News

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2025

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 2025 is now open for nominations until 31 July 2025 (Thursday), 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.   Award Categories and Selection Criteria. The selection for the Department Award considers two major criteria: (1) Support and Contribution to PolyU and (2) Achievement in respective area.   Three achievement areas serve as a framework for assessing nominee’s achievements in the concerned areas, including Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement and Scholarly Achievement.   An Outstanding Young Alumni Award is available for alumni who are at or under the age of 40.   The Award will be conducted at three levels: Department level, Faculty/School level, and University level. The recipients of the Department Award will be nominated for the Faculty Award, and all Faculty/School awardees will be considered for the University Award.   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.   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 31 July 2025 (Thursday).   Panel of Judges and Result Announcement The selection for the Department Award will be completed by the end of August 2025. A panel of judges, consisting of both internal and external members, will be formed to review the nominations and assess the candidates' qualifications and performance for the awards. The result will be announced on our website and social media platforms in afterward.   Enquiries Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: eeenotice@polyu.edu.hk General Office 2766 6150

The Best Student Paper Award – Mr. Wang Peng

The Department is thrilled to announce that our PhD student, Wang Peng, has received the Best Student Paper Award at the 29th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS-29) (https://ofs29.org), held in Porto, Portugal from 25–30 May 2025. OFS is the world’s leading conference in photonic sensing and fiber optic technologies, bringing together top researchers and industry experts since 1983.  Wang’s paper, “Ultra-miniature optical fiber accelerometer based on a 3D microprinted proof mass-integrated Fabry-Pérot micro-interferometer,” was selected for an oral presentation and ultimately won this prestigious award. This achievement is the result of collaborative work under Professor AP Zhang’s GRF projects, with key support from co-investigator Professor HY Tam. Congrats again to Wang for this outstanding accomplishment!

First Runner-up in Men’s Gold Cup at Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship 2025

Congratulations to the EEE Dragon Boat Team on winning the first runner-up in the Men’s Gold Cup, the highest division, at the Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships on 31 May 2025! The team also won the championship in the Men’s Silver Cup at the Stanley Dragon Boat Warm Up Races on 3 May 2025. Comprised of EEE alumni and students, the team has dedicated months of effort to train for the Tuen Ng Festival dragon boat races. Our staff, alumni, and their families, including Professor C.Y. Chung, Head of the Department, united together in the Stanley Main Beach to cheer for the team this year. If you are interested in paddling and joining the EEE Dragon Boat Team, please contact the team captain, Mr Jason Tsui, at jason100tsui@yahoo.com for enrolment.

Winning at the 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

Congratulations to our students on winning three awards at the 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition on 31 May 2025! Organized by the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association, the competition aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions. Three teams of EEE students won the prizes in the Innovation Category under the “Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering” and “Information Technology” sections. Once again, congratulations to the following team members on their achievement! Innovation Category - Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering First Prize Project: Highly Intergrated Wireless Ultrasonic Motor System for Fully Enclosed Environments Team members: XIE Xiaotian, XUE Zhiwei and DUAN Ye Supervisor: Professor CHAU Kwok-tong   Second Prize Project: High efficiency inorganic perovskite organic tandem photovoltaic Team members: HAN Yu, ZHANG Jiyao and CHENG Lei Supervisor: Professor LI Gang   Innovation Category – Information Technology Second Prize Project: Optimal Transmit Signal Design for Multiple Target Sensing Exploiting Prior Information Team member: YAO Jiayi Supervisor: Professor ZHANG Shuowen

Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2025

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Xu Wanghuai for being selected as one of the six awardees of the Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) by the University! The YIRA is a highly regarded university-level award that honors young faculty members who have demonstrated originality, contributed to technological advancement, and propelled transformational innovation into solutions addressing global challenges through their research. Professor Xu's research work on "Developing a charge path-modulated wave energy generator with high efficiency and power density" has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to advancing knowledge and making a positive impact on society.

Prof. TAM Haw Yaw’s “Hearing Hope” Project Wins Top Honors at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

Prof. Tam Haw Yaw has been awarded the Thailand Award for the Best International Invention & Innovation and the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). These accolades recognize his ground-breaking project, “Hearing Hope: A Smart Sensor for Enhanced Safety and Precision in Hearing Restoration Procedures.” Prof. Tam Hwa Yaw (left) and Dr Cui Jingxian (right) at the award ceremony.   Prof. Tam, who serves as Chair Professor of Photonics and Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI), developed a smart sensor-integrated cochlear implant (CI) system that enhances the safety and precision of cochlear implantation surgeries, the primary treatment for severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Current surgery procedures lack real-time feedback on CI positioning and contact force during insertion, risking tissue damage and suboptimal outcomes linked to cognitive decline and socioeconomic barriers. Dr Cui presented the invention to visitors. Prof. Tam’s team integrated polymer optical fiber sensors into electrode arrays of the CI, enabling real-time, high-resolution monitoring of contact force and precise spatial localization during cochlear implantation surgery. By providing surgeons with critical tactile and navigational feedback, the system aims to minimize intracochlear trauma, improve placement accuracy, and enhance postoperative outcomes. Prof. Tam and his team showcased the invention.   10x scale model of cochlear implant electrode array positioned in the scala tympani of the human inner ear.   “Our goal is to transform cochlear implantation surgery into a safer, reproducible procedure,” said Prof. Tam. This innovation also lays the foundation for robot-assisted CI, promising standardized precision, reduced costs, and expanded access to this transformative procedure, particularly in resource-limited regions.   Celebrating its 50th edition, the Geneva Inventions Expo attracts over a thousand entries from nearly 40 countries and regions. By merging photonics, medical engineering, and data analytics, Prof. Tam’s team highlights how interdisciplinary innovation can tackle pressing human challenges, turning scientific breakthroughs into tools for hope. Prof. Tam and his team were awarded the Thailand Award for the Best International Invention & Innovation and the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury.

EEE Dragon Boat Team Eye-dotting Ceremony 2025

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 Waterfront on 23 March 2025. Comprising EEE alumni, staff, and students, the team has participated in numerous local and international dragon boat races for over a decade. These fulfilling activities not only boost the members' physical fitness and cooperation skills, but also strengthen the bond between the Department and its alumni. We extend our best wishes to the EEE Dragon Boat Team for a successful year!  

2024 IEEE Communications Society Asia-Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award

Congratulations to Prof. Shuowen Zhang on winning the 2024 IEEE Communications Society Asia-Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award! Prof. Zhang is recognized for her contributions to intelligent reflecting surface aided communications and integrated sensing and communications. This award honors young researchers aged under 35 who have been active in IEEE Communications Society publications and conference activities over the last three years (January 2021 to December 2023). The selection criteria include creativity, research impact and contributions to the IEEE Communications Society’s activities. Please find more information about the award at https://apb.regions.comsoc.org/ap-regional-awards/ieee-comsoc-asia-pacific-young-researcher-award/.

Awards at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong

We are pleased to share that the project “Highly integrated wireless ultrasonic motor system for fully enclosed environments”, led by Prof. Chau Kwok-tong, was awarded the Grand Prize and a Gold Medal at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong organized by The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association on 5-6 December 2024! Dr Liu Wei also won a Silver Medal for his project “High-efficiency GaN converter module for wireless power transfer facilities” in this exhibition. The wireless ultrasonic motor system designed by Prof. Chau’s research team features a single integrated magnetic coupler connected to the motor, which can control motor systems in fully enclosed environments without power cables, batteries and controllers. The system is adaptable to various applications, facilitating seamless integration. Its streamlines are designed by operating without additional controllers or sensors, which is ideal for environments where traditional cabling is impractical, such as in robotic arms, enhancing mobility and flexibility. In enclosed environments like underground pipelines or underwater propellers, it avoids complications from perforated installation cables, preventing gas or liquid leaks. This innovation brings new solutions for advanced applications in robotics and industrial automation. Dr Liu’s team has integrated gallium nitride (GaN) chips into the design of high-performance power converters with low gate driver stray inductance and low switching loss. An insulated metal substrate printed circuit board design is utilised to lower the thermal resistance while ensuring electrical isolation. The gate drive has small ringing and voltage overshoot, which ensures the realisation of smooth switching characteristics of the GaN switches. Compared with other converters, the new GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) converter has higher efficiency, power density and switching frequency. Compared with GaN converters at the same power level, this new converter has better drive performance and incurs lower costs to promote commercialisation. It can be applied in various wireless power transfer facilities, including wireless charging for electric vehicles among others. Please click the following link for more details about the awards: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2024/1207_polyu-shines-at-4th-asia-exhibition-of-innovations-and-inventions-hong-kong/

Prof. Gang Li recognised as Highly Cited Researcher 2024 by Clarivate Analytics

Prof. Gang Li, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy and Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology, has been recognised in the list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2024” in the cross-field category by Clarivate Analytics. Congratulations to Prof. Li on receiving this honour for 11 years in a row! This year, a total of 6,636 researchers from 59 countries and regions from a diverse range of fields have been named as Highly Cited Researchers. Each researcher selected has authored multiple highly-cited papers which rank in the top 1% by citations for their fields and publication year in the Web of Science over the past decade.