News

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

Research Centre “I-GET” Led by Professor Chi Yung Chung Approved under InnoHK with Over HKD 300 Million Funding

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) is proud to announce that the Research Centre for Intelligent GRID and Energy Technologies (I-GET) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has been approved under SEAM@InnoHK, the third InnoHK research cluster. Strategic Funding and Vision Directed by Prof. Chi Yung Chung, Head of PolyU EEE, the centre has secured over HKD 300 million in funding and will be established at the Hong Kong Science Park. As the only InnoHK initiative focusing specifically on power grid technologies, I-GET aims to build a more efficient, intelligent, and resilient future grid to support global carbon neutrality and zero-outage goals.  I-GET’s research focuses on four core areas: Autonomous energy management technologies for smart grids Green and intelligent grid interfaces Grid‑friendly new energy transportation Emerging grid and energy technologies World-Class Leadership and Collaboration I-GET brings together an interdisciplinary team of over 20 leading scholars, including academicians from multiple countries, Global Energy Prize laureates, and IEEE Fellows.  Their expertise spans smart grids, microgrids, electrified transportation, AI and large models, intelligent buildings, power electronics, advanced materials, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. Director: Prof. Chi Yung Chung, President of the IEEE Power & Energy Society and the first president from outside North America in its 140-year history. Co-Director: Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Vice President for Research & Innovation at King’s College London and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The centre leverage a global collaborative network of 34 top-tier institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America, including the Université Gustave Eiffel, King’s College London, National Technical University of Athens, University of Oxford (Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research), University of Sheffield and Tsinghua University. Industry Impact and Talent Development I-GET has already secured extensive support from 60 industry collaborators, including CLP Power, HK Electric, NVIDIA, and Siemens. The centre is committed to the full innovation chain: Commercialization: Accelerating market adoption through technology licensing, intellectual property development, and large-scale pilot projects. Talent Cultivation: Planning to train over 100 professionals, including postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and engineers, to drive the “Dual Carbon” strategic goals. This establishment marks a visionary step in driving the development of key technologies and international standards for future power grids. Warmest congratulations to the I-GET team! We look forward to seeing the centre establish its foothold in Hong Kong, synergize with the Greater Bay Area, and engage globally, as it continues to achieve new breakthroughs at the forefront of advanced grid and energy technologies. The Research Centre for Intelligent GRID and Energy Technologies (I-GET)     Prof. Chi Yung Chung (Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Chair Professor of Power System Engineering, at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) serving as Director. Prof. Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi (Vice President for Research & Innovation at King’s College London and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering) serving as Co-Director.  I-GET Team By a team of more than 20 distinguished scholars, including academicians from multiple countries, Global Energy Prize laureates, and IEEE Fellows. For more details: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202205/25/P2022052500234.htm

EEE Triumphs in Inaugural “PolyU Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year”

We are thrilled to announce that the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) has secured two spots in the prestigious “PolyU Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year.” Please join us in congratulating Prof. A.Q. Liu, Prof. Gang Li, and Prof. Guang Yang for this outstanding recognition. Selected from 20 remarkable stories and validated by over 7,700 public votes alongside a professional judging panel, these winning projects represent PolyU’s excellence in AI, Data Science, and Smart Cities. As noted by Prof. Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), these achievements reflect our researchers' "rigorous, truth-seeking spirit and courage to break new ground." This double win underscores EEE’s commitment to high-quality development and our role in positioning Hong Kong as an international innovation hub. We thank the PolyU community and the public for their overwhelming vote of confidence in our research strength. The successful Innovative Story by Professor AQ Liu: HERE The successful Innovative Story by Professor G Li and Professor G Yang: HERE More details about the PolyU Top 10 Innovation Stories of the Year: HERE  

EEE Dragon Boat Team Eye-dotting Ceremony 2026

Officiated by Professor C.Y. Chung, Head of the Department, The EEE Dragon Boat Team launched their training season with a traditional dragon boat eye-dotting ceremony at the Tseung Kwan O (TKO) Waterfront on 29 March 2026. This symbolic ritual marks the beginning of the season, wishing the team smooth and strong sailing for the challenges ahead. Comprising EEE alumni, staff, and students, the team has been a vibrant part of the Department’s community for over a decade, participating in numerous local and international races. These activities serve as a valuable platform to boost members’ physical fitness and cooperation skills while strengthening the bond between the Department and its alumni.  With training now officially underway, the team is geared up for another fulfilling and competitive season.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2026

The enhanced three-level Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (OPAA) that was introduced last year has achieved remarkable success. The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) is delighted to announce that the new round of the departmental OPAA 2026 is now open for nominations until 15 May 2026 (Friday), and we encourage all eligible individuals to participate. The departmental OPAA aims to publicly recognize outstanding graduates of EEE for their remarkable professional achievements and significant contributions to the community as well as their alma mater. The departmental awardees will be officially honored by the department and will be nominated for the Faculty Awards or above.   Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a graduate who has successfully completed a full-time or part-time program offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) that led to an academic award accredited by the respective institution.   The proposer can be a PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff member, current PolyU Council and Court member, or current Advisory Committee member. There is no limit to the number of nominations that each proposer can submit. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/herself.   Selection Criteria The selection of the Award considers two criteria: Support and Contributions to PolyU: This key criterion considers nominee’s support and contributions to PolyU, including his/her leadership and/or support in University event and/or alumni activities, support in advisory committee, teaching, research, or student development, as well as support rendered to PolyU initiatives including financial / in-kind donation, or sponsorship.   Achievement Areas: Three achievement areas serve as a framework for assessing nominee’s achievements in the concerned areas.They include Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement, and Scholarly Achievement. Achievement Area Description Professional Achievement This achievement area recognises alumni who have attained distinguished achievements, demonstrated exemplary leadership, and made a strong impact on their profession / industry / society. Entrepreneurial Achievement This achievement area recognises alumni who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as founded or advanced business or technology ventures with impact. Scholarly Achievement This achievement area recognises alumni scholars who have made notable scholarly or research contributions in their disciplines, with proven track record and excellent reputation in the field.   Alumni who are aged at/under 40 in the award selection year would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Award Selection Committee The Award Selection Committee of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering will examine the nominations and assess candidates’ qualifications and performance for the awards.   Confidentiality All information submitted on this nomination form will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used by the Award Selection Committee for the purpose of the selection process.    Nomination and Selection Schedule The nomination form can be downloaded here. Please return the completed form to eeenotice@polyu.edu.hk along with all required supplementary documents on or before 15 May 2026 (Friday).    Enquiries Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: eeenotice@polyu.edu.hk General Office 2766 6150