News

Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2025

We are proud to announce that three distinguished members of our department have been recognised with the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2025, presented by the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences (FCMS), celebrating their exceptional contributions in teaching and research.   Award Recipients: Prof. AU Man Ho Allen, Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development) Individual Award in Research and Scholarly Activities Prof. AU is internationally renowned for his research in information security, applied cryptography, and blockchain technologies, with impactful applications in FinTech, Web3, and digital identity. His accolades include the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, multiple Best Paper Awards, and two consecutive ZPrize wins. He also serves as a founding member of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Expert Group, contributing to the development of privacy-preserving digital currencies.   Prof. FAN Wenqi, Assistant Professor Individual Award in Research and Scholarly Activities under “Early Career Researcher” subcategory Prof. FAN’s research focuses on machine learning and data mining, particularly in recommender systems (RecSys), graph neural networks (GNNs), and adversarial attacks. He received the AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Honorable Mention (2022 - 2025), and was named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists (2023 - 2025) by Stanford University and Elsevier.   Dr Aquil MOHAMMED, Senior Lecturer Individual Award in Teaching under “Early Career Teacher” subcategory Dr MOHAMMED brings a rich interdisciplinary background to his teaching and research, with expertise in robotics—from surgical applications to construction automation. His work also spans underwater communications, embedded systems, neural network modelling, machine learning, deep learning, optimisation, big data analytics, etc. He has secured over HK$1M+ in industrial awards and start-up funding, demonstrating his strength in both hardware and software development for real-world societal applications. The winners of the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement were selected by a Faculty Assessment Panel, which includes Heads of Unit and is chaired by the Interim Dean of FCMS, from amongst a pool of well-qualified nominees put forward by individual departments under FCMS.

Prof. Andy Chun Appointed as a Member of Advisory Committee on Development of International Aviation Superhub

We are proud to announce that Prof. Andy Chun, our Professor of Practice, has been appointed by the HKSAR Government as a member of the newly established Advisory Committee on Development of International Aviation Superhub (ACDIAS).   The ACDIAS, chaired by Ms Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, brings together distinguished leaders from aviation, finance, technology, logistics, academia, and tourism. The Committee will play a pivotal role in shaping Hong Kong’s aviation future, providing strategic guidance on aviation policy, the development of Airport City, and the integration of the Three-Runway System (3RS) with surrounding infrastructure and civil aviation initiatives.   Prof. Chun’s expertise in artificial intelligence will contribute to the Committee’s mission of positioning Hong Kong as a technology-driven, globally connected aviation superhub. This appointment comes at a defining moment, as China’s National 14th Five-Year Plan reaffirms Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.   We congratulate Prof. Chun on this prestigious appointment and look forward to his contributions in advancing Hong Kong’s leadership in global aviation.   Please click here for more details about the ACDIAS.

17 COMP Academic Staff Recognised Among World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025 by Stanford University and Elsevier

We are proud to announce that 17 of our academic staff have been named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025, as compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. This prestigious recognition highlights the outstanding research achievements and global impact of COMP scholars across a wide range of computing disciplines.   The Stanford University list identifies the world’s leading researchers, representing approximately 2% of all scientists worldwide. The selection is based on a composite indicator (c-score) that incorporates standardised data on citations, h-index, and other bibliometric indicators, with and without self-citations. Researchers are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields, drawn from Scopus data provided by Elsevier through the ICSR Lab.   The following COMP academic staff have been recognised (in alphabetical order of surnames): Name Position Prof. AU Man Ho Allen Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development) Prof. CAO Jiannong Vice President (Education), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing Prof. CHEN Changwen Interim Dean of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Chair Professor of Visual Computing Prof. CHENG Ran Associate Professor, Presidential Young Scholar Prof. FAN Wenqi Assistant Professor Prof. HUANG Xiao Assistant Professor Prof. LI Ping Assistant Professor Prof. LI Qing Chair Professor of Data Science and Head of COMP Prof. LIU Yan Associate Professor Prof. LUO Xiapu Daniel Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Prof. WU Yujie Assistant Professor, Presidential Young Scholar Prof. XIAO Bin Professor Prof. YANG Bo Assistant Professor Prof. YANG Hongxia Executive Director of PAAI, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Prof. ZHANG Lei Chair Professor of Computer Vision and Image Analysis Prof. ZHENG Yuanqing Associate Professor Prof. ZHOU Kai Assistant Professor   Congratulations to all the recognised staff for their remarkable accomplishments and their continued dedication to advancing knowledge and technology for the benefit of society.

COMP Showcases Digitalising Cultural Heritage Project with Metaverse and AI Innovation to the Financial Secretary at DELF 2025

COMP proudly participated as a Pioneering Innovation Partner at the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF) 2025, organised by Cyberport from 12 to 14 September 2025. The event attracted over 3,800 participants from business, academia, and the wider community, providing a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas and showcasing cutting-edge technologies.   During the morning session on 12 Sep, the COMP booth was honoured by the visit of Mr Paul CHAN, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR. During his visit, COMP presented three outstanding student-led projects, demonstrating the department’s commitment to harnessing AI, virtual reality, and the metaverse for impactful real-world applications: A Creative System of Chinese Shadow Puppetry in the Metaverse of Intangible Cultural Heritage The Creative System of Chinese Shadow Puppetry in the Metaverse offers a unique VR experience where users control virtual puppets mirrored by robotic arms. Utilising advanced gesture recognition, it preserves traditional Chinese culture while providing real-time synchronised feedback, enhancing immersion and engagement for users of all ages in an interactive virtual environment. Clinical Conversation Training System The Clinical Conversation Training System is an immersive platform designed to enhance medical communication skills through realistic patient dialogue scenarios. Using Scenario-based QA and Instruction Prompting, it helps users build effective responses in high-pressure settings. A Cantonese language calibration ensures cultural and linguistic accuracy. Leveraging the Metaverse, it offers authentic, accessible training without hardware constraints and supports many concurrent users with a stable, extensible backend. Developing a Human-Centered Framework for Engaging Experiences in Meta-Football  This work develops a human-centred AI system that analyses amateur football videos to match players’ styles with professional stars using multi-model deep learning. It generates personalised digital star cards via generative AI, offering an engaging, interactive experience. The web-based platform emphasises accuracy, usability, and scalability, supporting sports training, entertainment, and social interaction with future AR/VR integration plans.   In the afternoon of 12 Sep, Prof. Peter NG, Assistant Professor and Dr Jeff TANG, Lecturer, delivered an insightful talk session titled “Metaverse Technology Applications in Culture and Tourism.” The talk explored the evolution of culture and tourism technologies within the metaverse, highlighting the transformative roles of AI and virtual reality. The discussion addressed current practices, emerging possibilities, and the ways these technologies are reshaping experiences for users, creators, and organisations. The session also featured the showcased student projects, illustrating how COMP’s innovations are inspiring new career pathways and accelerating industry growth for future professionals.  

Dual Championship Wins at AIREA International Competition on AI in Education 2025

We are proud to announce that two of our outstanding project teams have won the Champion Award in their respective categories at the AIREA International Competition on Artificial Intelligence in Education 2025, co-organised by The Education University of Hong Kong and the Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance.   Champion – Higher Education Category (Stream 2) Project: K-CUBE PET: Knowledge Graph Personalized Engagement Tutor for Immersive Teaching and Learning PI: Prof. LI Qing, Chair Professor of Data Science and Head of COMP Key Team Members (in alphabetical order): Prof. George BACIU, Senior Project Fellow, COMP; Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing, Director of RIAIoT; Prof. HUANG Xiao, Assistant Professor, COMP; Prof. LI Chen Richard, Assistant Professor, COMP & APSS; Prof. NG Hiu Fung Peter, Assistant Professor, COMP & RS; Dr SIN Ping Tat Zackary, Research Assistant Professor, COMP; The team developed K-CUBE PET, an immersive Edu-Metaverse platform. Utilising VR/AR and a 3D LLM avatar, the system enhances curriculum management, study planning, and career advising for university students. The platform is intended for use at the Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, to support both students and instructors in visualising and navigating the Computer Science curriculum.   Champion – Open Category (Stream 3) Project: Enhance social and emotional learning of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder through a gamified interactive virtual community of generative agents (ESAIAS) PI: Prof. LI Chen Richard, Assistant Professor, COMP & APSS Team Members (in alphabetical order): Mr ARCHER Daniel Andrew, Research Associate, COMP; Ms GAO Wujie, Research Assistant, APSS; Mr LUO Dongpu, Alumnus, COMP; Mr MA Hongming, Alumnus, AMA; Mr ZHANG Fu, PhD student, COMP A collaborative effort between COMP and APSS, ESAIAS leverages generative AI to support social and emotional learning (SEL) for adolescents on the autism spectrum. The platform simulates a virtual school community where students interact with AI agents in realistic scenarios, promoting skills such as emotional regulation, collaboration, and decision-making. Designed with input from educators and mental health professionals, ESAIAS offers a scalable, inclusive, and anxiety-reducing learning environment.

Prof. Allen AU Elected to the Young Member Section of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering 2025

We are proud to announce that Prof. AU Man Ho Allen, Professor and Associate Head (Research & Development), has been elected as a member of the Young Member Section (YMS) of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) for the year 2025. The YMS is a prestigious platform that recognises and empowers young engineering professionals under the age of 45 who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the advancement of engineering and science in Hong Kong. Members are entrusted with promoting innovation, fostering academic-industry collaboration, and driving public engagement in engineering. Prof. AU is internationally renowned for his research in information security, applied cryptography, and blockchain technologies, with impactful applications in FinTech, Web3, and digital identity. His accolades include the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, multiple Best Paper Awards, and two consecutive ZPrize wins. He also serves as a founding member of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Expert Group, contributing to privacy-preserving digital currency development. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. AU on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to his continued leadership and contributions to the engineering community.

Prof. YANG Qiang and Prof. LIU Yang Veronica's Paper Wins Runner Up for Best Paper at KDD 2025

We are delighted to announce that Prof. YANG Qiang, our Affiliated Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence, and Prof. LIU Yang Veronica, our Associate Professor, together with their co-authors from various institutions, have received the Runner Up for the Best Paper in the Dataset and Benchmark Track at the prestigious ACM SIGKDD 2025 Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, held in Toronto, Canada, from 3-7 August, 2025.   About the Winning Paper: Title: HtFLlib: A Comprehensive Heterogeneous Federated Learning Library and Benchmark Authors: Jianqing Zhang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Xinghao Wu (Peking University), Yanbing Zhou (Chongqing University), Xiaoting Sun (Tongji University), Qiqi Cai (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Yang Liu (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Yang Hua (Queen’s University Belfast), Zhenzhe Zheng (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Jian Cao (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Qiang Yang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) As AI developing for many years, institutions already have built their specific models with heterogeneous model architectures for specific local tasks. Collaboration among heterogeneous models helps overcome data scarcity by enabling knowledge transfer across institutions and devices. Heterogeneous Federated Learning (HtFL) has emerged as a rapidly growing research area that allows participants to collaborate using their heterogeneous models, broadening the scope of traditional FL and fostering wider participation. This paper introduces the first Heterogeneous Federated Learning Library (HtFLlib), an easy-to-use and extensible framework that integrates multiple datasets and model heterogeneity scenarios, featuring 40 heterogeneous model architectures and 12 datasets and offering a robust benchmark for research and practical applications. Click here to read the paper. Click here to know more about the project.   About KDD The ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD) is the premier international forum for data science, machine learning, and AI researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government. It provides a platform to share cutting-edge research, innovative applications, and real-world experiences.

BlockSec Blockchain Security Award Presentation Ceremony 2024/2025

The BlockSec Blockchain Security Award Presentation Ceremony 2024/2025, organised by COMP, took place on 25 July 2025. Generously funded by BlockSec, this recognition celebrates the remarkable achievements of students in the MSc in Blockchain Technology programme. The award honours those who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the COMP5566 Blockchain and Smart Contract Security course.   Prof. Yajin ZHOU, co-founder and CEO of BlockSec, took the opportunity to emphasise BlockSec’s vision, stating, “At BlockSec, we believe that blockchain security is fundamental to the future of Web3. That’s why we’re not only building advanced security technologies—but also investing in the next generation of talents.” BlockSec, established in 2021, is a global leader in blockchain security infrastructure, driving innovation through both advanced research and talent development.   Prof. Man Lung Ken YIU, Professor and Associate Head (Teaching and Learning) of COMP, reiterated the Department’s longstanding commitment to pioneering technologies, excellence in teaching, and fostering visionary technologists who can shape the future for the benefit of society. Prof. Daniel Xiapu LUO, Professor, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Programme Leader of MSc in Blockchain Technology highlighted the invaluable opportunities offered through industry partnerships, equipping students with a solid academic foundation and essential practical experience.   In a heartfelt moment, two awardees, SHAO Yuning and DU Jiahao, shared their journeys: SHAO Yuning spoke of his transition from undergraduate studies in cyberspace security to leading 0xU, the largest blockchain student community in Hong Kong. He credited the supportive academic environment and inspiring peers for nurturing his passion for blockchain, and he expressed gratitude for BlockSec’s financial and professional support, which has motivated him to pursue academic and professional goals confidently.   DU Jiahao reflected on his rapid growth from a blockchain newcomer to a dedicated advocate for blockchain security. He highlighted the importance of teamwork, mentorship from professors, and the encouragement to always strive for more. Jiahao stressed that, “Blockchain security is the foundation of the entire industry,” and he looks forward to contributing to a safer blockchain ecosystem. COMP expresses sincerest congratulations to all recipients of the BlockSec Blockchain Security Award. Their talent, perseverance, and passion inspire their peers and shape the future of blockchain technology. PolyU remains committed to delivering a curriculum that merges technological expertise with real-world applications, encouraging students to innovate, lead, and serve the community.   BlockSec’s unwavering support continues to foster new talents and innovation in blockchain security. The Department looks forward to further collaboration as the field progresses.

Prof. LUO Xiapu’s Team Wins Prestigious Best Practical Paper Award at Cybersecurity Award 2025 by SpringerOpen

A team consisting of our academic staff and PhD students has been selected as the winner of the “Best Practical Paper” in the Cybersecurity Award 2025. This annual award, presented by the journal Cybersecurity (SpringerOpen), recognises research papers that demonstrate outstanding and groundbreaking contributions to the field of cybersecurity.   The winning paper, titled "DoubleUp Roll: Double-spending in Arbitrum by Rolling It Back," was presented at the 2024 ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS '24). The authors of the paper include: Mr Zhiyuan SUN (COMP PhD Student) Dr Zihao LI (COMP Postdoctoral Fellow) Mr Xinghao PENG (COMP PhD Student) Prof. Xiapu LUO (Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; COMP Professor) Dr Muhui JIANG (COMP PhD Graduate) Dr Hao ZHOU (COMP Research Assistant Professor) Prof. Yinqian ZHANG (Southern University of Science and Technology)   This research paper identifies critical vulnerabilities in widely-used optimistic rollup protocols, specifically Arbitrum and Optimism. It reveals three novel double-spending attacks, including overtime attack, queuecut attack, and zip-bomb attack, which could allow attackers to steal funds from cross-chain applications at no cost. These severe vulnerabilities were promptly reported to the Arbitrum and Optimism teams, who recognised the contributions with significant bug bounties and resolved the issues. This research prevented potential damages that could have escalated to billions.   Congratulations to our outstanding team for their remarkable achievement and for making a significant impact on the security of blockchain technologies!   For more information about the award, please click here. To read the winning paper, please click here.

COMP MSc in Metaverse Technology Students Crowned Champions at Metaverse Contest 2024/25

We are proud to announce the outstanding achievements of our MSc in Metaverse Technology (MScMT) students at the Metaverse Contest 2024/25, hosted by the Pao Yue-Kong Library. The award presentation ceremony was held on 16 July 2025 at i-Space, where seven teams were recognised for their innovative contributions to the field of immersive virtual experience.   This year’s contest, supported by COMP, provided PolyU and CPCE students with a platform to showcase their creativity and technical prowess in utilising the Metaverse. Participants were challenged to design and implement captivating virtual worlds that revolutionise the way we interact, study, and learn, with a focus on Web 3.0 principles such as Spatial Computing, Blockchain, and AI-generated content.   COMP Awardees Champion Project: A Creative System of Chinese Shadow Puppetry in the Metaverse of Intangible Cultural Heritage Team Members: ZHAN Zhuoyuan, SHI Zhikang, BAO Tianyi, JIANG ShaoboSupervisors: Dr Jeff TANG (Lecturer, COMP) and Prof. Anthony KONG (Assistant Professor, PolyU School of Design)   Commendation Award Project: Immersive Hangzhou River Experience: A VR Journey Through 3D Scanning and Digital Interaction      Team Members: LIAO Caijun, CUI Yilin, LI Junde, ZENG XiangyueSupervisor: Prof. Peter NG (Assistant Professor, COMP)   Project: Immersive Medical Dialogue Training in the Metaverse Team Members: CHEN Jiahan, SHI Yufei, LIANG Haopeng, LIAO Binyu  Supervisor: Prof. LIU Yan Fiona (Associate Professor) These achievements highlight the talent and dedication of COMP students in advancing the frontiers of Metaverse applications. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and look forward to their continued success in future technological innovations.