News

Commissioner for Digital Policy Ir Tony WONG Delivered Inspiring Talk at COMP Alumni Homecoming Dinner 2025

The COMP Alumni Homecoming Dinner 2025 was held on 13 June 2025 at U.Green Restaurant, bringing together over 110 alumni, staff, and graduates for an evening of celebration, networking, and inspiration.   The event began with a warm opening from Prof. Henry CHAN, Associate Professor and Associate Head (Partnership & Collaboration) of COMP, and a welcome speech by Ms Wanze LI, Assistant Director of the PolyU Alumni Affairs Office. Both expressed their gratitude for alumni engagement and the enduring bonds within the COMP community.   A highlight of the evening was the Distinguished Alumni Talk delivered by Ir Tony WONG, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy, The Government of the HKSAR. In his talk, "Digital Policy in Action," Ir WONG introduced the mission of the Digital Policy Office, shared insights into key IT projects led by the government, and discussed how digital policies drive industry development and collaboration with the Mainland.   Guests were also inspired by a Dinner Talk from our Outstanding Young Alumni Awardee 2024, Ms Bianca HO, Director of Information Technology (Global) at Swire Hotels Group. In her presentation, "From PolyU to Global IT Leadership: A Journey of Impact and Service," Ms HO shared her career experience and commitment to social service, encouraging attendees to pursue both professional excellence and community contribution.   The evening was further enlivened by vibrant singing performances from staff and alumni, with special appearances by the Hong Kong Vocal Society, delivering a highly professional performance, and the iCare Foundation, which shared an innovative AI-composed song. These performances added a festive and memorable touch to the gathering.   The COMP Alumni Homecoming Dinner was a resounding success, strengthening connections among alumni and celebrating the achievements and contributions of the COMP community. We look forward to seeing everyone again at future alumni events!

Call for Nominations: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Computing 2025

The Department of Computing (COMP) is pleased to announce that the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (OPAA) of PolyU Department of Computing 2025 is now calling for nominations until 25 July 2025 (Friday).   The departmental OPAA aims to publicly recognise outstanding graduates of COMP for their professional achievements and significant contributions to the community and their alma mater. The departmental awardees will be officially honoured by the department and will be nominated for the Faculty Awards.   Award Categories and Selection Criteria There are three achievement categories, namely “Professional Achievement”, “Entrepreneurial Achievement” and  “Scholarly Achievement”. Selection is based on the nominee’s accomplishments in his/her personal achievements in the field, contributions to the community, and support and contributions to PolyU. A candidate who is aged at/under 40 in the award selection year would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a bona fide graduate who has successfully completed the full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, Hong Kong Polytechnic) which led to academic award accredited by the respective Institution.   The proposer can be a PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff, current PolyU Council and Court member and current Advisory Committee member. There is no limit to the number of nominations to be submitted by each proposer. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/ herself.   Panel of Judges and Result Announcement Selection for the Department Award will be conducted by August 2025. A panel of judges, comprising both internal and external members, will be formed to examine the nominations and assess candidates’ qualifications and performance for the awards. The result will be announced on our website and social media platforms.   Nomination Please return the completed nomination form to comp.marketing@polyu.edu.hk with all required supplementary documents on or before 25 July 2025. Download Nomination Form Enquiries Department of Computing The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: comp.marketing@polyu.edu.hk

COMP Best Project Award Competition 2025

The Best Project Award Competition 2025 reached its finale last Saturday, featuring a remarkable selection of Capstone Projects presented by ten exemplary students. This year’s finalists were assessed by an esteemed judging panel that included both academic experts and industry professionals:   Ms Chris CHAN, Assistant Director, Incubation, Startup Ecosystem, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Mr Terence LEUNG, Digital Entertainment Cluster Lead, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited Prof. Amelia LI, Assistant Professor, COMP PolyU Mr Edwin TAM, Managing Director, InfoTech Services (Hong Kong) Limited Prof. Yuanqing ZHENG, Associate Professor, COMP PolyU   (In alphabetical order of surnames)   Each contestant was allotted 15 minutes to introduce their project, demonstrate its features, and respond to questions from the judges. The panel commended the participants for their thorough research, innovative approaches, and the high standard of execution and assessment evident in their work. The students also impressed judges with their strong communication and presentation abilities.   Following a comprehensive review, the judges announced the winners of this year’s awards. Alongside the coveted Best Project Awards, two students were also honoured with the InfoTech Job Market Driven Scholarship, in recognition of their projects’ alignment with current industry demands and the valuable skills demonstrated.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients for their outstanding accomplishments and creative Capstone Projects. Their dedication and ingenuity are truly remarkable!   Award Awardee Project Title Champion ZHANG Wengyu Multi-Level Drug Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification via Deep Learning 1st runner-up CHEN Ru Bing Towards Knowledge Pyramid Construction of Large Language Models: A Case Study For Smart Education 2nd runner-up NIYITEGEKA Berwa Aime Noel Improving Cross-Device Usability of Password Managers Merit HUANG Yidan Real-Time Speech-to-Text Translation Demo Development ZHANG Haolin System-on-Chip Client-Server Single-Core-Equivalence (SoCCS SCE) InfoTech Job Market Driven Scholarship HUNG Wai Hin Learning Anti-Money Laundering Through Interactive Simulation LAM Pui Wa Web-Based Anti-Cheat Quiz System for Mobile and Desktop

Prof. YANG Hongxia Named Top 50 Women in Web3 & AI by CoinDesk

We are proud to announce that our professor, Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, has been named in CoinDesk's inaugural Top Women in Web3 & AI list. This prestigious list highlights 50 influential women driving innovation and ethical frameworks in the rapidly evolving fields of crypto and artificial intelligence.   Prof. Yang, a former leading AI scientist at Alibaba and ByteDance, is at the forefront of groundbreaking research at PolyU. She champions a decentralised approach to AI, developing the "Model-over-Models" paradigm (InfiFusion), which aims to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of large language models. Her innovative contributions are set to democratize AI development, bridging the gap between advanced technology and practical applications across various industries, including healthcare and finance.   CoinDesk's selection process involved a diverse panel of judges and over 300 nominations, emphasising a balance of innovation, relevancy, and influence. This initiative showcases leaders in blockchain finance and AI ethics while underscoring the importance of diverse expertise in technology development. For more details about CoinDesk's selection process and to view the full list, please visit here.  

Prof. LIN Wanyu Awarded the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award 2025

We are delighted to announce that our Assistant Professor, Prof. LIN Wanyu, has been awarded the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2025. Out of 70 submissions from across all schools and faculties, six awardees were selected, highlighting the outstanding contributions of our young faculty members. This prestigious award recognises originality and significant advancements in research aimed at addressing global challenges.   Prof. Lin's research focuses on developing "An Interpretable Deep Learning-Based Computational Framework for Crystal Materials Design." This innovative work exemplifies the originality and potential that the YIRA seeks to honour.   Each awardee will receive HK$500,000 in research funding and a personal cash prize of HK$20,000 to support their innovative research efforts.   Congratulations to Prof. Lin and all the YIRA 2025 awardees! We look forward to witnessing the continued excellence of their research endeavours.  

PolyU hosts flagship IEEE ICDE 2025, gathering data engineering experts from around the globe to inject new vitality into Hong Kong I&T ecosystems

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the41st IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering(ICDE) from 19 to 23 May. A premier academic event in the field of data science and engineering, theConference brought together nearly 900 leading scholars, industry experts and researchers from around the globe to explore cutting-edge topics, advancing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), big data and otheremerging technologies in the field. The five-day conference featured a series of events sparking discussion and fostering exchanges among participants, including keynote speeches, thematic panels, academic paper presentations, doctoral student seminars, poster sessions, special lectures and workshops. Hosted by representatives from academia and industry, these events shed light on a range of timely issues and current topics such as data management, data mining, data visualisation and AI. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, delivered a warm welcoming address at the opening ceremony, highlighting the increasing global interest in data science, data engineering and AI. He emphasised PolyU’s positioning as an innovative world-class university and its commitment to meeting the evolving demands of society. The University has integrated compulsory AI education into the undergraduate curriculum and established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences earlier this year. He also introduced the newly established PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, which is under the leadership of a prestigious scholar with extensive industrial experience and will further promote AI research and applications. Threeinternationally renowned scholars,Prof. Amr El ABBADI,Distinguished Professor of the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara;Prof. Guoliang LI, Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University; andProf. Evaggelia PITOURA,Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Ioannina, Greece, delivered keynote speeches at the Conference. They focused on significant facets of data engineering and discussedemergingtopics including stream summarisation for big data analytics, the integration of large language models in data analytics systems and responsible AI. Supportedby theHong Kong Tourism Boardas well as a number of world-leading enterprises, includingHuawei,Alibaba Cloud,Baidu AI Cloud,ByteDance,Tencent Cloud,OceanBaseandUniCom, theConferencepromoted innovative application of data science and AI technologies by fostering collaboration among industry, academia and research agencies in diversified forms. It also deepened international academic cooperation and injected vitality into local technological innovation ecosystem, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub. To ensure academic quality, the Organisation Committee comprised outstanding academics and industry experts from around the world. Among them were several scholars from PolyU, includingProf. LI Qing, Chair Professor of Data Science and Head of the Department of Computing, who served as the Co-Chair to oversee the overall organisation of the event;Prof. HUA Wen,Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences,who supervised the paper review process;Prof. FAN Wenqi, Assistant Professor of the Department ofComputing,who was in charge of local arrangements;Prof. HUANG Xiao, Assistant Professor of the Department ofComputing,who managed the doctoral consortium; andDr Alexander ZHOU, Research Assistant Professor of the Department ofComputing,who was responsible for paper publication and agenda management. Since its inception in 1984, ICDE has been a flagship academic event in the global data science and engineering field, dedicated to advancing the frontier theories and practical applications of data management technologies. It has witnessed the era transition from relational databases to cloud-native technologies, and continuously led data-driven innovations globally. For more information about ICDE 2025, pleasevisit:https://ieee-icde.org/2025/  

Award Presentation Ceremony Celebrates Innovative Solutions for Disabled Learners Using Apple Vision Pro

The Department of Computing (COMP) proudly hosted the Award Presentation Ceremony for the "Case-based Competition on Helping Disabled Learners Using Apple Vision Pro" on 10 April 2025. This competition aimed to guide students through a case-based approach to solving real-life problems in collaboration with relevant organizations. In particular, students are encouraged and guided to explore innovative functions and accessibility features of Vision Pro (e.g., eye tracking) to help disabled learners in collaboration with Octopus InfoTech founded by an alumnus of COMP.   The event was honoured by the presence of Ir Professor T.K. Tsui, Outstanding Polytechnic Alumnus and Senior Advisor to the President, and Prof. Raymond Sze, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences. Prof. Sze expressed heartfelt gratitude to the sponsor, the 'Au Bak Ling Charity Trust,' and other supporters, including the Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre and Octopus InfoTech, for their invaluable contributions.   Ms Angela Au, Executive Director of the Au Bak Ling Charity Trust, commended the participating students for their dedication and congratulated the winners. She emphasized the importance of nurturing young individuals with empathy and social responsibility, describing them as the assets and hope of our future.   Mr Jimmy Fung, representative of the Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre, was impressed by the students' work. He remarked that the applications have the potential to benefit students with disabilities.   Prof. Henry Chan, Associate Head (Partnership & Collaboration) of Department of Computing and Project Initiator of the Competition, highlighted the importance of student learning from diverse perspectives. He encouraged them to view the competition as a platform to apply their learning in service to the community.   The judging criteria focused on application features, usability, innovation, and presentation. The winners were announced as follows:   First Prize Team: Vision Pro Pro Project title: VisionLearn Name: Vincent Deng Chun Yung, Niyitegeka Berwa Aime Noel   Second Prize Team: Ready Player One Project title: Mathion: Unlocking Multimodal Math for Everyone Name: Zitong Shen, Wenchang Chai, Zirui Kong   Third Prize Team: Cold 0T Project title: EyeCanLearn Name: Lam Kin Wing, Lam Chi Kin, Yue Wing Cheuk   Certificate of Merit Team: KType Project title: Math Typing Assistance Awardees: Huang Jingbo, Li Hauyin, Min Zeyu   PolyU extends its gratitude to all supporters and is committed to continuing this competition, providing more students with opportunities to showcase their observational and problem-solving skills to assist those in need.

Prof. Grace NGAI Wins Silver Medal at the 50th Geneva Inventions Expo

We are proud to announce that our Associate Professor, Prof. Grace NGAI, has been awarded a Silver Medal at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). This annual event is renowned for showcasing groundbreaking inventions from around the world, and PolyU's impressive haul of 36 accolades underscores the University's dedication to pioneering research and innovation on a global scale.   In collaboration with Prof. DO Chi Wai, Associate Professor of the School of Optometry, Prof. NGAI received the Silver Medal for their innovative project: STARS - Smartphone AI Refraction System. This invention represents a significant advancement in the field of vision care, offering an AI-powered smart system designed for the early detection and simplified monitoring of myopia, lazy eye risks, and strabismus in children.   STARS revolutionises traditional eye exams, which typically require professional training and expensive instruments, by providing a compact and user-friendly solution. Its multi-lingual interface makes vision screenings accessible to all, particularly benefiting individuals in remote and developing regions with limited access to eye care.   Developed and patented by PolyU, STARS leverages advanced AI algorithms that are continuously optimised using large data sets. The system becomes increasingly precise through deep learning. The AI-assisted photorefraction technology ensures precision and user comfort, drawing on more than 30,000 real-life clinical eye profiles to deliver quick and accurate assessments.

Prof. Allen AU Honored with Prestigious HKEST Award 2024-25

Prof. AU Man Ho Allen, our Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development), has been named one of six recipients of the Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award 2024-25 from the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE). This accolade recognises his outstanding contributions to the fields of cybersecurity, cryptography, and blockchain innovation.   Upon receiving the award, Prof. Au expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am deeply honoured to receive the HKEST Award. This recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the incredible support I have received from my colleagues, students, and collaborators. I am especially thankful to PolyU for its continued support and the collaborative environment that has enabled my work to thrive."   Prof. Au's research focuses on applied cryptography and blockchain technology, aiming to develop practical, secure, and privacy-preserving solutions for the Web3 ecosystem and the digital economy. He highlighted the significance of applied cryptography in today’s digital economy, particularly in fields such as FinTech and privacy-enhancing technologies.   He further remarked, "I hope this recognition will inspire greater collaboration across academia and industry and encourage our students and early-career researchers to pursue meaningful, high-impact innovation in engineering and technology."   Established in 2022 by HKAE and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the annual HKEST Award honours young scientists and engineers demonstrating exceptional talent and impact in Hong Kong’s engineering and technology sectors. It supports the government’s mission to strengthen innovation ecosystems and cultivate local talent.   For more information about the HKEST Award and its impact on the engineering community, please visit the HKAE’s website.

Innovative Solutions by COMP Student and Alumnus Earn Awards at the 10th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

We are proud to announce that two of our talented students have excelled in the 10th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, organised by the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association. Second Prize (Information Technology) Project: Cloud Nursing Wise Home BioRadar-based Smart Elderly Eco Service Platform for the Elderly Team Members: XIANG Muze (COMP Year 3 students), HE Boyan, QIAN Junbo, GUO Boyu, and WU Yutin This innovative project addresses the challenges posed by China's ageing population. The team developed a non-contact millimeter-wave radar system aimed at enhancing elderly care. Key features include sleep monitoring, fall detection, and activity tracking, all designed to improve safety, privacy, and the quality of care in home-based settings.   Third Prize (Information Technology) Project: Present AR Team Members: MA Po Hin (COMP Alumnus) and WONG Chik On PresentAR is an innovative solution that leverages Augmented Reality (AR) to elevate presentations. By integrating AR elements, the tool makes presentations more engaging, promoting active listening among audiences. Our research indicates that presentations delivered with PresentAR significantly enhance presentation skills and increase the effective use of body language.