Media Releases

PolyU harnesses AI and data science to enhance maritime and shipping management and foster sustainable development within the industry

Facing a complex and ever-changing international environment, the maritime and shipping industry requires more efficient and precise data collection and analysis technologies to enhance management efficiency. A  research team at The Maritime Data and Sustainable Development Centre (PMDC) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a series of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and big data driven tools, including advanced technology for estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths in Hong Kong to improve vessel monitoring and emergency response, a shipping data analytics platform that uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to assess real-time port congestion index and other maritime statistical indicators, and a trajectory analysis technology to effectively detect illegal fishing activities. These innovations not only provide governments and industry stakeholders with cutting-edge management solutions but also drive the sector’s digital transformation and sustainable development. Automatically identifying vessels and estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths As a coastal city frequently affected by typhoons, Hong Kong must take effective preventive measures to ensure the safety of vessels. The research team, led by Prof. YANG Dong, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Director of the PMDC, has collaborated with the Hong Kong Marine Department to develop an innovative monitoring technology. It utilises images of local vessels captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined with deep learning-based computer vision algorithms to automatically identify and classify ships, achieving an accuracy rate of 98.6%. This new technology is used to predict the supply and demand for local vessel typhoon shelter berths from 2022 to 2035, optimising the design of berth management plans. The method significantly enhances the government’s monitoring and emergency management efficiency for local vessels and typhoon shelters while greatly reducing labour and time costs. The research results have been adopted by the Hong Kong Marine Department as a technical reference for local typhoon shelter planning, assisting the government in developing shelter facility plans and establishing benchmarks for the digital management of coastal vessels. The technology has broad applications in port state control inspections and port congestion management. Looking ahead, the team plans to develop techniques for data collection and processing based on videos and images, integrating deep learning algorithms to create an intelligent regulatory system for vessels and navigation areas. To date, the team has collected over 50,000 images of local vessels, laying a solid foundation for future research and analysis. Utilising intelligent algorithms to calculate port congestion index Accurately and timely obtaining maritime statistical indicators, such as port congestion index and shipping line connectivity index, remains a major challenge for the maritime industry. Traditional manual data collection methods are error-prone, and the macro information released by administrative agencies or port departments often suffers from delays and lacks comprehensiveness. To address this, Prof. Yang Dong and his team have collaborated with researchers from Tsinghua University to develop advanced big data analysis algorithms for processing AIS data. They constructed a global, multi-level shipping and trade network database and created an online platform capable of calculating key indicators in real-time, such as port congestion index, port connectivity index, and port turnover rate. This research substantially broadens the application scenarios of maritime big data technologies, enabling the current shipping analysis from micro to macro levels, accurately capturing industry dynamics, and providing a reliable basis for maritime operational analysis and decision-making, thereby supporting the sustainable development of the industry. Analysing trajectories to identify illegal fishing vessels In the past, combating illegal fishing primarily relied on random sea patrol, which is costly and inefficient. To enhance the management efficiency of fishing vessels in Hong Kong waters, Prof. Yang Dong and his team developed a fishing vessel behaviour pattern recognition model by applying a novel trajectory feature engineering method combined with a semi-supervised machine learning framework. This model effectively identifies abnormal fishing behaviours with an accuracy rate of up to 90%. This technology integrates maritime domain knowledge with AI algorithms to establish precise distinctions in vessel trajectory features under different navigation states. It greatly reduces the time and labour required for manual data collection and labelling process and can be flexibly adapted for vessel trajectory prediction and emissions monitoring. The team has collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Commission and the Marine Department to assess the risks associated with large cruise ships navigating Hong Kong’s central channel using multi-source maritime data such as AIS, maritime radar, and CCTV footage. Recently, the team have utilised graph neural networks to accurately predict the future trajectories of multiple vessels in Hong Kong’s busy waterways, further strengthening real-time navigation safety supervision. Prof. Yang Dong said, “AI and big data technologies are bringing revolutionary changes to the maritime and shipping industry. These innovative assessment and monitoring tools combine domain knowledge in the maritime field with cutting-edge technology, significantly improving the speed, quality, and accuracy of data collection. They also address key operational challenges faced by the industry and make substantial contributions to academic research in related fields, promoting the intelligent development of maritime operations and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre.” ***END***

PolyU journal Nexus hosts forum on smart sustainable development promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Cell Press co-hosted the Nexus Forum 2025 from 8 to 10 May. Themed “Collaborative Innovation for Smart Sustainable Development”, the Forum served as a vital platform for promoting exchange and collaboration in interdisciplinary research and innovation, facilitating the advancement of smart technology and sustainable development. The three-day Forum featured keynote speeches, a panel discussion, oral and poster presentations, and an editorial workshop, attracting over 170 participants, including academic experts and authors, as well as consulate and industry representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Additionally, over 300 PolyU faculty members and students also participated in the event. During the opening ceremony,  Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science and Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR); and Prof. Jerry YAN, Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings and Editor-in-Chief of Nexus, warmly welcomed the participants from around the world. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng remarked, “In celebrating the first anniversary of Nexus, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing innovative research in applied sciences, engineering, technology, and inter- and multi-disciplinary fields to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This forum and Nexus reflect PolyU’s unwavering dedication to pioneering research and scholarship that directly benefits society. Looking ahead, PolyU will continue to champion transformative research through strategic platforms including the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, which conducts breakthrough interdisciplinary research in frontier domains of socioeconomic importance; the newly established PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which strengthens our leadership in cutting-edge AI research and applications; and our network of translational research institutes across various cities in mainland China that address local industrial and societal needs.” The Forum featured three inspiring keynote speeches centred around three core themes: innovative techniques for sustainable cities, industrial and interdisciplinary solutions for sustainability, and carbon neutrality and energy system transformation. The speeches sparked thought-provoking discussion on the latest technologies and industry developments in these areas, highlighting how collaborative innovation and research can help shape a sustainable future for all. The distinguished keynote speakers included Prof. Michael OBERSTEINER, Director of Environmental Change Institute of University of Oxford; Prof. HE Kebin and Prof. TU Shandong, Members of Chinese Academy of Engineering; Ms Louise BERGHOLM, Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau; Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI; as well as scholars and representatives from Tsinghua University, San Diego State University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Lingnan University, CLP Power Hong Kong, HK Electric, the Hong Kong Green Building Council, and Strategy Department of Tencent. The first two keynote speeches covered topics such as Sweden’s best practices in developing sustainable cities, generative AI applications, innovative engineering solutions for sustainable built environments, and breakthroughs in electric vehicle battery storage technology. The third keynote, themed “Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation”, is co-organised by the PolyU International Centre of Urban Energy Nexus and the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality. It focused on the latest achievements in cutting-edge multidisciplinary research in carbon and earth sciences, environmental science, energy and power engineering, data science, and intelligent technology. Topics included climate risk mitigation strategies, sustainable Modular Integrated Construction, and AI-driven co-simulation in power and carbon markets. At the panel discussion titled “Technology Innovation for Decarbonisation of the Power Sector”, scholars from PolyU, local, mainland China, and overseas universities, as well as representatives from two local power companies introduced and explored the research projects supported by the Strategic Topics Grant under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. In addition, multiple oral and poster sessions were organised to allow participants to share their views and exchange research findings on different topics, thereby facilitating knowledge exchange and transfer. The editing workshop, co-organised by the PolyU Graduate School, drew over 180 PolyU postgraduate and undergraduate students. Editors-in-chief and editors from seven academic journals, including Nexus and Nature Energy, introduced young researchers to the skills and tools necessary for writing scientific papers. The workshop aimed to enhance the readability and impact of their manuscripts, and to demonstrate the skills of integrating advanced technologies into research. Nexus is Cell Press’s first partner journal in cross-disciplinary subjects and the first title published in collaboration with a university. To learn more, please visit https://www.cell.com/nexus/home. ***END***

PolyU research reveals sharp depletion in soil moisture, driving land water to flow into the oceans and contributing to a rise in sea levels

The increasing frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological drought has underscored the urgency of studying hydrological changes. A research team from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has collaborated with international experts to analyse the estimated changes in land water storage over the past 40 years by utilising space geodetic observation technology and global hydrological change data. This innovative method has revealed a rapid depletion in global soil moisture, resulting in a significant amount of water flowing into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea levels. The research provides new insights into the driving factors behind the alarming reduction in terrestrial water storage and rise in sea levels. The findings have been published in the international journal Science. Since polar motion reflects mass redistribution within the Earth system, integrating models and observations across the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere is crucial. However, previous challenges in measuring terrestrial water storage, particularly groundwater and root zone soil moisture, limited understanding of hydrological depletion at continental scales. Prof. Jianli CHEN, Professor of the PolyU Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics and core member of the Research Institute for Land and Space and the international team employed satellite altimetry and gravity missions, including the Gravity Recovery and Satellite Experiment (GRACE), and GRACE Follow-On, to enable continental-scale observations of terrestrial water storage variations. By integrating this with global mean sea levels and polar motion data, the team has explored terrestrial water storage depletion patterns. Notably, this study introduced novel methods for estimating global soil moisture, which improves the accuracy of continental and global scale modeling to enable a more effective understanding of soil moisture variations under climate change. The melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is recognised as the largest single contributor to the rise in global sea levels, adding approximately 0.8mm annually. This study reveals that between 2000 and 2002, the global terrestrial water storage significantly declined, with a total of 1,614 billion tons of water lost to the oceans, which is twice as much as resulting from the current melting of Greenland ice, and equivalent to a 4.5mm rise in sea levels. Since then, the rapid loss of terrestrial water storage has been followed by a more gradual but continuous depletion, with no signs of recovery. In addition, compared to the period from 1979 to 1999, a notable decline in global average soil moisture was observed from 2003 to 2021. Between 2003 and 2011, the Earth’s pole shifted 58cm toward 93° East Longitude, demonstrating that the continued decline in soil moisture is leading to a reduction in terrestrial water storage. The team also pointed out that precipitation deficits and stable evapotranspiration caused by global warming, changing rainfall patterns and increasing ocean temperatures are likely the key factors for the abrupt decline in terrestrial water storage. The ERA5-Land soil moisture data of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ corroborates these findings, showing substantial terrestrial water storage losses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. In Asia and Europe, the affected areas expanded from northeastern Asia and eastern Europe to broader regions across East and Central Asia, as well as Central Europe, following the sharp water storage depletion observed between 2000 and 2002. With increasing agricultural irrigation in regions such as northeast China and the western United States, and global greening, soil moisture may further diminish in semi-arid areas with intensive agriculture and high levels of greening. The team suggests the need for improved land surface models which consider these factors for a more comprehensive understanding of long- term changes in terrestrial water storage. Prof. Jianli Chen said, “Sea level change and Earth rotation serve as indicators of large-scale mass changes in the Earth system. Accurately measured sea level change and variation in Earth rotation provide a unique tool for monitoring large-scale mass changes in the global water cycle. By integrating multiple modern space geodetic observations, it enables comprehensive analysis of the driving factors behind changes in terrestrial water storage and sea level rise. This, in turn, provides reliable data for climate and Earth system science experts to further investigate drought issues, aiding authorities in formulating water resource management and climate change mitigation strategies to address new challenges posed by climate change.” ***END***

PolyU holds the 31st Congregation, envisioning a future driven by innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its 31st Congregation last Saturday (10 May), presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai and President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG. At the Congregation, held in the Jockey Club Auditorium on campus, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees were awarded to 226 graduates. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng extended his warmest congratulations to all the doctoral graduates and shared PolyU’s vision of being an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. He said, “We aspire for our graduates to be able to connect their academic research to societal needs and to solve complex problems by driving innovation, contributing to building a better future for the world.” Prof. Teng added, “PolyU has proactively evolved its initiatives and strategic directions to meet the needs of the Nation’s strategic development and the changing demands of society. Embracing the opportunities and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence (AI), PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences earlier this year and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) recently, promoting AI research and applications while elevating Hong Kong as a global centre for generative AI development.” Prof. Teng also mentioned that PolyU has submitted an innovative and forward-looking proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school to the Hong Kong Government. Leveraging the University’s strong foundation of excellence in health sciences, engineering and AI, as well as its extensive experience in training healthcare professionals, PolyU envisions nurturing the next generation of socially responsible and technologically proficient medical talents for the future AI-driven healthcare landscape. He believes this initiative will support Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub, and address the city’s critical healthcare needs, including primary healthcare and preventive medicine. PAAI will also play a pivotal role in strengthening PolyU’s leadership in AI-driven healthcare and medicine, giving the University an even stronger foundation for the new medical school. Prof. Teng emphasised that continuous innovation is the key to remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving global environment. He encouraged the graduates to drive positive change and innovation in their respective fields, carrying forward PolyU’s spirit of innovation and excellence. This Congregation Session was held for the presentation of awards to PhD students who graduated between October 2024 and March 2025. The Congregation Sessions for PhD students who graduated between April and September 2025, as well as for graduates of all other award levels, including professional doctoral degree, Master of Philosophy degree, taught master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma and higher diploma, will be conducted in November this year. ***END***

PolyU establishes Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), with strong support from the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science and Civilisation (JNFSC), announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation in the Faculty of Humanities at PolyU, in honour of Dr Needham’s outstanding contributions to academia, particularly his pioneering work in the history of science and civilisation. Today, the PolyU Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) co-hosted the 15th Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture with JNFSC. It featured Prof. Roel STERCKX FBA, Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science and Civilisation at The University of Cambridge, who delivered a lecture titled “‘Those who are learned do not farm and farmers do not learn.’ Writing agriculture in early China”. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Honorary Secretary of the JNFSC, said, “We are deeply committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges technology, sustainability and cultural heritage. This lecture focuses on the interaction between scholarly discourse and agricultural development, resonating with the connection between academic rigour and real-world impact. In addition to co-hosting the lecture, we are very honoured to establish the Joseph Needham Professorship, continuing the research legacy of this legendary scholar. This new professorship will further advance research in the history of science and technology at PolyU, while also strengthening the University’s overall research capabilities.” Dr Peter LEE, Chairman of the JNFSC, remarked, “The Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture continues to bring together global top scholars to promote research in the history of science and medicine in East Asia. Today’s lecture helps the participants further understand ancient Chinese agricultural activities. To deepen the academic legacy of Dr Joseph Needham, JNFSC has announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship at PolyU to attract international scholars and expand Dr Needham’s core value of nurturing ‘the coexistence of science and civilisation’ through interdisciplinary research, talent development and public outreach, promoting a deep global dialogue on science and humanities.” In the lecture, Prof. Roel Sterckx FBA said, “In ancient China, rulers routinely presented agriculture as the most important profession in society. Yet, Confucius notoriously claimed he had no expertise when it came to fields and gardens and insisted that those who study should not be concerned with farming.” In his lecture, Prof. Sterckx explored how these seemingly contradictory attitudes were reflected in the textual sources of Warring States and early imperial China. The history of early Chinese agriculture was not just a story of agronomic and technological developments but also firmly influenced by the political philosophies of the time. Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT, also noted that the lecture explained the technological development and political relationships in early Chinese agronomy, highlighting the diversity of ancient Chinese agricultural history. Through a meticulous analysis of documents of the Warring States period, the lecture demonstrated how ancient Chinese rulers viewed agriculture as a fundamental political and economic strategy of the state. JNFSC was established in 1979, with the aim of promoting the academic legacy of the late Dr Joseph Needham for the benefit of students and the public. To cultivate more outstanding scholars and talents like Dr Needham, JNFSC has established the “Joseph Needham Professorship” and “Joseph Needham Merit Scholarship” programmes. Two PolyU graduates, two HKU graduates and one HKUST graduate were awarded this year’s scholarship to recognise their outstanding performance in academic research, as well as their qualities of empathy, humility and courage. They will receive full scholarship funding and an additional stipend for a fixed period of four years during their postgraduate studies and research work. The full list of awardees is as follows: Awardees Graduating University Research Subject  Academic Institute  Mr Allen CHEN Zihao The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Human Genomics and Disease The University of Edinburgh Ms KWOK Hin Chi The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Data Science / Computer Science / ECE (MLDS) AI Health University of California San Diego Ms LIN Aijing  The University of Hong Kong  Biomedical Engineering Johns Hopkins University Mr Timmy WONG Tsun Chui The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Biochemistry and Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley Mr ZHANG Chenwei The University of Hong Kong Electrical & Computing Engineering Yale University About Dr Joseph Needham Born in 1900, Dr Needham was a biochemist and historian of science known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology. He initiated the publication of Science and Civilisation in China, which is an ongoing series of books about the history of science and technology in China published by Cambridge University Press. It is recognised as one of the most remarkable works of scholarship in the twentieth century.  Dr Needham was the first Western scholar to undertake a comprehensive and comparative study of the history of Chinese science and technology, examining its relationship with the development of modern science. He highlighted and fully recognised the rich connotations of traditional Chinese culture in science and technology development. His works opened up global interests in and attention to the history of Chinese science and technology, making it an important international academic field. Among his many academic honours and achievement, Dr Needham was elected as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1994. His legacy as a distinguished scientist, humanist, and intellectual continues to have a profound impact on the science and civilisation of our world today.  PolyU looks forward to the continued exploration and understanding of the rich tapestry of science and civilisation inspired by Dr Needham’s remarkable legacy. PolyU has initiated global open recruitment for the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation. The position will be held by a world-renowned leading scholar at the Chair Professor level in the Faculty of Humanities, whose scholarship includes a focus on areas related to the history of science and civilisation.   ***END***  

PolyU research unveils hidden microbial threats to ecosystem caused by plastic waste, urging global collaboration to track harmful microbiomes

Four hundred million tonnes of plastic waste are produced every year worldwide. More than seven billion tonnes have been generated in total to-date, with less than 10% having been recycled and about 80% accumulating in the environment. While discussion about plastic pollution often hinges on marine animals ingesting the waste or harmful compounds being leached out of plastics, a research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shed light on the often-overlooked microbial threats associated with plastic waste. The team is developing a global database and model to map the trajectory of the harmful microbiomes carried by plastic debris and to forecast the potential ecological risks. Plastics comprise a variety of compounds that can serve as nutrients for microbes attached to them.  These microbes develop distinctive microbial communities that colonise plastic debris in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, forming what is referred to as the plastisphere. Previous research revealed that one gram of marine plastic can contain up to ten times the microbial biomass found in 1,000 litres of open-ocean water. This indicates that, as plastic waste continues to grow and degrades at an extremely slow rate, the plastisphere is expanding rapidly and harbours an abundance of microbes. Led by Prof. JIN Ling Nathanael, Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Health Technology and Informatics, the research team combined field-collected samples and publicly available raw data to analyse the microbial communities in the plastisphere and its associated natural environments, covering freshwater, seawater and terrestrial ecosystems. Providing a comprehensive overview of the unique and diverse microbial communities of the plastisphere, the findings have been published in the international interdisciplinary journal The Innovation and recognised as its Most Popular Paper from 2020 to 2024. The research found that, in all three environmental systems, microbial communities in the plastisphere differ markedly from those in the natural environment, in terms of both the genera of microorganisms present and their coexistence patterns. These communities consist of fragile networks of specialised microorganisms, which are rarely encountered in nature. Compared with microbial communities in the natural environments, microorganisms in the plastisphere boast a pronounced ability to decompose organic compounds, potentially increasing the release of greenhouse gases and accelerating carbon turnover. The findings also highlight disturbances in the nitrogen cycle caused by the plastisphere, especially in freshwater ecosystem where bacteria that release harmful substances such as nitrite and nitrous oxide thrive. In addition, a significant rise in pathogens that pose risks to humans, animals and plants is spotted in the plastisphere. Notably, some of the pathogen species have not been detected in the corresponding natural environment previously, which indicates the potential of the plastisphere to carry pathogens across ecosystems. Prof. Jin said, “Plastic waste and the microbiomes it carries can travel long distances via different means like streams and wind, and can disturb the natural distribution of microbial species. As viruses can survive longer and are more infectious in the plastisphere, this may accelerate the spread of pathogens and also prompt disease outbreaks. Traditionally, plastic pollution has been evaluated primarily based on its physical and chemical impacts, but it is now crucial to also consider the microbial threats posed by plastic waste.” Prof. Jin and his team were invited to offer insights into this critical issue in the international journal Nature. They explained the fact that the plastisphere is composed of plastic fragments ranging in size from micrometres to several metres enables it to carry its inhabiting microbiomes into ecosystems and the food chain through various pathways. For instance, submicrometre-sized plastic particles can be directly absorbed by crops while larger plastic debris can easily be ingested by animals. The researchers therefore emphasised the importance of assessing the impact brought by the plastisphere on the ecosystem and of forecasting the potential risks. By integrating findings from ground monitoring, laboratory experiments and simulation modelling, they set the goal of mapping the trajectory, transport dynamics and fate of plastic debris carrying microbiomes across ecosystems, regions and countries. Prof. Jin elaborated, “This is a complex yet achievable task, requiring extensive international and interdisciplinary collaboration, along with the application of advanced technologies such as geographic information systems, remote sensing and nano-sensors connected through the Internet of Things. A crucial aspect of this project is to standardise methods across different research endeavours and establish a global data-sharing framework in order to provide consistent and actionable advice.” Global database for mapping the trajectory of the plastisphere The team actively collaborates with global partners, including academic institutions, government departments and NGOs, to collect plastic samples, create a comprehensive planetary catalogue of hazardous plastisphere microbiomes and track the flow of associated risks. Leveraging existing plastic waste migration and accumulation research, they are now developing a model to assess and quantify the microbial impacts of plastic pollution. This new model is based on existing plastic presence data and future emission scenarios and will be validated through simulation experiments. Prof. Jin stated, “The severity of the projected effect of the plastisphere varies by geographic location and is closely linked to regional human activities, development and environmental management. Through enhanced mapping and tracking, the project will deepen our understanding of microbial migrations on plastics, enabling more accurate risk assessments and targeted interventions in critical areas. The data can also serve as guidance for more effective environmental policies and public health strategies, particularly in regions most affected by plastic pollution.” ***END***

PolyU signs strategic agreements with China Railway Electrification Group to establish joint research laboratory

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PolyU’s AI and medicine-engineering integration empowers a new era of medical excellence

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to harnessing medicine-engineering integration and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare to drive innovations and translation of research outcomes into real-world solutions. These efforts support the development of precision medicine, preventive medicine, and primary healthcare, thereby enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while also contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub. PolyU has established a strong foundation in medical and health research, supported by key infrastructure, including seven relevant research institutes and centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, 19 university-level research institutes and centres, and four University Research Facilities. By integrating expertise from engineering, medicine, and public health, these facilities drive the development of innovative solutions to advance healthcare in Hong Kong and beyond. PolyU encourages interdisciplinary research that combines healthcare with AI, engineering, and data science. The newly-established PolyU Academy for AI empowers researchers to conduct research that integrates medicine and engineering. This initiative accelerates the deep integration of AI across key fields, including drug discovery, mental health, medical imaging, radiotherapy, Chinese medicine, biomedical engineering and cell immunotherapy. PolyU continues to attract world-class scholars to spearhead interdisciplinary research at the convergence of medicine, AI, engineering, and data science, pioneering a new era of healthcare innovation. The University has achieved notable success in securing funding for health and medical research, ranking first in Hong Kong for both the number of projects and the amount of funding received from the Collaborative Research Fund under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), with 14 projects in the 2024/25 exercise. PolyU also ranked second among local tertiary institutions in terms of total RGC funding in 2023/24. Over the past five years, several of PolyU’s health and medical research projects have received RGC funding. Between 2018 and 2022, the University also ranks third among local tertiary institutions in terms of average funding secured from the HKSAR Government’s Health and Medical Research Fund. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) said, “PolyU adheres to a patient-centred approach, leveraging our strengths in medicine-engineering integration and AI-driven healthcare to advance medical innovation and knowledge transfer. With our world-renowned researchers, state-of-the-art research facilities, and extensive experience in medical education – particularly in training allied healthcare professionals – PolyU is confident in its ability to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school. We look forward to cultivating the next generation of clinician-scientists who will pioneer medical breakthroughs, ultimately contributing to the global vision of ‘Health for All’.” PolyU today showcased four outstanding research projects. AI-assisted radiotherapy support system to enhance treatment outcomes through precision medicine Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in Hong Kong and worldwide, and radiotherapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment. A team led by Prof. CAI Jing, Head and Professor of the PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics has developed an AI-assisted lung radiotherapy support system that can automatically analyse patients’ CT scan images and create lung ventilation and perfusion maps without the need for contrast agents. It distinguishes the functions of different lung regions for designing optimal personalised radiotherapy plans through an innovative “function-guided” approach. This method avoids high-functioning lung areas and reduces radiation damage to the patient’s lungs, thereby improving post-operative quality of life. The team collected CT scan images from over a hundred lung cancer patients to train the AI model and employed cutting-edge image processing algorithms to ensure high accuracy and consistency. The system featured a user-friendly interface and a powerful backend and is compatible with major hospital operating systems. The team is currently collaborating with several local and mainland hospitals for clinical trials. They also plan to develop AI models for “function-guided” radiotherapy for liver and brain cancers. This innovation won a Silver Medal at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Prof. Cai Jing and his team have developed an AI-assisted lung radiotherapy support system that can automatically analyse patients’ CT scan images and create lung ventilation and perfusion maps without the need for contrast agents. It helps design personalised optimal radiotherapy plans that avoid high-functioning lung areas and reduce radiation damage to the patient’s lungs. AI-assisted non-invasive angiography to help overcome the bottleneck of traditional diagnostic approach Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness globally. The traditional diagnostic approach relies on fluorescein angiography, which is invasive, expensive and causes patient discomfort, putting constraints on primary healthcare screening capacity. A team led by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the PolyU School of Optometry, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision and Global STEM Scholar, has leveraged Generative AI technology to facilitate the diagnosis of eye diseases. Their innovation marks three significant breakthroughs. Firstly, it converts fundus photographs to high-precision angiographic images and dynamic videos within a couple seconds, eliminating the risks associated with traditional dye injections. Secondly, its smart diagnostic system enables early detection of pathological changes on the retina such as microaneurysms and retinal hemorrhages, with a sensitivity of 96.2% and specificity of 91.8%. Thirdly, by incorporating ultra-widefield imaging technology, it expands the detection area by 300%. The innovation has already secured five different international patents and is now undergoing multi-centre clinical trials in top medical institutions in GBA. Its teleconsultation system also enables patients in remote areas to receive ophthalmic diagnostic services. This breakthrough research won the Special Merit Award from French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Prof. He and his team have leveraged Generative AI technology to facilitate the diagnosis of eye diseases. It converts fundus photographs to high-precision angiographic images and dynamic videos within couple seconds, enables early detection of pathological changes on the retina such as microaneurysms and retinal hemorrhages, and expands the detection area by incorporating the ultra-widefield imaging technology. Embodied intelligent ankle rehabilitation robot to assist stroke patients with home-based rehabilitation Strokes pose a significant health challenge in an aging society, particularly for patients with mobility difficulties and those bedridden for extended periods. These patients require ongoing and repetitive rehabilitation training to prevent joint contractures and excessive muscle atrophy. A team led by Prof. ZHANG Dan, Director of the PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and the Consortium for Intelligent Robotics Research, and Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, has developed a first-of-its-kind robot product with three degrees of freedom (3-DoF) to provide comprehensive ankle rehabilitation. The robot assists patients with restricted ankle joints in home-based rehabilitation and aids in post-operative ankle joint functional rehabilitation for patients with cerebral hemiplegia and stroke. By integrating embodied intelligence technology and 3-DoF design, the robot can meet the rehabilitation exercise needs of different patients at different stages of rehabilitation. It uses sensors to track and adjust the ankle position for rehabilitation training and simulates natural movements such as dorsiflexion/plantarflexion, inversion/eversion, and internal/external rotation according to different scenarios. In addition, the robot can collect muscle activity data through electromyography signals, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment of speed and force to tailor the training intensity and mode. The team is currently conducting clinical trials in collaboration with Huashan Hospital in Shanghai and plans to apply AI to offer personalised training for patients. This innovation holds significant potential for rehabilitation of the shoulder joint or hand. Prof. Zhang Dan and his team have developed the first-of-its-kind robot product with 3-DoF to provide comprehensive ankle rehabilitation. The robot assists patients with restricted ankle joints in home-based rehabilitation, and aids in post-operative ankle joint functional rehabilitation for patients with cerebral hemiplegia and stroke. Ultrafine high-sensitivity optical fibre sensor to enhance precision of cochlear implantation surgery The World Report on Hearing from the World Health Organisation indicates that hearing impairment affects over 1.5 billion people globally. However, due to the complexity of cochlear implantation surgery, only 1.5 million such procedures have been performed during the past 45 years. A team led by Prof. TAM Haw Yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute has overcome the technical bottleneck of excessive rigidity in traditional glass optical fibres. The team developed an ultrafine, biocompatible plastic optical fibre sensor and integrated it into the cochlear implant electrode arrays to enhance surgical navigation and reduce trauma during cochlear implantation procedures. As the electrode array must be precisely inserted into the scala tympani of the human ear, the integrated optical fibre sensors help guide the electrode array and monitor contact force during the implantation process. By integrating the novel fibre sensor into commercial electrode arrays, real-time adjustments to the electrode array’s bending angle can be made to further minimise tissue damage. With the technology patents filed, the team is collaborating with the renowned implantable hearing solutions company Cochlear Limited, the University of Melbourne, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to advance its clinical trials and commercialisation. The team also plans to develop an AI model to enable robots to perform hearing restoration procedures, further enhancing their efficiency, safety, and precision. This invention won the Thailand Award for the Best International Invention and Innovation and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Prof. Tam Haw Yaw and his team have developed an ultrafine, biocompatible plastic optical fibre sensor and integrated it into the cochlear implant electrode arrays to enhance surgical navigation and reduce trauma during cochlear implantation procedures. Dr Cui Jingxian (pictured) who participated in the research introduced the project details. ***END***

AI empowers legal services: leading the future of digital rule of law, PolyU hosts legal technology forum and innovation showcase

A wave of digitalisation has swept across the globe in recent years. Artificial intelligence (AI) is not only bringing disruptive changes to various industries but also creating a new ecosystem for legal services. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the “Envision the Future of AI-Powered Legal Services” forum on campus last Saturday (26 April), jointly organised by the University’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) and the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO). Key figures in attendance included Mr LIU Chunhua, Director-General of Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Barrister Ambrose LAM, Member of the Legislative Council and former President of the Hong Kong Law Society; The Hon Duncan CHIU, Member of the Legislative Council and President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Joint Council; Mr CAI Yi, Deputy to the National People’s Congress and Managing Director of Hong Kong Chengsheng Co., Ltd.; Mr YAO Maolong, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Hong Kong Jiangsu Federation of Community Organisations; Mr WONG Kai-yi, former Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of the HKSAR; Prof. Miranda LOU, PolyU Executive Vice President; and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT. Over 150 representatives, including legal scholars from Hong Kong institutions, partners from major law firms in the Greater Bay Area, leaders from the compliance sectors and entrepreneurs, gathered to explore innovative AI applications and developments in law and compliance. The forum attracted 190,000 online participants via PolyU’s new media platform. The event also showcased the latest technological advancements developed by PolyU-incubated company Wiselaw Digital Technology. Serving National Strategies: Modernising Legal Services with AI PolyU is committed to advancing world-class innovative research and contributing to national development, particularly in the integration of academia and industry in the legal technology sector. Under the national strategy of “Digital Rule of Law”, PolyU leverages the advantages of institutional innovation in the Greater Bay Area to actively explore new pathways for the integration of AI and law, setting new paradigms for reconstructing legal services. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT said, “Hong Kong greatly benefits from ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and plays an important role as the bridge connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world. With the power of technology, Hong Kong has the potential to play a larger role in promoting cross-border cooperation and legal technology innovation. The innovative results showcased at this forum, which deeply integrate AI technology with legal and compliance expertise, are outstanding examples of our PolyVentures ecosystem nurturing exceptional enterprises and reflect PolyU’s innovative culture. Additionally, PolyU PReCIT actively participates in local policy research and formulation, providing forward-looking strategic recommendations to help Hong Kong establish itself as a sustainable international innovation and technology hub.” Mr Liu Chunhua, Director-General of Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, pointed out that this year’s “Government Work Report” clearly outlines the need to develop new productivity tailored to local conditions, promote technological and industrial innovation, and continuously advance the “Artificial Intelligence +” initiative. This approach aims to enhance the innovation capabilities and outreach of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, providing clear guidance for empowering various industries with AI and bringing broad opportunities for Hong Kong’s innovative development. In considering how Hong Kong can contribute to the process of advancing Chinese-style modernisation and achieve better development through accelerated innovation, Mr Liu shared three key insights: Seize Opportunities: Capitalise on the momentum by actively adapting to the transformative upgrades in legal technology, enhancing core competitiveness and integrating into the national development framework. Innovate While Upholding Integrity: Promote the tradition of patriotism and love for Hong Kong, demonstrate professional rationality, embrace exploration, and try new approaches to drive AI in continuously empowering and adding value to the innovation and development of the legal industry. Leverage Advantages: Leverage the advantages of “One Country, Two Systems”, the connectivity of an international legal hub, and the platform advantages of world-class universities and research institutions in Hong Kong. Additionally, harness the talent pool of legal and innovation elites. In particular, capitalise on the unique strengths of Hong Kong’s common law system to meet the needs of the Nation. Cross-Disciplinary Development: AI Driving a New Paradigm in Legal Services With over 20 years of experience in law and finance, Prof. LU Haitian, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance, and core member of PReCIT, delivered a keynote speech titled “Al and the Future of Legal Services”. He discussed the innovative prospects of AI in global legal services, including applications in legal intelligent retrieval and reasoning, and showcased the groundbreaking research results from the PolyU team in AI-powered legal services. Prof. Lu emphasised, “AI is not meant to replace lawyers but to empower legal professionals, making legal services more efficient and precise.” During the event, top legal technology experts and industry leaders from the Greater Bay Area engaged in two panel discussions on the opportunities and developments of AI in legal services. Panel participants included Ms ZHANG Yunyan, Senior Partner of Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm; Barrister Ambrose LAM, Member of the Legislative Council and former President of the Hong Kong Law Society; Ms ZHAO Tong, Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Legal and Compliance of Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited; Mr HUANG Haifeng, Partner at Jones Day; Ms YU Su, Partner of JunHe LLP’s Guangzhou office, The Executive Director of Guangdong Lawyers Association; and Mr Anthony Siu, Founder of Anthony Siu & Company Solicitors & Notaries, engaged in an in-depth discussion on the topic of “Envisioning a New Paradigm for Legal Services”. Additionally, Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of KTEO at PolyU; Prof. YANG Hongxia, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Ms Winnie HAN, former Senior Vice President of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; Dr SHEN Peng, Founder and CEO of Waterdrop Inc. and a recipient of the Outstanding PolyUAlumni Award; and Mr LI Xihuan, CEO, Global Business Group at DCG, shared their insights on “The Infinite Future of AI+Industry Based on Large Models”, providing forward-thinking directions for the collaborative development of legal technology and industry.   (from left to right) Ms Zhang Yunyan, Senior Partner of Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm; Barrister Ambrose Lam, Member of the Legislative Council and former President of the Hong Kong Law Society; Ms Zhao Tong, Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Legal and Compliance of Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited; Mr Huang Haifeng, Partner at Jones Day; and Ms Yu Su, Partner of JunHe LLP’s Guangzhou office, The Executive Director of Guangdong Lawyers Association; and Mr Anthony Siu, Founder of Anthony Siu & Co. Solicitors & Notaries, engaged in an in-depth discussion on the topic of “Envisioning a New Paradigm for Legal Services”.   Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of KTEO at PolyU (1st from left); Prof. Yang Hongxia, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences (online); Ms Winnie Han, former Senior Vice President of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2nd from left); Dr Shen Peng, Founder and CEO of Waterdrop Inc. and a recipient of the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (2nd from right); and Mr Li Xihuan, CEO, Global Business Group at DCG (1st from right), shared their insights on “The Infinite Future of AI+Industry Based on Large Models”.                                                                                                                                                                                                        Breakthroughs from 0 to 1: Launch of an Innovative Smart Legal Platform During the event, Wiselaw Digital Technology, a start-up nurtured under PolyVentures, made its debut with its groundbreaking innovations in legal services. Its core products include four major modules: legal AI agents, a deep-search, a toolbox and a legal library, marking the first release of AI-powered innovations in legal academia and industry. Founded in September 2024 by Prof. Lu Haitan, Wiselaw Digital Technology is Hong Kong’s first innovative tech company applying cross-border legal and compliance large-model intelligent agents. It aims to deeply integrate AI technology with expert knowledge in the legal compliance field to provide legal compliance solutions and services for Chinese enterprises going global, international financial institutions and foreign-related law firms. Wiselaw Digital Technology has received funding from PolyU’s Angel Fund (TSSSU+) and support from the PolyVentures startup ecosystem, successfully entering programmes such as the Cyberport Incubation Programme, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base, and NVIDIA’s Startup Acceleration Program. Looking forward, PolyU will further promote the innovative development of AI in legal services, leveraging Hong Kong’s position as an international legal centre to provide valuable innovative solutions for global legal technology development and contribute to the national “Digital Rule of Law” initiative. The forum attracted more than 150 participants on site and close to 190,000 others online.  ***END***

PolyU unveils large language model-based tourist satisfaction index, providing comprehensive analysis to enhance Hong Kong tourism service quality

As tourism, one of the major pillars of the Hong Kong economy, gradually recovers from the pandemic, the government has planned a series of measures to promote the all-round development of the tourism industry. The Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCdTT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) has developed an innovative, large language model (LLM)-based assessment framework – the Hong Kong Tourist Satisfaction Index (HKTSI) – to evaluate the satisfaction level of inbound tourists to Hong Kong from 2012 to 2024 across different tourism-related sectors, temporal scales and regions. Findings reveal that, while performance variations across different regions were clearly indicated, the TSI rebounded and reached its highest-ever recorded score after the temporary decline during the pandemic. Under the leadership of Prof. Haiyan SONG, Principal Investigator and SHTM Associate Dean, RCdTT Director and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, the TSI was initially introduced in 2009, using a questionnaire-based methodology to evaluate tourists’ satisfaction with various tourism services. Seeking to provide a more comprehensive and accurate analysis, the team has transformed the framework by adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theories from management science, economics and computer science, and leveraging the advanced LLM technology. The enhanced TSI framework offers multi-dimensional analysis, enabling TSI measurement across different dimensions (such as service topics, service sectors and trip types), temporal scales (monthly and annually) and regions. This adaptable approach provides stakeholders with timely, data-driven insights to guide service improvement, policy development and strategic decision-making. Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a global tourism hub hinges on it delivering exceptional service quality that meets travellers’ expectations. The RCdTT-SHTM’s ongoing development of the TSI underscores our commitment to advancing Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class destination for international visitors.” The team gathered over 1.25 million reviews from TripAdvisor, a global Online Travel Agency (OTA) platform, covering 13,694 Hong Kong service providers across five tourism service sectors, namely attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail shops and transportation. The LLM-based assessment framework then utilises Alibaba’s open-source General Text Embedding model to extract semantic insights from the visitor reviews in different languages and formats. Key findings include: 1. Topic-based analysis reveals that the largest proportion of reviews are about “service reliability and safety”. This reflects that reliability in tourism services emerged as the most crucial factor influencing tourist satisfaction, forming the foundation of trust in the travel industry. 2. Since 2012, the Hong Kong TSI has shown an overall upward trend, while consistently scoring above 75 points on a 0-100 scale for the past decade. Despite a temporary decline during the pandemic, Hong Kong TSI levels had fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. 3. Notably, the transportation sector has consistently achieved high TSI scores, largely due to Hong Kong’s well-developed public transport infrastructure, which continues to enhance visitor experiences. Retail shops and restaurants, on the other hand, have lagged behind, primarily owing to price-related factors. The traditional price advantage of retail shops is gradually diminishing, significantly impacted by the rise of e-commerce. Similarly, restaurants in Hong Kong tend to be relatively expensive, prompting some tourists to seek more affordable dining options on the mainland. Figure 1: TSI at destination and sector levels 4. From a spatial perspective, all districts recorded TSI scores above 73 points, yet a north-south divide persists, with higher satisfaction levels in the southern regions and lower levels in the north. The highest TSI values were concentrated along both sides of Victoria Harbour, such as in the Central and Western, and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, while Kowloon City District recorded considerably lower TSI levels, creating a distinct localised satisfaction gap compared to its surrounding districts. Figure 2: TSI Spatial distribution 5. Tourists with different trip types exhibit significant variations in their satisfaction levels towards Hong Kong. Business tourists generally report the highest satisfaction across most sectors, whereas solo travellers exhibit lower satisfaction overall. This may be due to their different needs: business tourists typically prioritise standardised functional requirements, while the solo travellers place greater emphasis on unique and personalised experiences.  6. Language-based analysis further highlights differences in the TSI, with reviews in English and European languages yielding higher satisfaction levels than the Japanese- and Korean- language reviews. This highlights the impact of cultural differences on tourist satisfaction. Objectives of the TSI The LLM-based TSI framework is crafted to deliver regular, data-driven insights that benefit tourism service providers, policymakers and destination management organisations. Through topic-level TSI analysis, for instance, businesses can pinpoint specific areas for service enhancement, while destination- and sector-level assessments provide a broader perspective for strategic planning and policy formulation. Additionally, monthly TSI updates ensure that assessment results remain timely and relevant, enabling swift and informed decision-making. Although the Hong Kong economy has largely recovered from disruptions caused by the pandemic, challenges such as labour shortages, supply constraints, changing economic conditions, evolving consumer behaviour and competition persist. Highlighting the significance of the TSI in tackling these challenges and facilitating relevant decision-making and planning, Prof. Song remarked, “To sustain ongoing recovery, accurate and timely assessment of the satisfaction level of inbound tourists is essential for policymakers and industry practitioners to develop sustainable tourism strategies that will further fortify Hong Kong’s tourism advantages, propel its tourism industry and ultimately promote long-term economic growth in the City.” As technology advances, both destinations and visitors increasingly rely on information and communication technologies to make their decisions. In support of the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector, by harnessing artificial intelligence, LLM and big data analytics, the enhanced TSI assessment framework aims to offer more precise and targeted advice for strengthening tourism service quality and bolstering Hong Kong’s global competitiveness. ***END***