|
Category |
Awardees | Project Title |
| Teaching | Ms Nico Liu, Instructor | / |
| Knowledge Transfer - Industry | Prof. Kinor Jiang, Professor | Creating Innovative Textiles, Business Growth and Environmental Savings through Pioneering Technology |
| Prof. Li Li, Professor | Advanced Functional Textile Technologies and Applications | |
| Dr Rong Liu, Assistant Professor | Novel compression- textile technologies have produced industrial and healthcare benefits | |
| Knowledge Transfer - Society | Dr Joanne Yip, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (FAST) | Non-surgical treatments for Adolescents with Spinal Deformity |
Prof. Kinor Jiang was recognised for knowledge transfer to the industry. He is leading a team that has developed a sputtering coating technology which is being used to create innovative, sustainable and mass producible metal-coated textiles. Prof Jiang has designed and launched an anhydrous system that uses roll to roll (R+R) magnetron sputtering to produce functional and decorative textiles and a metallising process of textiles for the production line. Opening up new markets and enabling new opportunities for high couture fashion, these textiles have already enjoyed commercial success, offer environmental advantages and inspired designing. They have attracted over HK$273M in investment, led to the establishment of two new companies and provided 37 highly skilled jobs with sales that total HK$56.6M since 2017. At the same time, 7000 tons of water have been saved and zero harmful emissions or pollutants released.
Another recipient of the award of knowledge transfer to the industry, Prof. Li Li and her team have adopted a design-driven interdisciplinary approach in their fundamental and applied research work on advanced functional textile technologies and applications, to effectively enable knowledge transfer and realise market applications. Her research work has contributed to notable discoveries, inventions and developments in the following areas: 1) Wearable Electronics in Fashion, 2) Chitosan-based Skin-protective Textiles, and 3) Highly Effective Functional Far-infrared Textiles. These technologies have been adopted by some of the largest textile manufacturers and implemented in their products, deriving an estimated global sales/market value of over HK$300 million during the period of June 2014 to March 2021.
Dr Liu Rong's research project was also recognised with an award of knowledge transfer to the industry. Dr. Liu's research on novel compression-textile technologies has proposed new solutions to address sizing and fitting problems, especially for Asian users. The developed compression stockings and assessment technologies greatly improved user compliance and safety, generating economic benefits, technology transfer, collaborative projects, consultancy services, patents, underpinning the establishment of China's first industrial standard on Healthcare Compression Hosiery, and encouraging new companies to enter the high-end stocking market. The developed compression products have benefited over 500,000 users for improved leg health and quality of life.
Dr Joanne Yip received the award of Knowledge Transfer to Society. Her project on Non-surgical Treatments for Adolescents with Spinal Deformity targets to determine whether an alternative option to the hard brace would increase treatment compliance, and seeks different non-invasive methods to control posture and reduce spinal curve progression. A multi-disciplinary collaborative study has been carried out that synthesises clinical experience with textile and materials sciences to design different product options. Dr Yip secured 2 GRF and 5 ITF projects (about HK$6 M) to primarily develop three products for AIS patients, including a posture correction girdle for AIS patients with a mild curvature, an isotropic textile brace for AIS patients with a moderate spinal curvature, and a posture training programme that uses a biofeedback tank top.
Congratulations to all of the awardees for their achievement.
