News

Student awards at 2026 IEEE International Microwave Symposium Student Design Competitions

At the recently concluded 2026 IEEE MTT‑S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) , two students, namely Ruxuan Zhao and Yixuan Huang stood out among global competitors, winning second place and third place respectively in two highly competitive student design contests, bringing great honour to Hong Kong and PolyU. In the “SDC4: Allen Katz High‑Efficiency Power Amplifier (HEPA) Student Design Competition” , Ruxuan Zhao, PhD student secured Third Place with their exceptional amplifier design, outperforming numerous entries from around the world. This competition is one of the oldest and most fiercely contested student design events at IMS, aiming to explore advanced power amplifier topologies for next‑generation wireless communications. Simultaneously, in the “SDC5: High‑Efficiency Power Amplifier Design for 220 MHz” competition, Yixuan Huang, Undergraduate student claimed Second Place. The team achieved an excellent balance of efficiency and linearity at 220 MHz, further demonstrating their deep expertise in RF power amplifier design.

PolyU EEE Dragon Boat Team Wins Champion in Mixed Small Boat Gold Cup Final at Shatin Dragon Boat Race

The PolyU EEE Dragon Boat Team won the championship in the Mixed Small Boat Gold Cup Final at the Shatin Dragon Boat Race held on the Tuen Ng Festival, 19 June 2026. The team delivered a strong performance throughout the race and secured first place in the mixed small boat category. This achievement reflects the team’s commitment, teamwork, and preparation. Formed by EEE alumni, staff, and students, the team has participated in numerous local and international dragon boat races for over a decade. Through regular training and competitions, members improve their fitness, build teamwork, and strengthen connections between the Department and its alumni. Congratulations to all team members on this excellent result!

PhD Student Mr ZHU Lin Wins Champion at FENG 3MT® 2026

We are pleased to share that EEE PhD student Mr ZHU Lin won the Champion title at the Faculty of Engineering Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®) 2026, held on 4 June 2026. Before the Faculty-level competition, Mr ZHU was selected as one of the four department-level awardees. Building on that success, he delivered an outstanding performance at the Faculty competition and received the top award. At the competition, Mr ZHU presented his research topic, “Radio Maps: Seeing Invisible Signals,” in a clear and engaging three-minute talk. His achievement reflects both the quality of his research and his strong presentation skills. Mr ZHU is a PhD student supervised by Prof LIU Liang. His research focuses on 6G and AI. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, developed by the University of Queensland, Australia, celebrates the research of PhD students and helps them develop academic and research communication skills. It challenges participants to explain their work clearly in just three minutes for a non-specialist audience. Today, 3MT® is held in more than 900 universities across over 85 countries. Congratulations to Mr ZHU Lin on this excellent achievement!

EEE Student Miss Ng Ching Man Wins Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2026

We are pleased to announce that Miss Ng Ching Man, a Year 1 undergraduate student in the Information and Artificial Intelligence Engineering scheme, has been awarded the Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2026. The scholarship provides up to HK$150,000 to support her academic and professional development in advanced manufacturing and engineering. The Innovation and Technology Scholarship recognises outstanding undergraduates in science, technology, and engineering disciplines across Hong Kong. Competing in the Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Engineering category, Miss Ng successfully passed the final selection process with guidance from EEE Professor Chan Yui-Lam. The scholarship grant will fund a series of tailored development programmes designed to broaden her academic and professional horizons, including overseas or mainland exchange attachments, professional industry mentorships, and local community service initiatives designed to promote innovation and technology. The official Award Presentation Ceremony took place on 2 June 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event was officiated by Professor the Honourable Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. Professor Chan Yui-Lam attended the ceremony on behalf of the Department to congratulate Miss Ng on her achievement.

Tsinghua Visit to EEE Department

Following our last visit to Tsinghua University in March this year, on the May 4th 2026, the delegation of Tsinghua University led by Party Secretary of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong, visited PolyU to strengthen collaborations between the two institutions. During their visit, as witnessed by Party Secretary Qiu Yong and President Teng Jin-Guang, our Department signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on the Integrated Bachelor-PhD/MPhil Programme with Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electronic Engineering, and Weiyang College of Tsinghua University respectively. The MoU signing ceremony marks a significant milestone, as it represents the first time for the Departments of two institutions to sign such kind of collaborative MoUs. It signifies the beginning of deeper collaborations at the departmental level under the broader framework of university-wide partnership between the two institutions. We look forward to expanded engagement in the years ahead, with more joint initiatives among faculty members and enhanced opportunities for student exchange, admission and joint training.

Prof. LIU Ai-Qun Secures RAISe+ Scheme Funding for Miniature Quantum Chip Project

Professor Liu Ai-Qun, Director of the Research Institute for Quantum Technology, Chair Professor of Quantum Engineering and Science of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Hong Kong Global STEM Scholar, has been awarded funding support in the third round of the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme. Administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, the scheme supports projects with high potential for commercialisation and industry impact. The funded project, “New Generation of Miniature Quantum Chip with Embedded System for Cybersecurity,” addresses the growing vulnerability of traditional encryption methods in the face of potential quantum computing attacks. The project aims to develop a new generation of miniature quantum chips that integrate optical quantum components with classical electronics (ARM and FPGA) on a single chip, using CMOS fabrication to reduce size and cost. These chip-scale devices are designed to support high‑speed secure communication and enable easy integration into IoT devices, handheld devices, fibre‑optic networks, and data centres. The Department congratulates Prof. Liu on this important milestone and wishes him continued success in advancing quantum technology research and its real-world applications. For more details, refer to the full PolyU announcement.

Integrating Industry Experience and Academic Research to Empower the Grid | PolyU and OPAL-RT Joint Laboratory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony on 17 April 2026

The Research Centre for Grid Modernisation at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and OPAL-RT Technologies, a global leader in real-time digital simulation, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 April 2026 to establish a Joint Laboratory, marking the beginning of a strong collaborative partnership. This partnership combines PolyU's world-class academic strengths in power systems with OPAL-RT Technologies' industrial expertise in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation, advancing cutting-edge research and innovative applications in key areas such as power system stability and control, inverter-based resources, smart grid, and other next-generation power engineering technologies. The collaboration aims to drive the digital and intelligent transformation of grids and contribute to sustainable energy development in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and beyond. The signing ceremony was led by Professor C.Y. Chung, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering, and Director of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), together with Mr. Pierre‑François Allaire, Executive Vice‑President of OPAL‑RT Technologies. Mr. Weihua Wang, Director General of OPAL‑RT China, and other representatives from both organizations also attended the ceremony. During the ceremony, Prof. Chung highlighted that Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area are at a pivotal moment in energy transition and grid modernization, presenting substantial opportunities for both academic and industrial advancement. He noted that the partnership with OPAL-RT Technologies marks an important step in building a robust collaborative framework and expressed PolyU's eagerness to combine expertise from both sides to push the frontiers of real-time simulation and power engineering. Central to this partnership is the establishment of a Joint Laboratory, which will serve as a premier platform for research in areas including HIL simulation and high-fidelity electromagnetic transient modelling. Mr. Allaire remarked that PolyU's forward-looking research vision and world-class capabilities had been truly inspiring, and that the MoU represents more than a formal agreement; it signifies a shared commitment to deepening mutual understanding, exchanging networks, and jointly developing a research framework that will yield fruitful outcomes for both academia and industry. Looking ahead, the Joint Laboratory aims to build a high-level platform integrating advanced research, technology development, and talent cultivation. Moving forward, both parties will actively foster close interactions, leveraging this laboratory to explore new pathways for the high-quality development of the power and energy sectors. Ultimately, this enduring partnership will drive the next generation of zero-carbon, intelligent power grids and shape the future of sustainable energy landscapes  

Generator Inspection Robot by Prof. TAM Hwa-yaw and CLP Power Wins Top Honours at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

A smart “Generator Inspection Robot” co-developed by PolyU and CLP Power has won a Gold Medal and a special prize—Best International Invention & Innovation, from the National Research Council of Thailand—at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Led by Prof. Tam Hwa-yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics in the EEE department, the team designed a 36‑mm‑thick robot that can navigate the narrow air gaps inside power generators. It moves between the rotor and stator, crossing internal ventilation baffles to complete key inspections without removing the 50‑tonne rotor. The robot is fitted with a fiber‑optic sensing network that keeps track of its mechanical components’ condition – performing health checks to ensure reliable performance. The project took approximately five years and involved both researchers and undergraduate students. Prof. Tam founded the Engineering Entrepreneurship Club to give undergraduate students opportunities to engage in cutting‑edge robotics research and develop industry‑ready design solutions. Prof. Tam said, “This project combines PolyU’s research strength with CLP Power’s engineering expertise. Some team members have been involved since their freshman year, fully demonstrating the fruits of industry-academia-research collaboration.” Compared to traditional manual inspections, the robot improves inspection efficiency and supports longer‑term maintenance planning. Mr. Kevin Lau, CLP Power Senior Director of Generation, said, “The generator inspection robot helps enhance inspection efficiency and operational safety while supporting more forward-looking maintenance strategies. This strengthens the reliable operation of power generation facilities and deepens collaboration with academia, nurturing Hong Kong’s innovation and technology talent.” For more details on the technical specifications and project background, please visit the full PolyU Media Release.

Publication of an Engineering paper by Prof. Haitao Zhao’s research team in the field of Materials intelligence

A major leap for Materials Intelligence: Prof. Haitao Zhao’s team has published their latest breakthrough, 'Agentic Robotic Boxes for Perovskite Solar Cell Fabrication with Recipe Language Model,' in the April 2026 issue of Engineering. This research pioneers the use of AI and Robotics to revolutionize how we fabricate next-generation solar cells. Traditional materials research is often hindered by trial-and-error synthesis, where numerical datasets lack the semantic depth necessary for recipe optimization. To overcome this, we introduce a domain-specific Recipe Language Model (RLM) integrated with an innovative 'robotic box' platform, demonstrated through perovskite solar cell fabrication. This synergy enables a self-evolving AI-Robotics discovery loop, where specialized language modeling and modular hardware iteratively refine one another, marking a significant step forward in Physical AI for Materials Intelligence. This breakthrough further cements the global research leadership on Materials Intelligence of PolyU’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Research Centre for Materials Intelligent Manufacturing. This achievement is the result of an international collaboration involving world-class institutions, including the EPFL, the University of Oxford, PolyU–WIT Research Centre for Materials Intelligent Manufacturing, Wenzhou Institute of Technology (WIT), alongside specialized State Key Laboratories in Ultra-Precision Machining Technology, Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, and Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics. As the flagship journal of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Engineering has emerged as a premier interdisciplinary journal in the company of Nature and Science. The journal paper is available in Engineering at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.04.002

EEE PhD Student Awarded Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2025

We are pleased to share that our PhD student, Mr FAN Peixiao, has received the Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2025 award presented by the PolyU Graduate School. This award recognizes research students who demonstrate outstanding academic excellence and make a significant impact on their research communities. Mr Fan is one of only three PhD students across the university receiving this award this year. Under the supervision of Professor BU Siqi, Mr Fan’s research focuses on enhancing the joint resilience of coupled power-transportation systems guided by a human-centric vision. His work drives future mobility toward carbon neutrality through sustainable transportation electrification. His research areas include coupling mechanism analysis, cross-system risk assessment, and resilience enhancement for power-transportation systems. The Department congratulates Mr Fan on this achievement. We are proud to see our research students gaining recognition at the University level and making a strong impact in their fields. For more details, please visit the PolyU Graduate School announcement: Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2025