order for them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.   ***END***

PolyU and COMAC co-organise International Science and Technology Innovation Week and collaborate on advancing aviation research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) co-organised for the first time an international innovation week and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advancing civil aviation technology. With the theme of “Digital Aircraft: Industry Empowerment,” the 6th COMAC International Science and Technology Innovation Week was co-organised by COMAC, PolyU and Tongji University and held in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province to promote collaboration on innovations. Over 500 experts and scholars from government, academia, research institutions and industry attended the week-long event that ended today. They exchanged ideas on basic as well as frontier science and technology in areas such as aviation Big Data, artificial intelligence and advanced materials. PolyU and COMAC also signed an MoU to promote technological innovation in civil aviation. Both sides will collaborate on research, talent development and knowledge transfer in the areas of artificial intelligence, Big Data and new materials. The MoU was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr TAN Wangeng, Director and Deputy Party Secretary of COMAC. Prof. Christopher Chao said, “This collaboration aims to inject new impetus into the development of civil aviation and related fields, while jointly promoting technological innovation and industrial development. PolyU will join hands with COMAC to create more opportunities for exchange between academia and industry.” Mr HE Dongfeng, Chairman and Party Secretary of COMAC, said at the event, “Promoting an ecosystem to foster collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions is important for the development needs of commercial airliners and is demanded by technological trends. In light of the new wave of technological revolution, we need to establish an innovation chain for airliner development supported by talents, innovation, and partnerships between industry and academia.” At the event, leading PolyU scholars met with industry professionals and shared their insights on cutting-edge technologies and development trends in civil aviation. Among them were Prof. H.C. MAN, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Materials Engineering; Prof. Chih-Yung WEN, Head of Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering and Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering; and Prof. CAO Jiannong, Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things and Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing. Prof. Wen also delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the event. COMAC, headquartered in Shanghai, is engaged in the research, manufacturing and flight testing of civil aircraft and related products, with the mission of implementing large-scale passenger aircraft programmes and realising the industrialisation of civil aircraft in China. PolyU’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering is ranked number 1 in Hong Kong by ShanghaiRanking. It plays a crucial role in bridging research and industrial needs in the aviation and aeronautics field. In addition, the Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC) is an applied research centre founded by PolyU and Boeing Company. It aims to develop new or improved aviation service technologies applicable to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry and beyond.   ***END***

Inspiring talk by “2021 Touching China” recipient Ms Janis Chan on “No Poverty Land” documentary series

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Student Affairs Office hosted the Dean of Students Talk Series 2022/23: “Together We Dream, We Fly” yesterday at the Jockey Club Auditorium. Ms Janis CHAN, who was named an Inspirational Role Model in the “2021 Touching China Awards”, was invited for sharing. She spoke about her documentary series “No Poverty Land”, sharing her journey of filming the documentary as well as her life experience to encourage young people. The talk was attended by Prof. SONG Lai, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR; Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; and other members of PolyU’s management. They were joined by around 500 guests, PolyU staff, students, alumni and secondary school students. Ms Chan shared her experiences filming the documentary across six provinces in three months. She said it was a rare opportunity to film this documentary, which showed the achievements made in alleviating poverty on the Mainland, and conveyed an uplifting message to the audience. During the event, Ms Chan interacted with PolyU students, including Ms CHUI Cho-kwan, awardee of the STARS scholarship, and Mr LEE Cheuk-him, mentee of the “INSPIRE” Mentorship Programme, and shared her experiences working in the media industry. She said Hong Kong has the distinct advantage of enjoying the strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, and encouraged young people to think outside the box, accomplish their goals and pursue their dreams.   ***END***

PolyU and GL Ventures to promote the integration of the University’s scientific research with innovative industries

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and GL Ventures entered into a strategic partnership to promote the integration of the University’s scientific research with innovative industries. The collaboration aims to nurture PolyU research teams and start-ups with high potential, while advancing the transformation of scientific research into practical applications and the commercialisation of technology, contributing to the innovation and technology (I&T) development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was held today. Witnessed by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; and Mr Luke LI, Founding Partner of Hillhouse, the MoU was signed by Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU and Ms Yan LI, Partner of Hillhouse. On the same occasion, the Innovation & Investment Connect Panel Session was held, bringing together industry leaders and I&T stakeholders for a stimulating panel discussion titled “How to facilitate research commercialisation from policy maker and investor perspectives”. The panellists explored the opportunities and challenges of the commercialisation of scientific research. In addition, PolyU scholars and representatives from six GL Ventures’ investees engaged in roundtable discussions on biomedical innovation and sustainable innovation at two parallel thematic sessions. The roundtable discussions shed light on the opportunities in the biomedical innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong as well as clean energy technologies and related industry development trends.   ***END***  

Leaders and experts share insights on green and innovative community at Green Deck forum

The forum “The Green Deck – Into the Green and Innovative Community”, co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) and the Green Deck Project Management Office, was held on the PolyU campus in a hybrid format on 15 March. In order to promote exchanges and collaboration across different sectors of society in building a green community, Mr Alex LUI, PolyU Green Deck Project Director; the Hon. Mr CHAN Han-pan, Legislative Council Member; Prof. LI Yuguo, Chair Professor of Building Environment of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Hong Kong; Prof. Edward NG, Professor of Architecture of the School of Architecture of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Dr William YU, Chief Executive Officer of World Green Organisation, were invited to share their views and insights on the Green Deck and on topics related to green living and green cities. The Green Deck is an innovative, community-based project to enhance the area around the Cross Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza at Hung Hom. The forum aimed at deepening public understanding of the Green Deck and how the project can help to address the current environmental issues and revitalise the neighbourhood with a view to promoting green living. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT said, “The HKSAR Government has always devoted tremendous efforts as well as investment into developing Hong Kong into a more liveable city. Active community participation also plays a very important role in this. A liveable and comfortable living environment benefits Hong Kong in attracting more global talents to work and settle in our city, and encourages international enterprises to start their businesses here.” Mr Alex Lui said the Green Deck is an innovative social project which will bring long-term benefits to the neighbouring communities. It exemplifies how precious urban land can be used in a smart and sustainable way by revitalising an unremarkable urban district into a green and vibrant community area. To achieve a smart environment, the Green Deck as well as similar social projects require the support and participation of a smart community and a smart government. Mr Chan Han-pan suggested that a community network directly affects residents’ quality of life and economic development, and that sometimes a small step can bring major changes to a community. The two successful initiatives of Sai Lau Kok Garden in Tsuen Wan and Central Market demonstrated ways to inject new impetus into a community. Because of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza separating the two districts, Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East face the problem of a disconnected community network, which has led to the two districts lagging behind others in relative terms. It is believed that the Green Deck will benefit the enhancement of community connectivity, which in turn will further foster the economic development of Hong Kong and bring positive impacts on the local traffic in the districts. Prof. Li Yuguo said, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, since 1993, at 0.28°C per decade, Kowloon has warmed faster than before, while at the same time Kowloon air has become more humid. This trend has accelerated over the last 20-30 years, a trend for which city-wide efforts are needed to stop or reverse. City-scale challenges can only be tackled by the concerted efforts of everyone involved. Prof. Edward Ng said that, due to more intense, frequent and longer heat waves resulting from climate change, the number of very hot days in Hong Kong is expected to increase to over 100 days a year. Prolonged heat waves not only bring higher heat-related mortality, but also can affect a person’s psychological well-being. Creating green-blue space in the urban living environment of a high-density city is a necessary mitigation measure. Dr William Yu said that the Green Deck would not only enhance climate resilience and improve the quality of life for city dwellers through the provisioning of recreational benefits and ecosystem services as an added value, but also provides a linkage with ecosystem-based adaptation into climate change. Not limited to universities, Hong Kong needs to consider how to make good use of green finance instruments (resilience investment) to speed up the transformation from grey to green infrastructure, thus mitigating the impact of extreme weather events, and so decreasing the need for the insurability of biodiversity and climate risks.   *****END*****

PolyU research shows mHealth mobile app with interactive nursing support enhances elderly health management

Primary healthcare is an integral part of the entire healthcare system. The Government put forward the Primary Healthcare Blueprint (the Blueprint) at the end of last year, which proposed prevention-oriented and community-based strategies to improve the overall health of the general public. The School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has launched a pilot mHealth health management mobile app with interactive nursing support. Research data shows the app empowers the elderly to monitor their chronic diseases and mental health conditions. An interdisciplinary team formed by healthcare professionals and social workers offer support to the elderly, such as providing timely medical referrals, thereby reducing the unplanned use of health services and enhancing elderly health management. The mHealth app is jointly developed by The School of Nursing of PolyU and a local telecommunications company to help monitor the health condition of the elderly. When an abnormal vital sign (such as blood pressure, or blood glucose level) is detected, a registered nurse will be notified via the app and will contact the elderly person to understand their health condition. Another highlight of the mHealth app is the 24-hour nurse interaction function. By tapping one button in the app, the elderly can make a video call to a registered nurse to support and evaluate their health and mental condition. The research team, led by Dr Arkers WONG, Assistant Professor of The School of Nursing of PolyU, recruited participants from five elderly service centres of the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service. A total of 221 elderly aged 60 or above with at least one chronic condition(s) (including hypertension, pain or diabetes) participated in the study. The study found that there was a significant increase in self-efficacy, a significant decrease in the level of depression, a reduction in the use of medical services, and an improvement in the quality of life* in physical aspects, after the elderly used the app for three to six months. Hong Kong has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in the world. The number of Hospital Authority patients with chronic diseases is projected to reach three million in the coming decade by 2039, which will bring a heavy burden to the public healthcare system. Dr Arkers Wong said, “There was a significant reduction in the unplanned use of health services and unplanned visits to general practitioners by 76% and 72% respectively, after the elderly used the mHealth app with nursing support for three months. This illustrates that the approach of combining nursing support and digital technology can relieve the pressure brought about by the rising demand for public medical services, helping to achieve the goals set out in the Blueprint to improve the overall health condition of the elderly.” The research team recommends promoting the use of digital technology for health management among the elderly, and strengthening health-social collaboration on digital platforms. The research and development team will enhance the app, adding functions such as artificial intelligence, and incorporating content that is more suitable for the needs and preferences of the elderly so that they will continue to use the app, which will contribute to the goal of reducing public medical expenses. *Physical component summary of quality of life includes four domains, which are general health, physical functioning (e.g., climbing several floors, moderate activities), role activities (limited kinds of activities), and bodily pain. *****END*****

PolyU and MCMIA co-organise university-industry collaboration forum to drive Chinese medicine innovation in the GBA

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) co-organised the “University-Industry Collaboration on Chinese Medicine Innovation Forum”, bringing together over a hundred academic and industry leaders from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to share insights on how to promote the development of Chinese medicine (CM) under the latest national plan and policies. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, said, “The HKSAR Government has always been supporting the research and development of Chinese medicine. The additional funding added to the Chinese Medicine Development Fund in the 2023-24 Budget and the expected opening of the first Chinese medicine hospital in the year 2025 will promote CM as an increasingly integral part in Hong Kong’s healthcare system. Furthermore, the GBA’s development brings invaluable opportunities for the local CM industry. The Government, industry and academics shall work closely to seize these opportunities and develop a long-term plan for improving the ecosystem of the local industry.” Mr Harry Kwok Chun YEUNG, Chairman of the MCMIA Foundation, shared insights on talent nurturing initiatives for Chinese medicine innovation, explaining how the industry renders support to outstanding talents who want to pursue research in CM. Mr Yeung emphasised that innovative CM research is vital for the industry’s development and he thanked the Vincent and Lily Woo Foundation for establishing a fellowship scheme to nurture young talents in the GBA. The forum explored how stakeholders including governments and research institutions in Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China could deepen collaboration to promote CM development and grasp the research and business opportunities in the GBA. Topics discussed included university-industry collaboration on Chinese medicine development in the GBA, talent nurturing initiatives for Chinese medicine innovation, and universities’ initiatives in CM innovation. Moderated by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of PolyU, the panel discussion presented long-term measures to drive CM innovation in Hong Kong from business, technology and policy perspectives. These recommendations will be submitted to the Government during the 2023 Policy Address public consultation. Other experts shared their insights on CM innovations at the forum and discussed how universities in the region can integrate the advantages of artificial intelligence and other advanced technology into CM research, and explored interdisciplinary collaboration among institutions in the field of CM.   *****END*****   About the Co-organisers The Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) was established under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) in October 2021. Led by Prof. Man-sau WONG, Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and Director of RCMI of PolyU, the Centre aims to foster interdisciplinary and translational research for developing novel drugs, new treatment protocols and programmes based on CM practices for application in clinical settings or the community, thereby bringing CM innovations into clinical practice and informing relevant policy. The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) was founded in 2022 as a university-level interdisciplinary policy research centre. Led by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, and Prof. Eric Chui, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT of PolyU, the Centre aims to support Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) development in the GBA via interdisciplinary collaborative research including but not limited to carbon-neutral cities, I&T development in the GBA, and the Belt and Road Initiative’s development in Southeast Asia. The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) was established in 2000 as a non-profit trade organisation by a group of Chinese medicine (CM) business professionals, scientists and academics. It is currently under the chairmanship of Mr Lawrence LO. The goal of the association is to foster Hong Kong as an international centre of CM through its modernisation, popularisation and the enhancement of the professionalism of the CM industry.  

PolyU’s PReCIT presents Consul General Talk Series

The “Consul General Talk Series” organised by the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) and supported by the Department of Applied Social Sciences and the Global Engagement Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully kicked off this month. Mr PHAM Binh Dam, Consul-General of Vietnam in Hong Kong, was invited to speak at the debut of the Series about the opportunities and prospects for partnership between Vietnam and Hong Kong, including synergies on talent pool development. A PolyU student from Vietnam also shared insights into her student life in Hong Kong. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, said that young people are the future of the city and a key driver of Hong Kong’s continuing success. Nurturing local youth and seeking global talents are equally important, and PReCIT is committed to contributing to the Government’s policy deliberation in this regard. Mr Pham talked about Vietnam’s prospects to become the 20th largest economy in the world, offering immense potential for cooperation with Hong Kong, especially in financial services, innovation and technology, and human resources. He suggested Hong Kong should tap into the sizeable pool of talents from Vietnam. Through the sharing of perspectives by diplomats in town, the “Consul General Talk Series” aims to serve as a platform for the PolyU community and the general public to gain insights about the latest I&T developments and policies, as well as about the opportunities and prospects in the Belt and Road countries.   *****END*****

PolyU welcomes the initiatives of 2023-24 Budget that foster joint efforts in promoting research and innovation

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), welcomes the initiatives on boosting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and fostering collaboration among the Government, industry, academia and the research sector as announced in the Government's 2023-24 Budget. The relevant measures will help Hong Kong achieve high-quality development, support the city to develop into an international I&T hub, and contribute to the Nation’s technological advancement. PolyU is pleased to learn about the Government’s investment in the research of life and health technology, and in frontier technology fields such as AI and quantum technology. With the development of the Northern Metropolis in full swing, it will promote the advancement of I&T industries in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Through PolyU’s State Key Laboratories, Chinese National Engineering Research Centres (Hong Kong Branches), and interdisciplinary research institutes and centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, the University will strengthen collaboration with industry to conduct impactful research and accelerate commercialisation in various domains including health technology, AI, advanced manufacturing and smart cities. These efforts will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a hub for international scientific research collaboration and make contributions to Hong Kong and the Nation. The Government’s staunch commitment to the “Green Tech Fund” is encouraging and has provided strong support for local institutions to foster research and applications. PolyU supports the Government’s endeavours in promoting green technology and green industry development. It has robust research teams and facilities in carbon neutrality. For instance, the Research Institute for Smart Energy, the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality, and the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology will contribute technological innovations and policy research to help Hong Kong achieve its carbon neutrality goals. PolyU continues to reform its curriculum and launch new research initiatives to support the Government in promoting I&T development and nurturing talents. PolyU has introduced Hong Kong’s first Master of Science in Blockchain Technology programme this academic year, and will offer new Master’s degree programmes in the next academic year, covering microelectronics technology and materials, intelligent construction, metaverse technology, and sustainable technology for carbon neutrality, to enrich the talent pool in Hong Kong. To promote the development of the digital economy in Hong Kong, PolyU has partnered with Cybaverse to set up Hong Kong’s first research laboratory on law and Web3. Ranked as the number one university for blockchain in the world by CoinDesk, PolyU has established the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology, the first research centre in Hong Kong that covers full-stack study of blockchain technology. In addition, PolyU places a strong emphasis on knowledge transfer, supporting researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship that are conducive to the Government’s new industrialisation efforts. The PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund supports the commercialisation of licensed PolyU technologies and high potential start-ups involving PolyU graduates and researchers. With the connection between the Mainland and Hong Kong deepening, PolyU will encourage scholars to visit and collaborate with different provinces and cities in the Mainland, and establish translational research institutes. These institutes will leverage PolyU’s research and translational capabilities to address local industry needs for transformation and upgrade, enhancing industrial innovation and promoting the integration of Hong Kong into the Nation’s development. PolyU is pleased about the additional funding to support the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation of PolyU conducts high-impact research with interdisciplinary expertise. To address the growing demand for healthcare professionals, the University is building a new academic facility in Ho Man Tin and plans to redevelop blocks VA and VS to expand healthcare-related teaching and research facilities.   *****END*****