Skip to main content Start main content

PolyU garners Four Awards at Silicon Valley International Invention Festival

19 Jul 2019

Ms Lisa GILLMOR, Mayor of Santa Clara (right), with Dr Joanne YIP Yiu-wan and Professor Michael TSE Chi-kong of the research teams of PolyU’s two winning projects showcased at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival 2019

PolyU’s “Flexible Scoliotic Brace with Shape Memory Alloy Struts” wins two awards at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival 2019. The project is led by Dr Joanne YIP Yiu-wan of PolyU’s Institute of Textiles and Clothing.


The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) garnered four prizes with two outstanding innovations at theSilicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) 2019. Its Smart Indoor Farming System won aGrand Award and a Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury, while its Flexible Scoliotic Brace with Shape Memory Alloy Struts won a Gold Medal and a Special Merit Award, at SVIIF held in Santa Clara, California, the United States from 24 to 26 June.

SVIIF attracted inventors from research institutions, academic bodies and business enterprises from about 30 countries/regions to showcase their inventions this year. It was also the first time that Hong Kong institutions participated in this global annual event. Well attended by multi-national companies, investors, entrepreneurs and financiers, SVIIF offers a platform for inventors, industries and businesses to explore opportunities for collaboration and commercialisation of innovations.

The award-winning innovations of PolyU:

(1) Smart Indoor Farming System

Grand Award and Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury

Principal Investigator: Dr LOO Ka-hong, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering

Applying Artificial Intelligence-based and data-driven technologies, the system can generate photosynthetic-active-radiation lighting, watering and nutrient supply programmes which are optimised for the growth of individual plant types. The system adopts advanced sensing technologies to collect real-time data for the plant growth and environmental data from growth chambers and farms using the system. By comparing the data collected with the growth profiles of different plant types, optimal sets of growth control parameters can be constructed and fed back to the user's system. The system will then automatically supply the optimal tailor-made essentials, such as light, water, temperature, nutrients, to enhance the growth performance of individual plants.Study shows that the growth cycle of Italian lettuce has been shortened by about 50% with the support of this system. Water consumption can also be substantially reduced to only 5% of that in conventional farming.

The system can be set up in urban buildings to provide sustainable and stable sources of edible plants, such as salad greens, potatoes, beets, herbs, etc.

(2) Flexible Scoliotic Brace with Shape Memory Alloy Struts

Gold Medal and Special Merit Award

Principal Investigator: Dr Joanne YIP Yiu-wan, Institute of Textiles and Clothing

The innovative brace, designed for adolescents with scoliosis, is made of shape memory alloy, artificial hinges and soft light-weight materials. The design can apply strategic corrective forces to the spine and offer adequate support to the user. Users are more willing to wear this Scoliotic Brace for a longer period because of its enhanced level of comfort and mobility, thus making it more effective in treating spinal deformity.

SVIIF is hosted by International Federation of Inventors' Association (IFIA), supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Santa Clara City and the Santa Clara University, in collaboration with the US Patent and Trade Mark Office. For details, please visit the organiser's official website:https://www.sviif.com/.

理大科研項目於美國矽谷國際發明展奪四獎項 (Chinese)

進修生活 理大研記形合金腰背架 助矯正輕度脊柱側彎 22 Aug 2019
經濟通 新矯形腰背架如著內衣,望四年內推出市場! 22 Aug 2019
香港01 理大研發新型腰背架 助青少年矯正脊柱側彎 物料較輕巧便宜 22 Aug 2019
星島日報 F01 理大研記形合金腰背架 助矯正輕度脊柱側彎 22 Aug 2019
星島日報 A04 理大夥皇家藝院合建AI實驗室 22 Aug 2019
經濟日報 A12 新矯形腰背架 舒適成本低 22 Aug 2019
晴報 P20 新支架矯正脊柱 貌似內衣穿戴舒適 22 Aug 2019


Your browser is not the latest version. If you continue to browse our website, Some pages may not function properly.

You are recommended to upgrade to a newer version or switch to a different browser. A list of the web browsers that we support can be found here