Minister of Education leads a delegation to PolyU

A delegation led by Mr HUAI Jinpeng, Minister of Education, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today. During the visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with PolyU’s management team and researchers to learn about the University’s latest developments in research and knowledge transfer, particularly its technology breakthroughs in the field of medicine, healthcare, and AI-powered medical innovations.

Mr Huai Jinpeng commended PolyU’s educational philosophy of nurturing young students with a strong sense of national pride, competence, and responsibility. Guided by this approach, generations of PolyU talent have advanced their professions while contributing to the development of Hong Kong and the Nation. He also praised PolyU as a world-class institution that earns societal respect through value creation and scholars’ recognition by developing solutions that address global challenges. More importantly, through technological innovation and talent development deeply aligned with real-world needs of society, PolyU has solidified its standing as a leading university in the modern era.

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (LOCPG), and the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government. Key delegation members were: Mr LUO Yonggang, Deputy Director of LOCPG; Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Dr YANG Dan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges and Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Education; Mr CHEN Wei, Director of Bureau IV of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee; Dr ZHOU Tianhua, Director of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education; Mr ZHOU Dawang, Director of the Department of Technology of the Ministry of Education; and Prof. WANG Weiming, Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of LOCPG.

Accompanied by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President and other management team members, the delegation visited the AIR Lab at the University’s Industrial Centre. During the visit, PolyU scholars presented and demonstrated 10 groundbreaking projects in medicine, healthcare and AI, showcasing the University’s research advancements in medicine-engineering integration and AI-powered medical technologies. The featured innovations included:

1. The Collaborative Generative AI project
2. A portable retinal fundus camera with a Generative AI technology for cardiovascular risk assessment and eye disease screening
3. A 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system
4. A portable liver fibrosis and fatty liver assessment system
5. A virtual MRI contrast enhancement system for precise tumour detection and treatment
6. Robots for post-stroke telerehabilitation
7. AI-powered image restoration and enhancement technology
8. A polypeptide neoantigen vaccine platform for precision cancer immunotherapy
9. A project integrating AI, genomics and biomedical technologies in the diagnosis, treatment, and etiology analysis of mental disorders
10. An AI-based platform enhancing the discovery and development of novel antibiotic drug candidates

Dr Lam Tai-fai extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by the Ministry of Education and expressed sincere appreciation for their recognition and support of PolyU’s development. In the meeting, he outlined the University’s strategic development plan, including:

- Achieving a top 50 position in the world’s university rankings in the short term;
- Establishing Hong Kong’s third medical school to support the city’s development as an international health and medical innovation hub;
- Elevating PolyU’s College of Professional and Continuing Education into a private university, with the target to become the Nation’s leading private university;
- Expanding the establishment of translational research institutes in mainland cities to align with local industrial needs, translating PolyU’s research outcomes into practical applications to drive technological innovation and accelerate industrial growth.

Dr Lam further elaborated on the proposal to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school, stating that, “PolyU is committed not only to driving innovations and AI applications, but also to nurturing healthcare professionals with compassion and patient-centred values. With our extensive experience in healthcare-related education, robust research capabilities, exceptional operational performance, and institutional cohesion, we are well prepared to undertake this mission with the same level of dedication we demonstrated in supporting the Nation’s landmark space missions. PolyU pledges to mobilise the required financial and human resources, unite our collective efforts, and overcome any challenges to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school. The HKSAR Government can be assured of our capability to deliver on this important initiative.”

Prof. Jin-Guang Teng emphasised PolyU’s strong commitment to supporting the Government in establishing Hong Kong’s third medical school. This initiative will not only elevate the development of healthcare services for both the Nation and Hong Kong, but also position the city as an international health and medical innovation hub. Over the past half-century, PolyU has nurtured over 50,000 healthcare professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, optometrists, radiologists and more, playing a pivotal role in the development of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The University’s healthcare education and research capabilities are currently supported by a robust team of over 1,300 staff members in teaching and research, and more than 90 specialised laboratories and research facilities. Prof. Teng hopes to relocate PolyU’s research staff and facilities to the Northern Metropolis University Town upon its completion, enabling the University’s research to seamlessly connect with the industries and markets of cities in the Greater Bay Area, and to establish an AI-powered teaching hospital.

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