News

PolyU young researcher awarded Humboldt Research Fellowship

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to empowering young scholars to expand their global research networks. Dr Lu ZHU, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Humboldt Research Fellowship. Dr ZHU’s research focuses on deposition and surface technology, glass and ceramics and their composites, thermodynamic modeling, coating, and waste recycling. His awarded project, "Novel Ultrahigh-temperature High-Entropy Ceramic Coatings”, aims to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.  Supervised by Prof. Chi Sun POON, Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering, Distinguished Research Professor, and Prof. Shipeng ZHANG, Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr ZHU’s pioneering work in durable coatings holds great promise for advancing civilian industries and promoting environmental sustainability. Granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, the Humboldt Research Fellowship is recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious honours for researchers. Through the 2025 Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme for Postdocs, Dr ZHU will be sponsored to conduct groundbreaking research in Germany, fostering international collaboration and driving innovation on a global scale. Source: CEE Member Awarded Humboldt Research Fellowship (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)

PolyU hosts Global Smart Cities Summit cum the 4th International Conference on Urban Informatics and unveils Smart City Index 2025

The Global Smart Cities Summit cum the 4th International Conference on Urban Informatics, co-organised by the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI), commenced today. The three-day conference brings together over 240 speakers from around the world to share cutting-edge insights and innovations in urban informatics and smart city development, attracting over 600 scholars and industry professionals. During the event, a PolyU research team announced the Smart City Index, which aims to help cities worldwide formulate sustainable development strategies. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President said, “Pressing urban challenges — from energy insecurity and global warming to ageing populations and land shortages — demand innovative thinking and multifaceted solutions. As one of PolyU’s strategic innovation domains, smart cities have long been a focus of research, encompassing big data analytics, remote sensing, geomatics computing, and other cutting-edge disciplines. Through SCRI under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), we will further integrate interdisciplinary research capabilities to drive sustainable development in Hong Kong and cities worldwide.” Dr Stephen WONG Yuen-shan, Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government said, “Hong Kong has always valued and continuously leveraged its role as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ status as an international city. The Conference is a perfect demonstration of our ongoing efforts to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration with international peers. The Smart City Index developed by PolyU research team also gives us good insight into best practices of how cities around the world serve the lived experiences, needs and wellbeing of its citizens.” The Conference aims to advance global smart city development and urban informatics to provide a scientific foundation for smart cities. By integrating urban science, geographic information science and computer science, urban informatics leverages its interdisciplinary advantage to develop innovative solutions for addressing complex urban challenges. The Conference features keynote speeches by internationally renowned scientists, forums with government and industry leaders, and innovation and technology exhibitions. The event serves as an excellent platform to foster collaborations among government, industry, academia, and research sectors in the field of smart cities. SCRI and ISUI also jointly announced the ISUI Smart City Index 2025, developed by a team led by Prof. John Wenzhong SHI, Director of SCRI, Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing, and President of ISUI. The Index utilises a human-centric evaluation framework, comprising six dimensions — citizen, environment, social landscape, economy, infrastructure and governance, across 97 indicators. With a focus on how smart city initiatives enhance the daily lives of citizens, the Index empowers cities around the globe to assess their progress and enables authorities to better formulate strategies for a smarter and more sustainable future. Conventional smart city assessments typically emphasise the priorities of advanced economies and tend to rely on restricted data. In contrast, the Smart City Index adopts an inclusive approach applicable to cities across all development stages – from advanced, to developing and emerging economies, and utilises only publicly available data. This broader perspective enables more relevant and effective policy formulation worldwide.  The Index assessed 73 cities worldwide, with the top 10 ranked cities being Stockholm, Washington, D.C., Barcelona, London, Tokyo, Zurich, New York, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, and Oslo. Hong Kong ranked eighth globally and second in Asia, outperforming major regional competitors such as Singapore, as well as key cities in Europe and North America. Notably, Hong Kong excelled in the dimensions of environment, economy, and governance. In addition, the Conference will host presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Award in Urban Informatics, the Smart City Technology Innovation Awards, the Paper of the Year Award for ISUI’s journal Urban Informatics, and the Best Conference Paper Award. Details of the Conference: https://www.isocui.org/icui2025 Full report of the Smart City Index 2025: https://www.isocui.org/smart_city_index

PolyU research reveals neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in young men that shape generosity and self-worth

Hormones affect human physical functions, behaviour and mental well-being, with testosterone, a primary androgen hormone, playing a vital role in shaping male social cognition and behaviour. A research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted interdisciplinary research to uncover the neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in the brain function of young men, and their impact on social behaviour. The findings provide valuable insights into potential applications of testosterone therapy in clinical and mental healthcare.  The research team is led by Prof. Yin WU, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences. By administering a single dose of testosterone or placebo gel to healthy young men who participated in the experiments and comparing their performance in assigned tasks, the team investigated the correlation between testosterone levels and various behavioural traits such as generosity, state self-esteem, sensitivity to angry facial expressions, aversion to inequality, prosocial learning and aggression. High testosterone may lead to increased selfishness Their first study focused on the impact of testosterone on socio-economic behaviour. The researchers combined pharmacological manipulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to discover how testosterone influences generosity and the underlying neural mechanisms. They evaluated the experimental subjects’ performance in a social discounting task, in which participants chose between benefiting only themselves and providing also some benefit to another person at a particular social distance, while also observing their brain activity through fMRI during the decision-making process.  Findings revealed that exogenous testosterone administration reduced generosity, particularly when interacting with more distant others. Additionally, the fMRI results showed that higher testosterone levels are linked to reduced neural activity in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), an upper brain region associated with social cognition. The team suggested that testosterone may reduce concern for others’ welfare at the neural level by dampening activity in the TPJ, highlighting a correlation between increased testosterone levels, and selfishness and reduced empathy in economic decision-making. Prof. Wu said, “The role of hormones in human cognition is a growing research focus in psychology and neuroscience. Leveraging cutting-edge neuroimaging facilities, we have been able to make new discoveries in this area. However, key questions remain, such as how testosterone affects economic decision-making or how the stress hormone cortisol shapes social preferences like altruist behaviour. Our team is investigating these complex dynamics to drive impactful outcomes.” The research, conducted in collaboration with scholars from Peking University, Shenzhen University, South China Normal University and University of Zurich, was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS). In recognition of his excellent work in this ground-breaking research, Prof. Wu has been honoured with the Second-class Award under the 9th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences) by the Ministry of Education of China.  Increased testosterone levels help boost state self-esteem updating In another related study, the team explored the link between state self-esteem (SSE), a momentary sense of self-worth and perceived social status, and testosterone levels.  Experimental subjects were asked to complete a social evaluation task in which they adjusted their predictions of potential evaluation by others, while dynamically reporting their SSE based on the social feedback they received. The researchers then applied a computational modelling approach to investigate the dynamic changes in their SSE throughout the process. Persistent low SSE may induce aberrant behaviours and increase the risk of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders. From a clinical perspective, low SSE in individuals with schizophrenia has also been associated with heightened self-aggression. The team found, however, that testosterone administration can boost SSE updating and alleviate these behaviours. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that testosterone replacement therapy can significantly improve such aberrant behaviours, but chronic use may carry side effects. This research has provided valuable clinical insights in this regard, indicating that a single dose of testosterone can positively influence SSE, particularly in positive social environments. It is suggested that future clinical practice consider combining exogenous testosterone with behavioural interventions that foster supportive environments and social feedback to enhance SSE as a potential pre-clinical treatment for relevant aberrant behaviours and clinical symptoms. Prof. Wu remarked, “By combining computational modelling with behavioural pharmacology, we have uncovered the psychological mechanisms through which testosterone affects complex social processes. We envision that these findings could inform public organisations in developing public health policies and strategies that foster positive community environments and promote mental health and well-being.” Prof. Wu’s team collaborated with scholars from East China Normal University, University of California San Diego and University of Zurich in the research. The findings were published in the international journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. Looking ahead, Prof. Wu and his team will continue to advance research into the implications of testosterone on social cognition and brain activity in young men, laying the foundation for future studies in this field, and further promoting the translation of the research outcomes into practical application. He is presently partnering with the PolyU Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering to investigate the influence of hormones on pilot flying performance and the underlying brain mechanisms, thereby supporting airlines in developing effective strategies for recruiting and training cadet pilots.

Accelerating functional material innovation: AI and data-driven approach to advanced electronics technologies

The discovery of new functional materials has traditionally relied on time-consuming and costly trial-and-error methods, often taking over 20 years for a material to move from initial discovery to commercial use. Prof. Ming YANG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is transforming this process through a data-driven, AI-powered approach that significantly increases the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of identifying advanced materials for electronics and energy technologies. Unlike traditional databases or search engines that passively retrieve past results, AI-driven models actively learn from large datasets, simulate material behaviour, generate hypotheses and optimise experimental parameters. This allows researchers not only to explore existing knowledge but also to predict new materials and uncover hidden patterns. Prof. YANG’s research leverages high-throughput first-principles calculations—automated, quantum mechanics-based simulations that evaluate materials without needing physical experiments. In a project focused on high-k dielectric materials for next-generation 2D electronics, his research team began with over 140,000 known compounds. By filtering these using key factors like band gap and dielectric constant, they identified about 1,000 promising candidates. Further semi-automated large-scale simulations narrowed the list to around 20 high-performance dielectric materials for 2D semiconductors. This process is estimated to be 4 times faster than conventional methods. A major innovation in Prof. YANG’s research is the use of physics-informed machine learning, where physical laws are embedded directly into AI models. This enhances accuracy, reduces reliance on large datasets, lowers energy consumption and improves model transparency. His team recently encodes short-range interaction into AI model, in which only local structures are used for the graph representation, making them especially effective for predicting complex material properties such as adsorption and defect behaviour. Despite the breakthroughs, challenges remain, particularly the need for greater computing power and smarter algorithms to handle vast material datasets. However, with advances in GPUs, parallel computing, and techniques like surrogate modelling and active learning, the pace of discovery continues to accelerate. By integrating AI, physics and vast material databases, Prof. YANG is reshaping how new materials are discovered. His research supports faster innovation, reduced costs and sustainable development, while positioning Hong Kong as a leading centre for AI-driven materials science.   Source: PolyU Science Newsletter   

PolyU bolsters Beijing-Hong Kong tech and talent exchange during “2025 Hong Kong Talent Beijing Tour”

A delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) participated in the “2025 Hong Kong Talent Beijing Tour” from 28 July to 2 August, co-organised by the Beijing Overseas Talent Center and the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities. The six-day event, themed “Gather in Beijing, Create the Future,” promoted Beijing and Hong Kong collaboration in technology, innovation, and talent development to support national progress. PolyU delegation showcased its interdisciplinary research strengths, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role in global innovation. The event commenced at Zhongguancun Life Science Park, in which Changping District shared its industrial strategies, talent policies, and innovation ecosystem. PolyU delegation presented groundbreaking research in AI, biomedicine, smart manufacturing, and sustainability, engaging with enterprises and innovation parks in Beijing and Xiong’an to explore collaboration and local insights. The PolyU delegation included: Prof. Wanyu LIN, Assistant Professor in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Department of Computing, specialising in generative AI algorithms and collaborative intelligent systems Dr Yong TAO, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, focusing on low-carbon building materials and smart city solutions Dr Bruce WANG, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of English and Communication, advancing language and speech analysis through data-driven methods Dr Gail CHANG, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of  Food Science and Nutrition, developing functional foods and the natural fat substitute AkkMore™ Dr Zaixin SONG, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, specialising in smart manufacturing and sustainable energy management Ms Sisi TANG, Doctoral Researcher of the School of Fashion and Textiles, exploring smart textiles and digital human monitoring Ms Celia LEE, Manager of Research and Innovation Office, driving industry-academia collaboration and translational research The delegation visited major innovation hubs in Beijing. PolyU members engaged in technical exchanges, with Prof. Lin discussing AI applications with Beijing AI experts, and Dr Tao sharing insights on low-carbon buildings with Beijing’s government officials. At the “2025 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Young Scientists Conference” in Yizhuang, themed “Together Toward Innovation,” the PolyU delegation joined discussions on AI, biomedicine, quantum communication, aerospace, and new energy. Dr Wang presented ultrasound-based speech diagnostics for articulation disorders, opening new avenues in medical diagnostics. Dr Chang introduced  AkkMore™ for health and chronic disease prevention, drawing industry interest. These efforts connected research and industry, fostering new collaborations. The event enhanced PolyU’s insight into Beijing’s innovation landscape and highlighted PolyU’s strengths in AI, biomedicine, smart manufacturing, and sustainability. PolyU’s robust engagement with Beijing’s top research institutions and enterprises reinforced academic, industrial, and talent ties, laying a solid foundation for future Beijing-Hong Kong collaboration.  

PolyU scholar’s groundbreaking research in energy and thermal-fluid sciences honoured with two international awards

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that addresses global challenges and drives translational innovation. Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Dean of Graduate School, Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering, and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering at PolyU, has recently received two internationally acclaimed research awards in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to nano-energy and interfacial engineering. These include the Nano Energy Award and the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena (µFIP) Prominent Research Award. These accolades underscore Prof. WANG’s significant contributions to advancing sustainable technologies through nature-inspired design and cross-disciplinary innovation, reinforcing his global leadership in thermal-fluid sciences. Acknowledging the collective effort behind these achievements, Prof. WANG encouraged his team and young researchers, “Not afraid of tackling uncharted problems with curiosity and rigour. Recognition serves as a reminder that even incremental progress, when driven by purpose, can create a ripple effect, ultimately leading to transformative impact.” Nano Energy Award: revolutionising energy harvesting Established in 2012, the Nano Energy Award is one of the most prestigious honours in the field of nanoenergy, presented biennially at the International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (NENS). Prof. WANG was recognised for his pioneering advancements in nature-inspired interfacial engineering for energy harvesting. Prof. WANG’s groundbreaking innovations, particularly in droplet-based electricity generators, have fundamentally reoriented the research trajectory of scalable energy harvesting. By integrating multiple energy conversion processes through interfacial engineering, his innovative designs offer sustainable solutions for harnessing energy from water, sunlight, and heat. His signature approach combines classical scientific principles with nature-inspired mechanics, enabling novel solutions to critical challenges in energy systems. These breakthroughs have catalysed a new generation of interfacial engineering-driven systems that transcend conventional efficiency boundaries. µFIP Prominent Research Award: inspiring critical applications Separately, Prof. WANG was honoured with the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena (µFIP) Prominent Research Award at the Micro Flow and Interfacial Phenomena held at the University of California, Santa Barbara, between June 16-18, 2025. This award recognises his influential contributions to thermal-fluidics, particularly his development of nature-inspired surfaces that dynamically modulate interfacial and transport processes, such as wetting, adhesion, and thermal-fluid transport. These innovations have enabled wide-range applications in energy harvesting, thermal management, and flexible electronics. Prof. WANG expressed his gratitude for these honours and said, “Research that spans disciplines holds the power to resonate globally, offering innovative insights to address the complex challenges shared by humanity. These recognitions reaffirm the significance of fusing fundamental material innovations with real-world engineering pragmatism. Breakthroughs often emerge at the intersection of disciplines, and this continues to inspire me to bridge laboratory discoveries with practical solutions for a sustainable future.”

PolyU and Ant Digital Technologies establish AI and Web3 Joint Lab

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Ant Digital Technologies today signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish the “PolyU and Ant Digital Technologies Joint Lab on AI and Web3”. This collaboration will drive breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, innovation ecosystem and incubation, as well as a source of innovation and technology. By exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies, the Joint Lab is poised to be a global innovation hub. Ant Digital Technologies plans to invest up to HKD100 million over the next three years to support the Joint Lab’s research work and project incubation. Witnessed by Mr CHAN Ho Lim, Joseph, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; and Mr Eric Xiandong JING, Chairman of Ant Group, the agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Mr Wenbiao ZHAO, Chief Executive Officer of Ant Digital Technologies. The Joint Lab will focus on three core domains: trustworthy AI agents, AI-enhanced blockchain security architecture and data privacy verification technologies. Related initiatives will accelerate the development of intelligent services and help ensure the secure circulation of digital assets. To foster the development of innovation ecosystem and incubation, an “AI + Web3 Education Fund Platform,” will be established to fully leverage PolyU’s strong research capabilities and Ant Digital Technologies’ extensive industry resources, supporting Hong Kong’s development into a digital technology talent hub. The Joint Lab will host international technology seminars and innovation competitions, solidifying its position as a world-class academic brand. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “The Joint Lab is a strategic initiative designed to foster interdisciplinary convergence of cutting-edge technologies, propelling Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub and a global hub for digital asset innovation. We anticipate this strong partnership will drive deep integration and breakthrough innovation in AI and Web3 applications, yielding globally impactful solutions that accelerate the growth of a digital economy in Hong Kong and beyond.” Mr Wenbiao Zhao said, “Harnessing its robust technological expertise and comprehensive service scenarios, Ant Digital Technologies will partner closely with PolyU to bridge industry, academia and research capabilities. This collaboration will accelerate breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies and facilitate their widespread commercial implementation.” Mr Eric Jing said, “Ant Group is optimistic about Hong Kong’s future and remains committed to investing in the City. We look forward to this collaboration, which unlocks Hong Kong’s transformative potential at the intersection of AI and Web3 – accelerating its growth as a global hub for innovation and technology, finance, and trade.” Reflecting its academic leadership in AI and Web3 technologies, PolyU was ranked first in CoinDesk’s Best Universities for Blockchain 2022, outperforming 240 other universities globally. Building on this excellence, PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January 2025, combining the expertise of its Department of Applied Mathematics, Department of Computing, and Department of Data Science and AI. The University offers comprehensive programmes in AI, big data computing, blockchain technology and metaverse studies – all designed to develop future-ready technologists with both visionary thinking and practical skills. This strong academic foundation creates an ideal platform for this collaboration. As Ant Group’s digital technology subsidiary, Ant Digital Technologies possesses industry-leading expertise in AI and Web3 innovation. The company’s pioneering solutions – including its Agentar AI development platform and financial large language model – have achieved widespread adoption across the financial services sector. In 2024, Ant Digital Technologies participated in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Ensemble project, applying its advanced blockchain technology to facilitate multi-enterprise tokenisation of renewable energy real-word assets. The company further strengthened its Hong Kong presence this April when it was named a “Key Enterprise Partner” by the HKSAR Government and established its international headquarters in the City. This extensive industry experience positions the Joint Lab to forge industry connections and create valuable partnership opportunities.

Pioneering interdisciplinary research drives innovation in optics and photonics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) scholars harness the University’s multidisciplinary strengths to specialise in research on material synthesis, characterisation, and device fabrication for applications in lasers, photosensors and photothermal technologies. With a focus on synthesizing, processing and characterizing low-dimensional materials, the research led by Prof. Yuen Hong TSANG, Professor of the Department of Applied Physics and his team drives impactful applications across various fields of optics and photonics. 2D Materials for Nonlinear Optics and Ultrafast Photonics Ultrafast lasers represent a remarkable advancement in photonics, with wide-ranging applications in precision micromachining, medical imaging, and spectroscopy. Their ability to generate extremely short pulses enables high-resolution imaging and advanced material processing, making them invaluable in both research and industrial settings. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as key contributors to the development of next-generation photonic devices. In PolyU laboratory, Prof. TSANG’s research team investigates the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 2D materials and leverages them to produce ultrashort laser pulses. The team’s recent research has focused on the NLO responses of 2D ternary GeSeTe nanosheets, which they have successfully employed as saturable absorbers. This approach has enabled the generation of ultrashort laser pulses with durations of 1.017 picoseconds and 531 femtoseconds. By harnessing the unique characteristics of these materials, Prof. TSANG aims to further enhance the performance of ultrafast laser systems, paving the way for innovative applications in telecommunications, biomedical engineering and fundamental research. Multivariate Optimization of Van der Waals Photodiodes for Multi-functional Optoelectronics Prof. TSANG’s research involves a multifactorial study of van der Waals (vdW) photodiodes. The team analyses and compares key figures of merit, such as the power exponent (α) and recombination order (β), and investigates their evolution across multiple devices to achieve near-unity values in all vdW (a-vdW) devices. This demonstrates recombination-trapping resilience. In contrast, a similar device patterned using traditional lithography techniques shows significant degradation, with the value of α decreasing to almost half. This suggests that most recombination-trapping and performance degradation occur at the metal-2D interface, supporting our argument for a renewed approach to contact integration strategies for 2D photodiodes. Additionally, efficiency analysis, along with the measured Fermi-level alignment at the heterojunction of our a-vdW devices, highlights the importance of precisely engineered layer thicknesses to achieve a robust p-n junction. This balance is critical for optimizing photocarrier generation, recombination, separation, transport, and extraction. Furthermore, due to the excellent photovoltaic performance of the photodiode, it has been successfully utilized in demonstrating multi-band imaging applications, serving as both a single-pixel detector and a gate-tunable optoelectronic logic AND gate. This positions the device as a promising candidate for multi-functional optoelectronics. Photothermal Materials for Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Prof. TSANG’s research also focuses on synthesizing and analysing the characteristics of various photothermal materials, including plasmonic, semiconductor-based, and carbon-based materials, to address real-world challenges. These materials have the ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat energy. The team fabricate various types of solar evaporators by incorporating photothermal materials into porous substrates with low thermal conductivity. These solar evaporators float on the surface of water, efficiently absorbing a broad spectrum of sunlight and converting it into heat to evaporate seawater or wastewater at the air-water interface. The resulting vapor can then be condensed to produce freshwater. Unlike conventional systems, this approach does not use thermal energy to heat bulk water from the bottom of the reservoir, significantly reducing heat loss and enhancing system efficiency. The solar-to-vapor generation efficiency of such systems often exceeds 80%. Furthermore, the system operates without the need for electricity, making it highly suitable for addressing the challenges of the water-energy nexus. In addition, the team has developed a solar evaporator-based system capable of generating high-temperature steam for sterilising medical equipment. These systems are not only cost-effective but also have the potential to contribute to a greener world by reducing carbon emissions. Source:  PolyU Science Newsletter  

PolyU and HUST National Centre of Technology Innovation for Intelligent Design and Numerical Control signed MoU to explore the establishment of Hong Kong Branch

On 24 July 2025, a delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) visited the National Centre of Technology Innovation for Intelligent Design and Numerical Control (NCDC) at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan. Both parties expressed strong mutual interest in establishing the Hong Kong Branch of the NCDC and engaged in in-depth discussions on potential collaboration opportunities for its development. The PolyU delegation was led by Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and comprised Prof. H.C. Man, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Zheng Pai, Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Chili Wu, Associate Director of Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology, and Ms. Amylia Chan, Assistant Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office. The delegation met with Prof. Liang Gao, Vice President of HUST and Director of NCDC, Prof. Xinyu Li, Vice Dean of the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Prof. Jianzhong Yang, Executive Deputy Director of NCDC, Dr. Zixun Liu of the Institute of Science and Technology Development, and Prof. Hao Li and Prof. Mi Xiao of the Department of Industrial Engineering, for in-depth exchanges on collaboration opportunities. The signed memorandum of understanding lays the foundation for further exploration of joint development initiatives at the Hong Kong Branch of NCDC. The collaboration will focus on key areas including human-machine collaborative manufacturing systems, ultra-precision machining CNC systems, workshop and logistics scheduling and management, industrial domain models and embodied intelligence, as well as intelligent design and interaction systems. The partnership aims to address national strategic needs and significant industrial challenges by leveraging Hong Kong’s geographical advantages and its strengths in international cutting-edge innovation. Both parties agreed to sign a formal agreement and establish detailed terms and arrangements upon obtaining approval from the relevant authorities. The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at PolyU will serve as the executing unit for the Hong Kong Branch.

PolyU scholars honoured as RGC Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellow in recognition of outstanding research achievements

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) excels in impactful research and is committed to translating research outcomes into innovative applications that benefit people’s lives. Three PolyU scholars have been awarded fellowships under the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) 2025/26, in recognition of their outstanding research achievements in the fields of biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials. The award recipients are Prof. Lei SUN, Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Prof. Kay Chen TAN, Head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence, both of whom have been named RGC Senior Research Fellows. Prof. Jiong ZHAO, Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, has been conferred as RGC Research Fellow. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended his congratulations to the awardees and said, “The recognition of our scholars not only reflects PolyU’s pursuit of academic and research excellence, but also demonstrates our commitment to fostering researchers’ professional growth. These achievements underscore the University’s significant impact on the global academic and research community, as well as our contributions to Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for post-secondary education.” The SRFS project, “Development of sonogenetics for non-human primates,” led by Prof. Lei Sun, aims to develop a new version of sonogenetics specifically for non-human primates and to investigate its performance in terms of cellular specificity, spatial accuracy and penetration capability. This non-invasive method for modulating specific brain regions has the potential to open a new dimension for ultrasound stimulation, offering a ground-breaking and critical approach to non-invasive, precise brain stimulation with deep brain penetration. This  new sonogentics may lead to the dissection of global neural network connections, a better understanding of the circuits underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders, and ultimately serve as a valuable therapeutic tool. The SRFS project, “Towards adaptive pretrained vision-language foundation models for medical image analysis,” led by Prof. Kay Chen Tan, aims to lay out key roadmaps that guide the development and deployment of vision-language model based healthcare models, with a primary focus on four key areas: framework, data, application, and generalisation. An integrated intelligent interpretation system will be developed to provide personalised and human-centric healthcare, featuring several functionalities such as visual question answering, radiology reports and computer-aided diagnosis. The project aims to improve quality of healthcare services, ease strain on medical resources and solidify Hong Kong’s leadership in AI-powered healthcare innovation. The RFS project, “From slidetronics to twistronics: a twisting platform for dissipationless ferroelectricity”, led by Prof. Jiong Zhao, primarily focuses on Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and 2D materials. The team has developed expertise and achieved significant advancements in structural characterisations and physical field measurement utilising in situ TEM, STEM, 4D-STEM and others. By integrating these cutting-edge methods with synthesis, device fabrication and theoretical frameworks, the project contributes to improving material quality and enabling device applications. These advanced 2D materials and 2D ferroelectric materials are set to be game changers for future electronics and optoelectronics, with significant potential to enhance device performance. SRFS and RFS aim to provide sustained support to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the University Grants Committee-funded universities in Hong Kong. Each scheme provides ten grants to scholars from any academic disciplines, with funding support for a period of 60 months. The supporting university will receive a fellowship grant of around HK$8.2 million per award for SRFS projects and HK$5.5 million for RFS projects.