News

Intellectual Property Assessment Committee held its Second Annual Meeting

Pioneering the practices in knowledge transfer and intellectual property (IP) management in tertiary institutions, the Intellectual Property Assessment Committee (IPAC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its Second Annual Meeting on 2 September 2015. IPAC serves to enhance PolyU’s knowledge transfer activities by improving IP assessment, the quality of PolyU’s patent portfolio, as well as the commercialization potential of our inventions. It establishes a platform for PolyU to solicit opinions from a wide scope of specialized expertise that is not only confined to the academia but also from a pool of prominent businessmen and industrialists from various industries. As the Chairman of IPAC, Ir Professor Alexander Wai, Vice President (Research Development), expressed at the meeting his heart-felt gratitude to committee members for their participation in IPAC by providing invaluable insights into materializing the real-world application of PolyU’s research and technologies.  The upcoming launch of PolyU IP Portal was further announced at the meeting. Supported by an IP management software suite, the Portal serves to streamline the invention disclosure process at PolyU with web-based interfaces for invention submission, access of information and records, patent evaluation, as well as report generation. With the transformation brought by the full-fledged operation of the Portal, PolyU envisions higher efficacy and capacity in IP management. Apart from the Portal, committee members also explored the potential commercialization alternatives for PolyU’s IP at the meeting. PolyU would further look into different mechanisms for commercialization including the establishment of patent pools and patent commons with the ultimate aim of benefiting the society at large with its inventions. IPAC will continue to contribute to PolyU’s advances in IP management and knowledge transfer. To view the snapshots of the meeting, please visit here.

PolyU and Kinex’s collaboration on Apigenin Flavonoid Dimer

PolyU proudly announced another success in our collaboration across industry and institutions in materializing uplifts in our quality of life by entering into a licensing agreement with Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Kinex) on the commercialization of Apigenoid Flavonoid Dimer, which brings pioneering and revolutionary leaps in cancer treatments. Apigenin Flavonoid Dimer, the MDR Locker – a breakthrough in inhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells Under the seamless collaboration among PolyU Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology (ABCT), McGill University, PolyU Partner State Key Laboratory of Chirosciences and PolyU Shenzhen-based State Key Laboratory for Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, the research team led by Professor Larry Chow and Professor Bill Chan from ABCT succeeded in developing Apigenin Flavonoid Dimer as a novel inhibitor to prevent drug efflux through modified extracts from Apigenin. The Apigenin Flavonoid Dimer serves to reverse drug resistance by binding the cancer cell’s drug pump. Furthermore, it enhances the absorption of cancer drugs in the digestive system, elevating the quality of chemotherapy treatment in terms of efficacy, convenience and comfort through the oral intake of cancer drugs. The licensing of Apigenin Flavonoid Dimer was concluded in the applause over the joint signatures by PolyU Executive Vice President Mr Nicholas Yang and Kinex Chairman and CEO Dr Johnson YN Lau. PolyU spares no effort in advancing technology transfer with the aim of propelling research constituting significant impacts on people’s quality of life. Driven by our long-established vision as well as a myriad of successful experiences, we aspire to make bolder strides in the elevation of technology ahead. Kindly refer to further details on this collaborative technological advancement here. 

Business of IP Asia Forum 2014

PolyU continues to support the 4th edition of BIP Asia which took place in December this year. Last year, the event drew over 1600 participants from over 23 countries and regions in the industry, academia and government sectors, and was most invaluable in building networks, obtaining first-hand knowledge in the field, and exploring collaborative opportunities with potential partners. The Asia IP Exchange platform was also launched at the same time to boost Hong Kong’s IP trade. PolyU is a supporting organization of BIP Asia and a strategic partner of the Asia IP Exchange platform. ITDO continues to encourage participation of its staffs and students to foster a deeper understanding on the topic. For more information about BIP Asia, please visit here. For more information about Asia IP Exchange, please visit here.

China International Food Safety & Quality Conference + Expo (CIFSQ) 2014

ITDO and PolyU’s Food Safety and Technology Research Centre [FSTRC] and Food Safety Consortium [FSC] joint force to promote PolyU’s food safety related capabilities and explore collaboration opportunities through exhibition and attendance at the CIFSQ 2014, one of the most representative food safety events held every year in China. The event attracted over 800 food safety professionals from over 19 countries, and numerous leading figures and experts to address a diverse range of topics highlighting the critical issues, approaches, and solutions to strengthening food protection in China and around the world. Dr. Zhongping YAO, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology spoke on “Rapid Authentication of Edible Oils by MALDI-MS” while Dr. Terence Lau, Director of Innovation and Technology Development, co-chaired the session on “Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Detection: Varying International Perspectives” and spoke on “Application of Molecular Testing Technology on Food Pathogen Detection and Surveillance – an Experience Sharing”. To view the snapshots of CIFSQ 2014, please visit here. To view the Post Event Report, please visit here. For more information about FSTRC, please visit http://www.polyu.edu.hk/abct/fstrc/en/index.php. For more informatio about CIFSQ, please visit http://www.chinafoodsafety.com/.

PolyU Signs Commercialization and Collaboration Agreement with Avalon

PolyU signed with Avalon Nanofibre Limited (Avalon) to commercialize and conduct further research on nanofibre technology platform developed by Professor Wallace Woon-fong Leung, Chair Professor of Innovation Products & Technologies, Department of Mechanical Engineering. The agreement was signed by Dr. Henry Feng, CEO of Avalon and PolyU’s Executive Vice President Mr. Nicholas Yang at the signing ceremony cum press conference held on October 23, 2014 (Thursday). The ceremony was kicked off with the opening remarks delivered by Mr. Yang.  Professor Alex Wai, PolyU Vice President (Research Development) further gave a speech highlighting the collaboration as “PolyU’s success in technology transfer model from the promotion of up-stream collaborative research to technology development and commercialization”. Dr. Feng and Dr. Manson Fok, Chairman of Avalon, further shared at the ceremony on the significant impacts and technological breakthroughs the technology brought to the industry. Right after the signing of the agreement, Professor Leung illustrated to the audience the technical backgrounds and applications of the edge-cutting nanofibre technology.   Kindly refer to PolyU’s official media release at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/web/en/media/media_releases/index_id_6044.html for more details.  To view the snapshots of the Press Conference, please visit here.

Meeting with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to Explore Partnership Opportunities

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC), the largest academic medical center in the west US, visited PolyU to explore international partnerships in maximizing synergies in the alliance of both technology transfer offices. Participating in the discussions were CSMC’s Vice President Legal Affairs Mr. James Laur, Esq., and Consultant Mr. David Thomas, PolyU’s Vice President (Research Development) Prof. Alex Wai, Director of Innovation and Technology Development Dr. Terence Lau, Assistant Director of ITDO Ms. Karen Jiang, Associate Head of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Prof. Larry Chow, Associate Director of Industrial Centre Dr. Robert Tam, and other colleagues from these departments. A visit to the Industrial Centre was also arranged to introduce on PolyU’s solid support provided to medical and other industries. To view the snapshots of the Meeting, please visit here.

Collaborative Research Seminar & Workshop | Technology Matters - Innovation for Future

ITDO was honored to have Mr. Charles Ai [艾超], Vice President, Technology Cooperation & Head, Early Stage Investment, R&D of Huawei Technologies, to be the guest speaker on “Technology Matters – Innovation for Future”, which served as the second episode of its collaborative research and workshop series.  The morning session was a seminar held at N002, Lim Por Yen Lecture Theatre on PolyU campus on October 17, 2014 (Friday). With more than 15 years of experience in telecommunications industry as well as reputable expertise in business development, R&D and marketing, Mr. Ai had attracted an enthusiastic audience of over 90 guests from PolyU and other academic institutions attending the seminar. Mr. Ai shared his novel vision and views on the role and importance of innovation in blueprinting our future from a strategic perspective. Followed by the seminar, Mr. Ai and his senior R&D team on Huawei’s Early Stage Investment further participated in the theme-based workshop in the afternoon to meet and exchange insights individually with about 15 PolyU professors from 7 different departments on a variety of research topics including Next-G optical communications, Big Data & Mining and GEO informatics and explore the respective strategic collaborations with PolyU in upcoming years.    To view the snapshop of the Seminar and Workshop, please visit here.

AOAC Annual Meeting & Exposition

AOAC INTERNATIONAL is a global standard developer for analytical sciences, and much effort has been invested in the aspect of food science. Its Annual Meeting & Exposition is an invaluable event for food testing professionals to be educated on the most upfront technologies, to network and discuss food science at a professional level, and to explore potential partnering with the industry.

The First Annual Meeting of the Intellectual Property Assessment Committee

The First Annual Meeting of the Intellectual Property Assessment Committee [IPAC] was held on July 3, 2014 with the aim of soliciting recommendations from both the industry leaders and PolyU’s academia on strategic initiatives to further improve the University’s existing regime of intellectual property [IP] management. The meeting was kicked off with the welcome remarks delivered by the Chairman, Ir Professor Ping-kong Alexander Wai, Vice-President of Research Development of PolyU. He expressed his heart-felt thanks on behalf of the University to the members for their continuous support to the Committee since its establishment. The members were invited to share their illuminating views, edge-cutting insights as well as valuable experience in their respective professions in the architecture of a sustainable model for PolyU’s IP management. The Committee would further submit the thoughtful and inspirational inputs from the members for PolyU's Knowledge Transfer Committee’s consideration in the formulation of PolyU’s strategies in regard to the portfolio management and business potential exploration of IP. To view the snapshots of the meeting, please visit here.

2014 BIO International Convention & Study Mission

PolyU ITDO joined the Hong Kong Biotechnology Delegation as an exhibitor of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the 2014 BIO International Convention held in San Diego, California and a delegate of the business mission to Los Angeles and San Diego to visit biotech companies, research institutes and industry associations. The convention is one of the most representative events for the biotech industry every year, furnishing industry players with the updates of the latest trends and development. ITDO showcased PolyU's capabilities in drug discovery, development & delivery, biomedical engineering, medical devices & diagnostics, rehabilitation sciences, optometry and ophthalmology, biological imaging, and other research expertise. We also participated in one-on-one partnering meetings with key industry leaders at the convention. For more information about the BIO International Convention, visit http://convention.bio.org. If you would like to learn more on how to explore this useful platform in the future, please contact our office. To view the snapshots of 2014 BIO International Converntion & Study Mission, please visit here.