PolyU scholar honoured with BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize for outstanding contributions to advanced manufacturing
Prof. Changyuan YU, Chair Professor of Photonic Information System in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Director of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute, has been awarded the 4th BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (“BOCHK STIP”) in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the research and application of photonic information systems. Since the Prize was established in 2022, PolyU’s world-leading scholars have been widely recognised for their breakthroughs and achievements in innovation and technology. Over four consecutive years, seven PolyU scholars have received six BOCHK STIP awards, spanning the fields of “Life and Health”, “Advanced Manufacturing”, “FinTech” and “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This strong track record is a testament to PolyU’s deep-rooted strength in world-class innovation and technology.
Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “We are greatly encouraged by the continued recognition of PolyU scholars with this prestigious award. This not only reflects the University’s outstanding achievements in advancing interdisciplinary research and technological innovation, but also underscores our strong capability in translating cutting-edge technologies into practical applications across different industries. Looking ahead, PolyU will continue to capitalise on its research strengths to drive the realisation of innovation and technology, contributing to high-quality development and the cultivation of new quality productive forces for Hong Kong and the Nation.”
This year’s BOCHK STIP recognises Prof. Yu and his team for their development of fundamental optical communication systems, including carrier recovery, signal compensation and optical performance monitoring. The team has also pioneered the research and commercialisation of AI-assisted optical fibre sensing systems and a variety of photonic meta-devices and chips, which have promoted the revolution of photonic manufacturing technologies.
Prof. Yu’s research focuses on integrated photonic devices, optical fibre communication, sensing systems, and biomedical instruments. He is an Optica Fellow and formerly served on the Telecommunications Standards Advisory Committee for the Singapore government. His teaching and research achievements are extensive. He has supervised more than 20 postdoctoral researchers and over 40 PhD students, received 16 Best Paper Awards at international conferences, and has led or co-led more than 70 research projects, including a project funded under the Innovation and Technology Commission’s RAISe+ Scheme.
His team has also been very active in commercialising research outcomes, having established several startups and winning numerous major accolades, including the Special Merit Award from “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania and Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2026, the Gold Award at Hong Kong TECHATHON+ 2025 and 2026, the Guangdong Province First Prize of Technological Invention Award in 2020 and the National Championship (biomedical area) in the 3rd China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in 2014.
BOCHK STIP, a non-government merit-based award, was established by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and the title sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong). It aims to reward outstanding scientists and research teams in Hong Kong and in Hong Kong-established institutions located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for their significant achievements in scientific and technological innovation and transformation.
Please download Prof. Changyuan Yu’s portrait here.
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