News

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.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU COMP 2025

We are proud to announce that Ir WONG Chi Kwong, Tony, JP, has been awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Computing in 2025.   Ir WONG graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic, the University’s predecessor, in 1987 with a Higher Diploma in Systems Analysis, and has since dedicated over 35 years of distinguished service in various IT-related departments of the Hong Kong SAR Government.   As the current Commissioner for Digital Policy, Ir WONG leads the Digital Policy Office in formulating data-driven, user-centric, and outcome-based policies that accelerate the development of a digital government. His leadership enhances the efficiency and quality of public services, benefiting both citizens and businesses.   Ir WONG oversees key areas including digital government strategies, data governance, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the promotion of digital transformation across public services and industries. He also plays a pivotal role in closing the digital divide, fostering IT collaboration with the Mainland, especially within the Greater Bay Area, and supporting Hong Kong’s integration into national development.   PolyU takes great pride in its alumni’s remarkable achievements and contributions to their professions and the community. The Outstanding Alumni Award celebrates the university’s commitment to nurturing future leaders and innovators. This year’s awardees were selected through a rigorous process, and Ir WONG’s recognition is a testament to his enduring impact and professional excellence.

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.

Prof. LIU Yang Veronica Receives Prestigious Frontiers of Science Award at ICBS 2025

Prof. LIU Yang Veronica, our Associate Professor and Presidential Young Scholar, has been awarded the prestigious Frontiers of Science Award in the Theoretical Computer & Information Sciences category at the International Congress of Basic Science 2025 (ICBS 2025), held in Beijing from July 13 to July 25. This award recognises Prof. Liu’s outstanding academic contribution through the paper “Federated Machine Learning: Concept and Applications,” co-authored with Prof. YANG Qiang, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO), Director of PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (DoPAAI), Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence at PolyU; Mr Tianjian CHEN, UAV System Architect at Meituan; and Prof. TONG Yongxin, Professor of Computer Science at Beihang University.   The award-winning paper addresses two critical challenges in today’s artificial intelligence landscape: data isolation and increasing concerns over data privacy and security. The paper proposes a comprehensive secure federated learning framework that includes horizontal federated learning, vertical federated learning, and federated transfer learning. The work lays the foundation for building data networks that enable knowledge sharing across organisations without compromising user privacy.   The Frontiers of Science Award honours research works that have shown the highest scientific value and originality and have made an important impact in the respective area over the past decade. This year, 118 outstanding papers across three major fields, including mathematics (75 papers), physics (16 papers), and information science and engineering (27 papers), have been selected for the awards by a panel consisting of globally renowned scientists.

Prof. Yang Hongxia Secures Theme-based RGC Funding for Groundbreaking Collaborative Generative AI Project

Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and our Professor, has received a total of HK62.6 million funding from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Theme-based Research Scheme 2025/26 for her pioneering project, “Collaborative Generative AI (Co-GenAI).”   The project has been awarded a total of HK62.6 million in funding, with HK41.79 million provided by the RGC and the remaining matched by PolyU and other participating universities. This initiative is aimed at reshaping the landscape of GenAI in a decentralised way. The research holds significant potential to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global leader in GenAI development, with real-world applications in healthcare and technology.   Led by Prof. YANG, the Co-GenAI project seeks to establish a novel collaborative paradigm in Generative AI. By integrating several hundred domain-specific models, the team aims to develop a foundation model capable of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) with significantly reduced reliance on centralised computational resources. This innovative approach addresses the current limitations posed by GPU monopolies, paving the way for more inclusive and accessible AI development.   Co-GenAI is designed to foster cross-domain collaboration and enhance the versatility of GenAI platforms. Key objectives include building a domain-adaptive continual pre-training infrastructure, developing a robust and generalisable model ranking methodology, and implementing an advanced model with a fusion approach to merge heterogeneous top-ranked domain-specific models.   To evaluate the Co-GenAI, the research team will collaborate with industry partners such as Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Alibaba, and leading hospitals, including Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shandong Cancer Hospital, and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, by deploying the technology across a wide range of practical applications.   The RGC’s Theme-based Research Scheme aims to pool the research strengths of UGC-funded universities to address topics of strategic importance for Hong Kong’s long-term development. Projects are evaluated based on their potential to achieve world-leading standards and impact on Hong Kong.