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PolyU Launches InnoHK I-GET to Build Intelligent Grid for Carbon-Neutral Future

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has officially established the InnoHK Research Centre for Intelligent GRID and Energy Technologies (InnoHK I-GET). Joining “SEAM@InnoHK”, the third cluster under the HKSAR Government’s InnoHK platform, InnoHK I-GET is the only InnoHK initiative dedicated to power grid technology. Based in Hong Kong, the Centre brings together scientific and industrial strengths from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and international partners to advance research, validation, standard-setting, and industrialisation of smart grids, directly supporting national and local carbon neutrality goals. Rising electricity demand from AI data centres, electric vehicles, and renewable energy, combined with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, places severe pressure on traditional, one-way power grids. To tackle these urban energy challenges, InnoHK I-GET leverages AI and big data analytics to modernise grid infrastructure. The Centre focuses on four main research pillars: autonomous energy management technologies, green and intelligent grid interfaces, grid-friendly new energy transport, and emerging grid and energy technologies. Its cross-disciplinary work spans smart grids, electrified transportation, AI, power electronics, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies to ensure system resilience and reliability. The Centre is led by Director Prof. Chung Chi-yung, Head of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering, and Director of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation, alongside Co-Director Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) at King’s College London. InnoHK I-GET unites more than 70 professors globally and collaborates with institutions including King’s College London, Tsinghua University, Université Gustave Eiffel, National Technical University of Athens, Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research, University of Sheffield and Suzhou National Laboratory. Funded by the InnoHK research initiative and based at Hong Kong Science Park, InnoHK I-GET partners with 60 key industry leaders, including China Southern Power Grid Company, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, HK Electric, and Companhia de Electricidade de Macau – CEM, S.A.. To translate breakthroughs into practice, Director Prof. Chung Chi-yung outlined a clear commercialisation pipeline that begins with technology transfer at Hong Kong Science Park and progresses to pilot testing and production at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Northern Metropolis. Supported by Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure and international talent, the Centre aims to establish global industry standards and export Hong Kong’s energy innovations worldwide.

EEE Alumni Mr Kuok Hoi Sang and Dr Nie Yongquan Receive Faculty Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) is proud to announce that two of our distinguished graduates, Mr Kuok Hoi Sang and Dr Nie Yongquan, have received the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (OPAA) for Professional Achievement from PolyU Faculty of Engineering. This award recognises alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, industrial innovation, and significant contributions to society.   Mr Kuok Hoi Sang Chairman of Chevalier Group Higher Certificate in Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong Technical College (1972) Mr Kuok Hoi Sang joined the Chevalier Group in 1972 and rose to become its Chairman. Under his leadership, the company grew into a major multinational conglomerate operating across eight core business sectors, including engineering, construction, and healthcare, with a global workforce of over 6,000 employees. He drove industry innovation by leading the development of advanced construction systems, including modular footbridge systems, more efficient lift installation, and a patented hybrid building design for high-rise buildings. Beyond his corporate role, he shapes industry standards as the Life Honorary President of The Lift and Escalator Contractors Association and serves on government safety committees for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). Mr Kuok also regularly participates in EEE department events to share his career experience and mentor undergraduate students.   Dr Nie Yongquan Director of the Automation Division, Dispatching & Control Center, China Southern Power Grid (CSG) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2017), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr Nie Yongquan is a leading expert in power systems and grid automation. His work at CSG has advanced green energy technology and modern grid infrastructure. Dr Nie created a modern cloud-based system that enabled operators complete visibility and control over China’s power grid for the first time, overcoming the limits of older technology. He also designed China’s first Regional Frequency Regulation Ancillary Service Market system that manages over RMB 2.1 billion in annual transactions, serving as a model for national energy market reforms. Internationally, he led the technical development of the Laos National Dispatching Automation System and supported the China–Laos 500 kV cross-border interconnection, exporting Chinese power automation technology to Southeast Asia and enhancing regional energy security. Dr Nie holds 122 granted invention patents, led the creation of a national engineering standard, and won the prestigious National Science and Technology Progress Award (1st Prize).   The EEE Department warmly congratulates Mr Kuok and Dr Nie. Their achievements show how an engineering degree from PolyU translates into real-world innovation, leadership, and global impact. They stand as excellent role models for our current students.

EEE Student Sashenka GAMAGE Receives Bronze Award at ASMPT Technology Awards 2026

We are proud to share that our Head’s List student, Sashenka GAMAGE, together with her interdisciplinary team, has been awarded the Bronze Award at the ASMPT Technology Awards 2026 for their outstanding final year project “Intelligent UAV Systems for GNSS-based Remote Sensing on Vegetation.” Organised by ASMPT Limited, the ASMPT Technology Award is now in its 11th year and recognises outstanding final year projects in engineering and related fields from invited universities in Hong Kong. This year, 12 projects nominated by engineering or science schools and faculties from CityU, CUHK, HKBU, HKU, HKUST and PolyU competed for awards. Judging covered technical performance, project quality, creativity, originality, applicability and practicability. The same project also received the Best Project Award at the FENG Inter-departmental Final Year Projects 2025/26. Project Details: Project: Intelligent UAV Systems for GNSS-based Remote Sensing on Vegetation Chief Supervisor: Prof ZHANG Guohao (AAE) Co-supervisor: Prof HSU Li-Ta (AAE) EEE academic support: Prof HO Wang-Hei, Ivan Team Members: Sashenka GAMAGE (EEE) ZHOU Jiayi (AAE) Md Sahat MAHMUD (AAE) TAN Qing Lin (ME)   Congratulations to Sashenka and the entire team on this outstanding recognition!  

EEE Honoured with Two Accolades at PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2025

We are pleased to announce that the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) has been awarded two departmental accolades at the PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) 2025: Top Patents Filing Award (Honouring the top IP filing departments over 2022–2025) Most Active Patents Filing Award (Honouring the most active filing departments in 2025) The PolyU Patents Achievement Award celebrates academic departments and faculty members for exceptional commitment to knowledge transfer, intellectual property creation, and commercialisation impact.   These achievements highlight EEE’s sustained dedication to translating cutting-edge research into valuable intellectual property and real-world technology solutions.

Prof Liu Liang Elected to the Young Member Section of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering

We are pleased to announce that Prof Liu Liang, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), has been elected as a member of the Young Member Section (YMS) of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE). The YMS is a platform established by the HKAE to recognize and support outstanding engineering professionals under the age of 45 who have made significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology in Hong Kong. The section focuses on fostering professional growth, promoting innovation, and facilitating translational research. Prof Liu’s research focuses on wireless communications and networking, advanced signal processing and optimization techniques, and Internet-of-Things (IoT). His research excellence has been recognised through multiple IEEE best paper awards, distinction as IEEE Fellow and Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, and key editorial and lecturing roles within the IEEE. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof Liu on this recognition and look forward to his continued contributions to the Department and the wider engineering community.

CLP Power, GNPJVC and DNMC Senior Delegation Visits PolyU EEE to Exchange Insights on Award-Winning Inspection Robot

A senior delegation representing CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power), the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company, Limited (GNPJVC), and Daya Bay Nuclear Power Operations and Management Co., Ltd. (DNMC) visited the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at PolyU on 25 June 2026. This two-hour visit was part of the Q2 2026 GNPJVC and DNMC board itinerary. The exchange focused on exploring PolyU’s latest developments in intelligent technologies, as well as the deployment of the “Generator Inspection Robot” co-developed by CLP Power and PolyU and opportunities for future collaboration. The award-winning robot is designed to automatically complete major generator inspection work without the need to remove the generator rotor, enhancing both operational efficiency and workplace safety. The delegation was led by Mr. He Liuyi, the General Manager of DNMC. They were received and accompanied by Prof. Chung, Chi-yung, Head of the EEE Department, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering, and Founding Director of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation, alongside Prof. Tam Hwa-yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics and Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI). The delegation first toured the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) Smart Railway Research Laboratory and the Speciality Optical Fibre Fabrication Laboratory. Prof. Tam introduced the department’s research capabilities and recent achievements in smart technology and optical fibre fabrication. During the exchange session, Prof. Chung delivered an overview of the EEE Department, highlighting its research strengths and future vision. Following this, Mr. Yu Hon Sing, Senior Lead Engineer from CLP Power, explained the background and objectives of the “Generator Inspection Robot” project, emphasizing how the initiative enhances operational efficiency and workplace safety while maintaining power supply reliability. Prof. Tam then presented the technical highlights of the project, accompanied by a live demonstration of the robot in action. As a successful example of a university-industry partnership between PolyU and CLP Power, this 36‑mm‑thick intelligent robot can navigate the narrow air gaps inside power generators. It moves between the rotor and stator, crossing internal baffles to complete key inspections without removing the 50‑tonne rotor. Equipped with a fibre-optic sensing network, the robot monitors the condition of its mechanical components and performs health checks to ensure reliable performance. For its outstanding technological design, the project recently 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. This exchange highlighted the strong outcomes of the partnership between CLP Power and PolyU. The participating organizations expressed their commitment to deepening this collaboration, accelerating the translation of research into practical solutions, and driving new technological growth in the energy infrastructure reliability.

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.