News

Visit by delegation from Hetao Development Authority Visit

A delegation led by Ms LI Huilai, Deputy Director of Hetao Development Authority visited PolyU on 24 April and they toured  three laboratories:  State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch), and Smart Cities Research Institute.  Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU; Prof. CHOW Ming-cheung, Larry, Head of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Ir Prof. Michael C.H. YAM, Head of Department of Building and Real Estate; and Prof. John W.Z. SHI, Director of Smart Cities Research Institute and Chair Professor held a meeting with the delegation. Their discussion mainly focused on the future development and collaboration opportunities in the promising Hetao Area. PolyU remains committed to fostering collaboration with industry counterparts and governmental entities to promote knowledge transfer, research excellence, and societal impact.   

PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care to expand impact and accelerate market penetration of patented myopia control technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is partnering with ZEISS Vision Care, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments, to expand the global impact and speed up the market penetration of PolyU’s proprietary myopia control lens technologies through global partnership involving IP licensing and joint research and development. The licensing agreement signing ceremony was held at ZEISS Vision Care’s headquarters in Aalen, Germany, and attended by distinguished representatives from both parties including Prof. Chea-su KEE, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry; Dr Benjamin VIERING, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer, ZEISS Vision Care; Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU and Mr Timo KRATZER, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care. Inventors of the myopia control technologies from the PolyU School of Optometry, including Dr Dennis TSE, Associate Professor; Prof. Chi-ho TO, Visiting Chair Professor and Prof. Carly LAM,Adjunct Professor, were also present at this important event. Under the terms of the agreement, ZEISS will adopt PolyU’s patented myopia control technology in its specialised optical products. Furthermore, this partnership paves the way for a long-term collaboration in research and development between PolyU and ZEISS, focusing on myopia control and other ophthalmic technologies. The close relationship between PolyU and ZEISS started some years ago when both partners began to explore collaboration on research and education. Following the signing ceremony, the PolyU delegation toured ZEISS Vision Care’s state-of-the-art laboratories and production facilities, and held constructive discussions with ZEISS representatives on future joint research and development. Mr Kelvin Wong expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and said, “This collaboration with a global industry leader like ZEISS Vision Care not only accelerates the market presence of our innovations but also amplifies the impact of our research and endeavours in commercialisation. PolyU innovations in the areas of myopia control and other ophthalmic issues are poised to make unprecedented societal impact.” The partnership between PolyU and ZEISS Vision Care is expected to create further innovative solutions that will enhance vision preservation and improvement for people around the world. Dr Benjamin Vieringadded, “PolyU and ZEISS have been working closely together for many years. Further research into the understanding and treatment of myopia is of paramount importance and requires intensive cooperation between academia and industry. We are therefore very pleased to deepen our cooperation to combat progressive myopia for the benefit of children around the world.” PolyU has been at the forefront of addressing myopia, an eye disorder that affects one-third of the global population, with a novel non-invasive solution to control the development of myopia in children. In particular, researchers from the School of Optometry have developed advanced myopia control technologies, which have been incorporated in specialised contact lenses and spectacle lenses. Since their launch in 2018, these innovative products have reached millions of people worldwide, positively impacting the lives of children with myopia and establishing PolyU as the market leader in myopia control technology.

PolyU collaborates with Axis Therapeutics to establish joint laboratory for immunotherapy

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has entered into a formal collaboration with Axis Therapeutics (Axis) to foster cancer immunotherapy research and development, with the aim of improving cancer treatment for patients in Hong Kong. This collaboration will facilitate clinical trials of new T-cell receptor therapy using the newly established clinical Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility at PolyU, which is compliant with the GMP Guide for the Advanced Therapy Products (ATPs), and the development of at least 30 new targeting agents against novel T-cell targets in cancer immunotherapy. An agreement signing ceremony for the establishment of the PolyU-Axis Therapeutics Joint Laboratory for Immunotherapy was held on 18 April. Witnessed by Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU’s Deputy President and Provost; Mr Yonghui WANG, Chairman/President of Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (XPH) and President of Axis; Mr Kejian ZHANG, Chairman of the Strategic Development Committee of XLifeSc; and Dr Johnson Yiu Nam LAU, co-founder of Axis and Adjunct Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU, the agreement was signed by Prof. Larry Ming Cheung CHOW, Head of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; and Dr Lun ZENG, CEO of Axis and CEO of XLifeSc. Prof. Wing-tak Wong said that this collaboration would strengthen PolyU’s ongoing efforts in conducting cutting-edge research in life science, especially in the area of translational medicine in cell therapy for treating various diseases including cancers, making contribution to the development of the Greater Bay Area into an innovation hub for cell therapy. Over the years, PolyU researchers have been engaged in the development of three new drugs that have obtained the status of Investigational New Drug (IND) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials, all involved in cancer drug treatment. Both small molecules like flavonoids and biologics (arginase enzymes) have been developed at PolyU by the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. Immunotherapy and cell therapy are two of the most important discoveries for treating cancer of the past decade. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the discovery of the importance in cancer treatment of T-lymphocyte proteins CTLA-4 and PD-1. This opened a new area of “immune checkpoint therapy” whereby the cancer patient’s own immune system can be reactivated to kill the cancer cells. Another type of immunotherapy is the “adoptive cell therapy” where cancer patient’s own T-cells are collected, genetically modified to give them new function to kill cancers and then expanded in large numbers before being administered back to patients. One example of this therapy is T-cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T), where XPH and its subsidiaries XLifeSc and Axis are the global leaders in this field. Mr Yonghui Wang emphasised that XPH had been committed to the cell therapy programme since 2012. In 2018, Axis entered into an MOU with PolyU to bring cell therapy to cancer patients in Hong Kong. Axis/XLifeSc focuses on utilising the T-cell adoptive immunotherapy technology (TAEST technology) to treat cancers and has engaged in the research into and development of a new generation of anti-tumor TCR-T with a high specificity and affinity for a wide range of malignant solid tumors. Importantly, Axis already has two products with IND approvals in China for soft tissue sarcoma and primary liver cancer. The collaboration with PolyU will further enable Axis to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong and benefits patients in the city. Moving forward, Axis will collaborate with PolyU in the development of up to 30 further targeting biologics, which could be adapted into novel cell therapy of the future. With the funding support from the University Grants Committee, PolyU established a new clinical cGMP facility on campus which is compliant with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S)’s GMP Guide for the clinical research and development in the ATPs. This cGMP facility will use an isolator for aseptic handling of human stem cells or immune cells for regenerative medicine or immunotherapy clinical trials. It will be also equipped with a training production facility to provide professional training. PolyU researchers will work closely with Axis to unveil new tumour targeting biologics, including TCR-like antibodies, and to explore and develop them for cancer treatment based on cell therapy approach.

PolyU scholar honoured with international GIScience awards, visited by renowned academic for the research center

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) scientists excel in the scientific research of geomatics and GeoAI to address societal and environmental challenges, receiving international awards and visit from esteemed academician.  Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Global STEM Professor, and Principal Investigators and Directors of the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) and the JC Stem Lab Earth Observations (POLEIS) at PolyU, has defined urban remote sensing as a new field and has transformed urban environmental research through theoretical and technical advancements. These include novel algorithms and innovative methods for sub-pixel-scale analysis and time series imagery. Prof. WENG has been honoured with the 2024 AAG Wilbanks Prize for Transformational Research in Geography presented by the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The Wilbanks Prize is awarded to geographers who have made groundbreaking contributions in the fields of Geography and GIScience.  Additionally, Prof. WENG has received the Remote Sensing Speciality Group’s (RSSG) Lifetime Achievement Honour Award for the year of 2024, which serves as a testament to his significant contributions to the field of remote sensing. The RSSG of AAG is dedicated to promoting the understanding of remote sensing science and fostering dialogue and interaction among geographers in the applications of remote sensing technology across various domains, including research, teaching, public service and private enterprise.  From heatwaves to pandemic diseases, the urban environments worldwide face numerous challenges. Prof. WENG and his research team are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and informatics to address emerging concerns related to environmental changes and urban growth.  Innovative geospatial and AI technologies offer ground-breaking solutions and insights into the dynamic changes occurring in our natural and social surroundings. The applications of GeoAI are rapidly expanding across various fields, encompassing transportation, urban and public safety, planning, climate change and natural disasters. The research led by Prof. WENG has significantly advanced our theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge of urban heat islands, urban sprawl, urbanization effects, and urban environmental sustainability. By establishing relationships among satellite thermal infrared imagery, land surface temperature, and air temperature, the research connects remotely sensed data to urban spatial patterns, radiation budgets, and climate change. The methodology, developed in collaboration with other researchers in 2024, for estimating land-surface temperature from satellite-derived attributes of vegetation, has had far-reaching impacts in various fields, including urban geography, landscape ecology, urban planning, urban meteorology, and climatology. Prof. WENG is also a Foreign Member of The Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea), and a Fellow of IEEE, AAAS, ASPRS and AAIA. Moreover, recently, Prof. Jun CHEN, an esteemed member of the International Advisory Committee of the Research Institute of Land and Space and Chief Scientist at the National Geomatics Centre of China, visited the RCAIG and POLEIS research centre led by Prof. WENG. Prof. WENG and Prof. CHEN engaged in insightful dialogues covering frontiers in scientific research of geomatics and GeoAI and the advantageous research climate fostered by the Hong Kong SAR Government's favourable policies. The research team of Prof. WENG took this opportunity to present their latest research initiatives to Prof. CHEN. Their presentations covered advanced remote sensing for environmental monitoring, urban heat island effect analysis, and cutting-edge techniques in global urban mapping, among other topics. These presentations underscored PolyU’s innovative drive in geospatial technology and GeoAI. Prof. CHEN also delivered an insightful talk to the research team as well. For More: https://polyu.hk/krgeW Learn more about Prof. Qihao Weng’s research focus in the video: https://polyu.me/3Vt7yih  

PolyU hosted technology exchange event with Jiangsu province

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) of PolyU co-organised an exchange event with Jiangsu Science and Technology Department and Productivity Centre of Jiangsu Province on campus on 16 April.  The event aimed to connect Jiangsu enterprises with PolyU researchers. Approximagely 70 participants and 20 Jiangsu enterprises participated in this academic and industry exchange programme.  Prof. Christina Wong, Director of RIO, delivered a welcoming remark to warmly welcome the Jiangsu delegates. A poster exhibition area showcasing Jiangsu enterprises and PolyU research was arranged to facilitate potential collaborations in three themes: Manufacturing Technology, AI/IoT, and Green Technology.

PolyU shares with THE Campus how the university supports world-changing research

To generate world-changing research, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Research and Innovation Office takes on the role of fostering collaboration and allocation of resources to allow their academics to focus completely on their work. THE Campus has published our insights on how to enable academics to focus on their work, findings, and potential applications through comprehensive support. This has led to impactful research projects and brought innovative solutions for society across wide-ranging fields. The full article (English Only) : THE Campus - Researchers need support to change the world – here’s how to provide it Learn more about the successful research promotion cases shared in the article: PolyU scholar’s transformative work on the Leidenfrost effect PolyU supports new wholesale central bank digital currency project PolyU projects supported by RGC Theme-based Research Scheme funding Young Innovative Researcher Award Optoelectronic graded neurons for perceiving dynamic motion

PolyU showcases innovative technologies at the Digital Economy Summit 2024

PolyU is participating in the flagship event, Digital Economy Summit (DES) 2024, jointly organised by the HKSAR government and Cyberport on 12-13 April. As the Innovation Research Partner of the event, PolyU showcases the latest technologies of AR, blockchain, cybersecurity, and precise positioning to the participants.  Prof. Allen Au, Professor of the Department of Computing at PolyU and founding members of the CBDC Expert Group, will join the panel discussion on 13 April to share his insights on how CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) empowers the development of Hong Kong's economy. DES serves as a platform for thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers to collaborate, share insights, and explore how cutting-edge technologies and innovative applications are reshaping the urban landscape and the modern digital economy. The event is attracting over 5,000 online and onsite attendees from around the world. Click here for more information>>

Visit by delegation of Hefei government

A delegation led by Hefei Municipal People’s Government Mayor Mr YunFeng LUO visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 11 April. The delegation was welcomed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement) of PolyU. Prof. TENG introduced the latest developments of PolyU to the delegation, as well as its strategic focus on research collaborations with the mainland.  PolyU seeks to make substantial contributions to the economic prosperity of both regions, ultimately supporting the nation in attaining high-quality development. Last October, PolyU and the Hefei Luyang People’s Government reached an MoU to jointly establish the PolyU-Hefei Technology and Innovation Research Institute (the Research Institute), with the aim of fostering in-depth and effective collaboration in industry, academia and research and cultivating talents.  Both parties are now working towards the establishment of the Research Institute, which contributes to enhancing and facilitating research development, academic exchange, nurturing of talent, and knowledge transfer in various fields, including biomedical and sensing precision technology, and aerospace information. By leveraging the research and academic excellence of PolyU, these collaborations support the development of a top-notch innovation platform in Hefei.  Click here for more: https://polyu.hk/PTOXK  

Visit by Delegation of Quanzhou Government

A delegation led by the Quanzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, along with leading industry representatives from the textile and garment, sports footwear and apparel, and new materials sectors, visited PolyU on 11 April. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU warmly welcomed the delegation. The delegation was guided through a tour of School of Design, the University Research Facility in 3D Printing, and the PolyU-Huawei Joint Laboratory for Optical Interconnection Network and Advanced Computing System, providing an in-depth look at PolyU's achievements in design and scientific innovation. During the meeting, both parties engaged in a thorough discussion on facilitating the practical application of research achievements. PolyU hopes to further strengthen technological collaboration with Fujian government entities and businesses, making a greater contribution to the economic prosperity of both regions.  

PolyU and Alibaba Cloud join hands to advance signal quality estimation technology, driving dynamic networks adoption in the telecoms industry Deployed by data centres in 15 countries and regions; network capacity potentially increases by 10%

Prof. Alan LAU, Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and his research team, have recently collaborated with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, to develop signal quality estimation technology, driving the adoption of dynamic networks in the telecommunications industry. The research team led by Prof. Alan Lau has collaborated with Alibaba Cloud’s technical team to conduct research on Alibaba Cloud’s robust cloud computing platform. By measuring the signal strength at various positions and channels on the fiber-optic network, and integrating the technologies of optics, physics and big data analytics, they have been able to provide a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of signal quality. The research outcomes help cloud service providers gain a deeper understanding of the overall state of signal transmission, enhance the stability of dynamic networks, and strengthen their ability to implement such networks effectively. Adopting PolyU’s new technology, the estimation error of signal-to-noise ratio – a measure comparing the desired and undesired signals – has been reduced from 22% to 4%. In addition, the technology can potentially increase network capacity by 10% under the same level of reliability. The research project has secured matching funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission’s Partnership Research Programme. The technology has been extensively deployed by Alibaba Cloud in its data centres spanning 15 countries and regions, making a positive impact to the cloud provider in supporting notable e-commerce sales events, such as the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival and the upcoming 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival. As the demand for emerging multimedia network applications such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), metaverse, future 6G mobile network communication and high-definition live video streaming continues to surge, cloud service providers are frequently faced with ad-hoc needs for ultra-fast network connections within a short timeframe and specific range. A dramatic shift toward online shopping, exemplified by events like the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other large-scale events or festivals has led to an increase in the demand for real-time communication within a limited timeframe, resulting in a surge in network traffic. Prof. Alan Lau said, “While cloud service providers can keep up with traffic demand by expanding bandwidth in their fibre-optic networks, the addition or removal of bandwidth in their networks can lead to nonlinear interference, which ultimately affects the quality of existing signals. As a result, providers tend to be prudent when it comes to scaling up the implementation of dynamic networks. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the accuracy of signal quality assessment in dynamic environments.” Dr Xie Chongjin, Senior Director and Chief Telecommunication Scientist of Infrastructure Product Unit, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, stated, “The technology developed by PolyU is easy to implement and has been applied to Alibaba Cloud’s network operation platforms deployed in 15 countries and regions worldwide. It has effectively enhanced the reliability and agility of our network, allowing us to support future network traffic demand. We look forward to further strengthening cooperation with PolyU to continue driving the innovation and advancement of telecommunication technology.”