Media Releases

PolyU holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the new University Square

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony at the new University Square on campus to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The University was honoured to have had Ms WU Cheng, Deputy Director, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Mr WANG Wenxian, Deputy Director, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR officiate the ceremony. They were joined by PolyU’s Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai; President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG; Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence LI Kwok-chang, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, and over 1,000 distinguished guests and PolyU members, and close to 70 visiting teachers and students from Tsinghua University, wishing prosperity and stability for the Nation and Hong Kong. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU’s Chairman of Council remarked, “This year marks the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Through reform and opening up, the Nation has achieved remarkable accomplishments and has become increasingly influential on the global stage, bringing its people tremendous pride. ‘When China succeeds, Hong Kong will prosper’. Hong Kong must fully ensure the steady and sustained implementation of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and integrate itself into the Nation’s overall development. Going forward, PolyU remains committed to promoting a sense of national identity among students and nurturing capable talents who are ready to shoulder greater responsibilities, possess a deep affection for the Nation, and who will leverage their strengths for the betterment of the Nation and Hong Kong.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU’s President said, “As we celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, our Nation has accomplished remarkable achievements in high-quality social and economic development, as well as innovation and technology. As a member of the higher-education sector, PolyU is dedicated to becoming an innovative world-class university as we strive for excellence in education, research, innovation and knowledge transfer. The University will continue providing holistic education to nurture socially responsible talents who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and make further contributions to the Nation’s self-reliance in science and technology.”   ***END***

PolyU nursing scholars awarded prestigious UGC Teaching Award

The Internationalisation at Home (IaH) team from the School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award in the Collaborative Teams category for 2023 in recognition of their achievements in pioneering the adoption of novel IaH activities in nursing education. This new education model goes beyond conventional clinical practices to develop students’ cultural awareness and global competence. The Award was presented by Mr Tim LUI, Chairman of UGC at a presentation ceremony held today. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU congratulated the team, and said, “PolyU is committed to pursuing excellence and impact through its education and research endeavours, while nurturing students to be global-minded leaders. The five members of IaH are enthusiastic proponents of innovative teaching and learning, thus helping to foster professionals who are ready to cope with multi-cultural contexts and the growing demand for healthcare. The team has also extended the impact of IaH to collaborating universities worldwide. We warmly congratulate the team on their accomplishments.” The IaH team, led by Prof. Engle Angela CHAN, Interim Head and Professor of the School of Nursing, included Dr Arkers Kwan-ching WONG, Assistant Professor; Mr Timothy Kam-hung LAI, Associate Professor of Practice; Dr Betty Pui-man CHUNG, Assistant Professor of Practice; and Dr Doris Yuet-lan LEUNG, Adjunct Assistant Professor. To prepare nursing students for their profession in Hong Kong’s culturally diverse society with its increasing healthcare demands, the team has adopted IaH activities in the BS (Hons) in Nursing since 2015. It serves as an alternative to the offline “overseas exchange” learning experience in developing students’ cultural awareness. The team has worked closely with overseas institutions, including Malmo University in Sweden and La Trobe University in Australia, to design a series of online student-led group activities for exchanging insights on major challenges in nursing. The IaH has additionally provided a platform for cultural exchange activities to continue and cultivate talents with global vision during the pandemic. The School of Nursing of PolyU has also integrated IaH activities into a Service-Learning subject, a summer exchange programme and collaborative projects with local and international peers designed to enhance students’ global learning experience, impacting over 1,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students globally. With nine journal articles published and seven presentations at international and local conferences on their IaH work, the team hopes to expand the impact of IaH across multiple disciplines and will integrate virtual reality technology to provide students with an immersive learning experience. Prof. Engle Angela Chan is honoured to receive the award, and said, “I am pleased that our team’s work has been recognised by the UGC. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my teammates and the University for their effort and support. Both drive us to realise our shared vision of providing high-quality training and learning experiences for nursing students. IaH activities focusing on peer learning help students enhance their global competence and ability to communicate with culturally diverse patients by gaining in-depth understanding of clinical practices worldwide through bilateral exchange. We look forward to the wider adoption of IaH activities in collaborative partners to cultivate future nursing professionals.” The UGC Teaching Award was introduced to honour academics of the UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performance and achievements, as well as their leadership in and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses. The Award consists of three categories, namely General Faculty Members, Early Career Faculty Members, and Collaborative Teams. The last is given in recognition of outstanding interdisciplinary pedagogical work.   *** END ***

PolyU makes recommendations for 2023 Policy Address advocating establishment of University Town in the Northern Metropolis and propelling green economy

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has submitted recommendations for the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address during the public consultation period, covering the development of a carbon neutral city, Greater Bay Area (GBA) innovation, and technology (I&T) and the Belt and Road. Key recommendations include: 1. Encouraging the Development of the Green Economy and Building Carbon Neutral Cities PReCIT supports the HKSAR Government in its aim of strengthening global and regional collaboration for building carbon-neutral cities and developing an international carbon market, as well as to leverage the Science Park, Cyberport and tertiary institutions as entry points to support research and development of eco-friendly technologies and encourage businesses to adopt green technologies in their production. It is also recommended that the government considers evaluating the risks and feasibility of introducing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and conducting relevant policy and legal studies. To achieve sustainable waste management, it is suggested that automatic food waste collection and dewatering systems should be in place in newly established public housing estates. Shortening the time between building energy audits and implementation of energy-saving measures could reduce carbon emissions from building construction. Other recommendations include approval of the PolyU Green Deck project which can help publicise the concept of sustainable development for attracting talents and enterprises from around the world to come and settle, live and work in Hong Kong. 2. Building a University Town in the Northern Metropolis to Establish a Seamless I&T Ecosystem The government is advised to optimise existing education policies and establish an international education hub. Building a university town in the Northern Metropolis, together with the provision of accommodation support or housing subsidies to students, will help create a conducive ecosystem for collaboration between industry, academia, research and startups. To tap into the opportunities and address the challenges of digital transformation, PReCIT advocates the government establishing an international data centre and a supercomputing centre, promoting the application of blockchain-based Legal Entity Identifier, optimising the regulation of artificial intelligence, and adopting the PolyU Innovation and Technology Index as an indicator of Hong Kong’s I&T development. In relation to fostering the development of the Chinese Medicine (CM) industry, PReCIT proposes the establishment of a central research platform and an International Dietary Supplement and Botanical Drug Research Centre to strengthen validation of CM’s efficacy and safety. 3. Facilitating Cross-Border Trade Activities and Academic Collaboration with the Belt and Road Countries This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). PReCIT supports the government in promoting cross-border trade activities under the BRI and advocates the establishment of a BRI I&T hub, as well as a government-industry-academia-research consortium dedicated to BRI. It is recommended funds are allocated for interdisciplinary and collaborative research. To attract outstanding students to study and stay in Hong Kong after graduation, the government may consider setting up BRI scholarships, research funding schemes, BRI outstanding student grants and loan schemes. In addition, it is crucial to reinforce promotion of tourism and cultural exchange initiatives in the BRI countries as these can help strengthen connections with these countries, particularly in areas pertaining to ASEAN countries' I&T development. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, said, “Hong Kong has unique geographical advantages, a well-established legal system, and five world-class universities that have attained exceptional achievements in basic scientific research. However, the private sector’s investment in R&D in Hong Kong is relatively low. It is imperative for the government to drive industry-academia-research collaboration and research commercialisation as a new driving force for Hong Kong’s economic growth. As an innovative world-class university, PolyU is committed to providing excellent education and impactful interdisciplinary research in order to support the City’s I&T development.” Prof. Eric CHUI, Co-Director of PReCIT and Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, added, “Talent is a key element for Hong Kong’s development as an international I&T hub. Offering scholarships, grants, and loans to outstanding students from Belt and Road countries, along with a pre-requisite requirement of serving in Hong Kong upon graduation, would be helpful in attracting talents to Hong Kong for long-term contribution and fostering mutual economic collaboration.” Founded in 2022, PReCIT is a university-level interdisciplinary policy research centre. The primary areas of its research include carbon-neutral cities, Greater Bay Area I&T development, and the Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia. For more information about PReCIT, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/. The full recommendation report is available at: https://polyu.me/PolyUPReCIT_2023PolicyAddress_EN   ***END***

69 PolyU students and alumni take part in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou while rehabilitation experts provide support to national athletes and conduct applied research

With the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou approaching, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will send a strong delegation of 69 students and alumni to compete in 20 sports, including swimming, water polo, athletics, fencing, archery and artistic gymnastics. It is the largest PolyU delegation for an Asian Games. We know the PolyU athletes will try their best and strive for excellence to win Asian Games glory for Hong Kong. PolyU has long been supportive of whole-person education and sports development. The Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme, which was established in 1998, has admitted over 1,600 elite athletes to various full-time undergraduate programmes. The University also offers the Elite Athletes Study Programme in partnership with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and participates in the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme to further support young athletes in achieving both academic and sporting excellence. Additionally, PolyU and the Center for Weight Lifting, Wrestling and Judo of the General Administration of Sport of China (the Center) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and an agreement last month to conduct the project “Rehabilitation strategies in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics”. Under the collaborative agreement, PolyU will provide rehabilitation services to the Center, and the Center will assist in conducting applied research focusing on raising exercise performance in order to enhance athletes’ performance and prevent injuries. In order to promote athlete performance and reduce the possibility of injuries, a team led by Prof. Amy FU, Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, will provide rehabilitation services to national athletes in the National Olympic Sports Center in Beijing and other training locations. The team is responsible for formulating a sports recovery research plan, exploring recovery strategies for fatigue and overload strain caused by exercise, and fully preparing the national judo team for the coming Asian Games Hangzhou and Paris Olympics next year.   ***END***

Historian Dr Joseph S.P. Ting leads students to explore Chinese history with PolyU Artists’ Alliance’s first programme “Hong Kong People's Ancestral Origins”

To enhance the University community’s appreciation of Chinese culture and history, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the PolyU Artists’ Alliance (the Alliance). Curated by Alliance member Dr Joseph S.P. TING, also PolyU Historian-in-Residence and former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History, the inaugural programme, flagship historical exploration series “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins”, leads students in exploring historical stories of Guangdong and Hong Kong through thematic talks and site visits. With the support of Dr Liza WANG, Convener of the Alliance, guests, students and alumni, the first talk of the programme was successfully held on 19 September. Established in April this year, the Alliance comprises leading figures and prominent experts in the arts and culture sector in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Aiming to promote the arts and cultural environment of the campus and nurture a younger generation who possesses a strong sense of national identity, it proactively forges collaboration with practitioners in the sector and co-organise activities such as exchanges and public lectures. It also offers advice regarding admission to PolyU of talents in relevant fields. Members of the Alliance represent various domains of art and culture including the performing arts, visual arts, intangible cultural heritage, Chinese history, Chinese literature as well as film and creative media. Among them, many are current and past PolyU Artists-in-Residence who have long supported the University, as detailed in the attachment. The first chapter of “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series, “Explore the Historical Stories of Guangzhou”, commenced with a prelude talk by Dr Ting. During the talk, Dr Ting presented Guangzhou as a renowned city of Lingnan culture with rich history and shed light on the close ties between Guangzhou and Hong Kong from historical and geographical perspectives. To deepen students’ understanding of Guangzhou’s history and the connection between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, Dr Ting, together with Dr Liza Wang, will lead a group of PolyU students to Guangzhou at the end of the month. They will visit local museums and historical sites, including the Nanhai God Temple, Thirteen Hongs Museum, former Whampoa Military Academy, Museum of the Peasant Movement Institute, Chinese Artists Association, Zhenhai Tower and the Liberation Monument in Yuexiu Mountain. After the focus on Guangzhou, the “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series will put the spotlight on Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau to explore the Xiangshan Culture formed uniquely in these three cities and their coordinated development with Hong Kong. The thematic talk and site visits will be held in November.   ***End***

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG re-appointed as PolyU President

The Council of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce today the re-appointment of Prof. Jin-Guang TENG as President of the University for five years. Prof. Teng’s second term will commence on 1 July 2024, and continue until 30 June 2029. The University Council’s Senior Executives Evaluation and Compensation Committee has sought input from various stakeholders, including the University Court, senior management team and deans, the PolyU Staff Association, the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations and student representatives, before recommending the re-appointment of Prof. Teng for Council’s approval. Prof Teng’s re-appointment was unanimously supported by the full Council. Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, congratulated Prof. Teng on his re-appointment. “Prof. Teng is a visionary leader and scholar possessing strong qualities of integrity and accountability. He has been working closely with Council and various other University stakeholders to ensure high-performance execution of the development objectives and strategies devised by Council. Since his appointment in 2019, PolyU has risen from the 106th to 65th place in the QS World University Rankings, reaffirming its reputation as one of the world’s leading universities. Prof. Teng has attached great importance to driving the development of innovation and technology through fostering commercialisation and technology transfer to the industry and addressing societal needs.” Dr Lam stated that as an educator Prof. Teng is committed to whole-person education and nurturing students to become future professionals and leaders with a deep affection for their family and the Nation, and a global perspective. He believes PolyU will continue to excel and reach new heights and forge ahead as an innovative world-class university under the outstanding leadership of Prof. Teng. President Prof. Teng said, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all Council members for their unwavering support. Moving forward, I will make every endeavour to lead the whole PolyU team to uphold the spirit of the University’s motto ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind’, as we strive for excellence in education, research, innovation and knowledge transfer. With our aspiration to be an innovative world-class university, we will continue to contribute to the development and prosperity of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The University will continue providing holistic education to nurture socially responsible talents who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective. In addition, we will pursue impactful innovation and research to address societal needs and contribute to the technological and overall development of Hong Kong and the Nation.”   ***END***

PolyU and Cainiao Group sign Memorandum of Understanding to explore new developments in green logistics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Cainiao Group (Cainiao) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as well as its first collaborative research on Meta-Box, to leverage their respective strengths in scientific innovation and industry development. Through collaborative technology research and development, the partnership aims to advance green, efficient and intelligent logistics solutions. The signing ceremony took place on the PolyU campus. Witnessed by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, Prof. WEN Chih-Yung, Head of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE), Mr NIU Zhijing, Vice President of Cainiao Group, and Ms WANG Yi, International Affairs Director of Cainiao Public Affairs (South China), Dr XU Gangyan, Assistant Professor of AAE of PolyU and Mr Leung Kam Un, General Manager, Import-Supply Chain Management (Overseas)-Operations (Hong Kong) of Cainiao, signed the MoU. PolyU’s Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. Wang Zuankai expressed that as a loyal partner to the business community, PolyU has been committed to promoting scientific research and innovation by integrating valuable technologies with industries to address various technical challenges. The collaboration with Cainiao exemplifies this commitment. He believes by working together, PolyU and Cainiao can tackle technological and environmental challenges in the logistics industry, and contribute to creating a greener and more efficient logistics system in Hong Kong. Cainiao’s Vice President Mr Niu Zhijing stated that since its establishment, Cainiao has been dedicated to green logistics efforts, “The future of express delivery lies not only in speed but in green solutions. A green future requires not only enthusiasm and attitude but also innovative research and solutions to achieve the unity of environmental and commercial sustainability.” Mr Niu added, “With the joint efforts of both teams, it is believed that we can combine complex logistics scenarios, achieve breakthroughs in digitisation and low-carbon circulating containers, and contribute to the construction of a sustainable and digitized logistics system for Hong Kong on a larger scale”. The relevant pioneering research led by Dr Xu Gangyan of AAE, will focus on developing an intelligent and recyclable transport carrier “Meta-Box”. This technology will enhance transportation efficiency, reduce costs and promote sustainable development by connecting various modes of transportation within a new smart logistics system known as the Cyber-Physical Internet.   About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective. It also pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University’s unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. Cainiao Group Cainiao, founded in 2013, is a leading global smart logistics company that focuses on industrialisation, globalisation and digitisation of logistics operations. While continuously innovating in the business field, Cainiao also integrates Environmental, Social and Governance measures into every aspect of the logistics value chain. Through initiatives such as green orders, recycling and transportation, Cainiao has pioneered a path towards digital decarbonisation in green logistics. Hong Kong, serving as an important logistics hub for Cainiao Group, is one of the three major aviation hubs (ehub) established globally. Cainiao’s consolidated delivery services have served over 2.6 million Hong Kong citizens in the past few years, with an average of one in every three Hong Kong residents having used Cainiao’s services. In the future, Cainiao will continue its solid operations in Hong Kong, promoting end-to-end green logistics and providing the people of Hong Kong with high-quality and low-carbon logistics services.   ***END***

27 projects at PolyU secure funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund for promising healthcare solutions

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received total funding support of HK$25.1 million for 27 projects from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) in its 2021 funding exercise, signifying an increase in both the number of projects and total amount awarded. The PolyU projects that received awards represent a broad spectrum of disciplines in which the University excels, including biology and chemical technology, health technology, nursing care, optometry, rehabilitation sciences, linguistics, and the social sciences. Researchers from the PolyU Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science and School of Design are among those awarded funding to develop innovative and impactful solutions, aiming at enhancing the quality of medical and mental healthcare. Their ground-breaking research addresses pressing health issues and offer innovative solutions that benefit individuals across all age groups. The projects cover a broad spectrum of subjects, including cognitive and physical training for older adults, early detection of postpartum depression, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, Parkinson’s disease, autism disorder and system-biology analytics for schizophrenia. Other projects focus on advancing medical progress in critical disease in areas such as liver cancer radiotherapy and palliative care. In the field of eye health, projects encompass myopia control, development of an anti-glaucoma agent and development of drugs for antibiotic and infection treatment. Moreover, specific projects aim to support caregivers by enhancing their mental health care services while also meeting the needs of patients. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “The funded projects showcase PolyU’s prowess in impactful research, leveraging the University’s strength in interdisciplinary studies. These 27 studies encompass diverse medical and mental facets of human needs, spanning from diagnosis to treatment, prevention, recovery, and both physical and psychological care. This unique breadth of expertise highlights the University’s longstanding excellence in these fields.” Effective clinical diagnosis and analysis Effective clinical diagnosis and analysis have been advanced through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as deep learning and machine learning. Prof. Weixong ZHANG, Chair Professor of Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics at the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, leads the project “Subtyping and Diagnosis of Schizophrenia by Systems-biology Analytics.” AI technologies are used to integrate genomic and neuroimaging data to understand disease etiology and subtypes of schizophrenia for personalised medicine. Accurate measurement of tumour motion and volume for better radiotherapy planning is initiated in the project “Investigation of a Deep Learning-empowered 4D multi-parametric MRI (4D-mpMRI) Technique for Liver Cancer Radiotherapy in a Prospective Clinical Trial.” Led by Dr Tian LI, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, the project aims to enhance the image quality and clinical efficacy of 4D-mpMRI radiotherapy technique. Physical and mental wellbeing management Technology plays a crucial role in rehabilitation management. Autism spectrum disorder remains a highly disabling condition with no cure. Recently, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promise as a treatment to reduce core symptoms in patients with autism. Dr Yvonne Ming Yee HAN, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences leads the project “Cumulative and Booster Effects of Multisession Prefrontal Transcranial Direct-current Stimulation on Cognitive and Social Impairments in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” The project aims to study the long-term efficacy of tDCS for improving the cognitive and social functions of individuals with autism. Online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) education can improve mental wellbeing of teenagers with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and their parents. Dr Yu Lok WONG, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences leads the project “Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Versus Active Controls in Improving Psychological Functions of Parents and Children with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial” which aims to identify the benefits of ACT. Creative technologies have been applied to enhance the efficacy of physical and mental treatment in both clinical and community settings. Dr Shanshan WANG, Research Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing, leads the project “Effects of e-bibliotherapy on the Psychological Wellbeing of Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” An e-bibliotherapy app/manual has been developed to improve the psychological wellbeing and health-related quality of life for caregivers. Integration of the traditional exercise Qigong and VR-based training is introduced in the project “A VR-based Real-time Interactive Tutoring System for Qigong Training among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Familial Caregivers: A Feasibility Study.” The project is led by Dr Hailiang WANG, Assistant Professor of the School of Design, and aims to design an innovative VR-based Qigong exercise platform for older adults to delay the progressive course of dementia. Infection management and antibiotic drug development The management of infections and development of antibiotic drugs have long been important areas of focus in medicine. Prof. Sheng CHEN, Chair Professor of Microbiology and Head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition leads the project “Development of Bithionol Analogues as β-Lactamase Inhibitor for Clinical Treatment of Infections Caused by Enterobacteriaceae Strains Carrying Class B1 Metallo-β-Lactamases.” The objective of this project is to develop drug candidates for the treatment of infections. Dr Wing Leung WONG, Assistant Professor of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, leads the project “Investigation of Unnatural Amino Acid-based Diseleno Derivatives as the Target-specific Covalent Inhibitor of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1).” The aim of this project is to combat antibiotic resistance in bacteria, particularly superbugs. Preventive measures in optometry Research in primary eye care is of fundamental importance in protecting vision and preventing eye-related disease in the long-term. Dr Chi-wai DO, Associate Professor of the School of Optometry leads the project “Characterization of Baicalein, a Natural Molecule, as Anti-glaucoma Agent.” The project is conducting research on baicalein, a natural molecule, to examine its therapeutic significance in treating glaucoma, a sight-threatening eye disease. Focusing on myopia control in schoolchildren, Dr Ka Man CHUN, Research Assistant Professor of the School of Optometry leads the project “Combination Effect of Optical Defocus and Low Dose Atropine in Myopia Control – A Randomized Clinical Trial.” The project combines optical and pharmaceutical intervention to control the progression of myopia in schoolchildren. About HMRF The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) was established by the Health Bureau in 2011. It aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance the standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence, through the generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge in health and medicine. In addition to health and medical research, the HMRF also provides support for health promotion projects, research infrastructure and research capacity building initiatives. For details of the 27 funded projects, please refer to: https://polyu.me/3r8wvTp .   ***END***

AiDLab and Banitore® forge strategic partnership to revolutionise textile inspection

The Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab) and Banitore® have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in textile inspection. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as the world's innovative AI-based Textile Inspection System (AiTIS) enters the market and is used for the first time in the inspection process of Banitore®'s face mask products. The demand for hygiene and protective products, especially face masks, has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conventional method of mask product inspection relies heavily on human visual assessment, which is known for its low efficiency, instability and high labour costs. This traditional approach also often fails to keep pace with automated high-speed production, resulting in a bottleneck where the speed of production and quality inspection do not align and so the daily production quantity of masks is significantly reduced. To help address this problem, AiDLab developed the revolutionary AiTIS system for the mask inspection process. By leveraging this innovative system, Banitore® can now achieve a remarkable testing capacity of up to 500 masks per minute, with an accuracy rate surpassing 99%. This ground-breaking advancement has boosted overall mask productivity by an impressive 25-30%. AiTIS is applicable to various textile materials, including woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics, and even leather products. In this partnership with Banitore®, AiTIS has been applied to the inspection process of non-woven fabric face masks. Banitore® plans to extend the application of AiTIS to other product lines In July 2020, Banitore® responded to the high level of demand for masks in the Hong Kong market by introducing two fully-automated 3D high-speed mask production lines. However, in the initial stages, quality inspection still relied on human visual inspection, which posed limitations on the daily shipment quantity. In order to ensure the highest product quality standards and increase shipment quantity, the company initiated a trial application of AiTIS inspection at the end of 2021. With the rapid and professional technical support from AiDLab’s research team, the entire mask inspection process has been enhanced, improving the labour-intensive manual inspection process during the challenging period of the pandemic and helping ensure employee safety. Banitore® plans to expand the application of the AiTIS system to its overseas production lines, including adult diapers, sanitary napkins, and other non-woven personal care and hygiene products. Supported by the government-funded InnoHK initiative, AiTIS is a research project developed by the AiDLab team. By utilising AiTIS for inspection, product control and efficiency can be improved, helping to ensure stability of product quality and cost savings. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, AiDLab’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University said, “This collaboration serves as an exemplary case of leveraging the combined strengths of academia, industry and research, resulting in successful commercialisation. We believe that collaborative efforts with industry are an indispensable foundation for successfully commercialising scientific research outcomes. AiDLab will continue to maintain close connections with the industry, to best understand its technological needs and foster further innovative advancements.” Prof. Calvin WONG, CEO and Centre Director of AiDLab, expressed his honor in establishing this strategic partnership with Banitore®. He said, “This collaboration brings innovation and improvement to the field of textile inspection. As the world's first AI-based textile inspection system, AiTIS will provide crucial support for Banitore's quality control and production efficiency. Through this partnership, we look forward to adopting artificial intelligent technology to revolutionise the textile industry and setting higher quality standards for global textile manufacturers.” Mr Martin LI, Executive Director of Banitore® said, “As a homegrown Hong Kong brand, Banitore® has always been committed to providing high-quality products to Hong Kong consumers. AiDLab, also a Hong Kong-based research platform, has efficiently met our requirements with their research and technical team optimising and customising the testing procedures and hardware settings for us. Through our collaboration with AiDLab, we have been able to further enhance our production and testing capabilities, ensuring that our products meet our high standards. AiDLab's contribution is indispensable in the recognition and support received from retailers and consumers in the Hong Kong market.” The strategic partnership between AiDLab and Banitore ®will bring intelligent and efficient solutions to the textile industry. As AI technology continues to develop, more companies will adopt these innovative technologies to enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure product quality and supply chain reliability. About the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab) AiDLab is the first research platform that focuses on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with design. It was jointly established by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Royal College of Art (RCA) in the UK and is funded by the HKSAR Government under the InnoHK Research Clusters. Located at the Hong Kong Science Park, AiDLab has established a new creative cluster of AI in design and is in a leading position internationally to conduct interdisciplinary research that drives innovation and sustainability, and makes a positive impact on both industry and society. AiDLab brings together a diverse mix of leading researchers and practitioners from its founding institutions to conduct research in three thematic programmes: Ergonomic and Inclusive Design, Innovation in Product and Service Design, and Intelligent Fashion Design and Quality Control.   About Banitore® Banitore® has been providing personal first aid and healthcare products to the Hong Kong market since the 1980s, firmly rooted for 40 years. In response to the recent pandemic, Banitore® has established mask production facilities in Hong Kong and introduced various preventive and epidemic-related products worldwide. With the company’s superior products and longstanding reputation, Banitore® has gained recognition from different government departments, renowned private institutions and individuals. Amidst the pandemic, Banitore® was the exclusive mask supplier for Hong Kong's largest marathon event and had the privilege of supplying epidemic prevention products to various Hong Kong sports associations, athletic clubs, tertiary institutions and renowned athletes.   ***End***

PolyU collaborates with two technology innovation investment companies to promote research commercialisation in GBA

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