25/26 STEM x Marine Vehicle Design and Construction Competition Concluded with Great Success

Co-organized by The PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), the STEM x Marine Vehicle Design and Construction Competition concluded with the Closing Ceremony on 9 May 2026, in Ying Wa College. The competition has attracted nearly 300 students and teachers from 37 primary school teams and 32 secondary school teams showcased their creative solutions across various design on this year's theme – Bio-inspired Marine Vehicle. During the final competition held on 18 April 2026, in PolyU Campus, Prof. Tracy CHOY, Prof. Henry CHU and Dr Chee TONG served on the judging panel, and 5 Mechanical Engineering Elite Troop (MEET) members were supported throughout the event. 2025-2026 STEM x Marine Vehicle Design and Construction Competition Closing Ceremony The Closing Ceremony cum Model Demonstration and Award Ceremony of this year’s competition was successfully held on 9 May 2026 with over 200 guests and participants. Prof. Tracy CHOY and Dr Nathan XU attended the ceremony, along with representatives from other organisations to celebrate the achievements of the participants. ME extends its heartfelt congratulations to all winning teams and expresses sincere gratitude to all participants, schools, judging panel and event helpers for their unwavering support. We eagerly look forward to the next year's event! Learn More: ME Guides High School Students for STEM x Marine Vehicle Design and Construction Competition

Prof. Fu Mingwang Bestowed SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal

Prof. FU Mingwang, Chair Professor of Advanced Manufacturing in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PolyU, has been honoured with the SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal 2026, in recognition of his significant published research leading to a better understanding of materials, facilities, principles, operations and their application to improve manufacturing processes. This prestigious award was presented during the 2026 SME International Awards Gala, held on May 4, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Given annually by Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) since 1957, or sometimes not awarded at all if no suitable nominee is identified. The Taylor Medal is the highest honor given by SME to a researcher in the broad manufacturing field. The previous recipient in 2025 is Prof. LI Xiaochun, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Prof. Fu has been the senior member of SME since 2000 and he was the only individual outside of the United States elected to the 2022 SME College of Fellows. Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME is the world’s leading professional society advancing manufacturing knowledge and influencing more than half a million manufacturing practitioners annually. SME's communities connect manufacturers to their peers by discipline, industry, or geographies – enabling powerful collaboration, strengthening networks, fostering research, surfacing experts, and enhancing knowledge. Learn more about SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal Recipients (1957 to present).    

ME PhD Student Wins 2026 Carbon Future Young Investigator Honorable Mention Award

Congratulations to Mr XIA Qing, a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. ZHANG Xiao in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded 2026 Carbon Future Young Investigator Honorable Mention Award, this award recognizes young researchers who have demonstrated exceptional research potential and innovative capabilities in the fields of carbon materials, carbon catalysis, low-carbon energy, or chemical engineering. The award is generously sponsored by Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University Press and Ordos Laboratory. Qing will be invited to participate in the award ceremony held during the opening ceremony of Carbon Future 2026 on 5-8 August 2026 in Ordos, China. Carbon Future is an international interdisciplinary journal sponsored by Tsinghua University and published by Tsinghua University Press. It serves as a platform for researchers, scientists, and industry professionals to share their findings and insights on carbon-related materials and processes. The Department is immensely proud of this significant accomplishment, which underscores our commitment to cultivating world-class research talent. /* Apply default table styles */ .resize{ width: 18%; } /* Apply mobile-specific styles */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .resize{ width: 50%; }

Two ME Postdoctoral Fellows Awarded RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme Funding

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) is proud to announce that postdoctoral fellows Dr SONG Yinghao and Dr ZHANG Wei have been awarded funding under the Research Grants Council (RGC) Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS) 2026/27. They are among only 11 PolyU recipients and 60 awardees across Hong Kong to receive this prestigious honour. Innovative Research Projects Dr SONG Yinghao Principle Investigator: Prof. LI Mengying Project: "Optical fiber photoelectrodes unlock next-generation zinc-air batteries" This research aims to resolve critical bottlenecks in zinc-air batteries and photoelectrochemical processes. By developing advanced energy storage solutions, this project represents a vital step toward a sustainable energy future. Dr ZHANG Wei Principle Investigator: Prof. WANG Zuankai Project: "Developing Trap-jaw Ant-inspired Robotic Gripper for Controllable Ultrafast Manipulation" Drawing inspiration from the natural mechanics of trap-jaw ants, this project seeks to uncover the mechanisms behind their versatile manipulation capabilities. The goal is to translate these biological insights into novel, dexterous robotic systems designed to solve complex engineering challenges. About the JRFS Led by senior researchers at PolyU, the JRFS supports promising local and non-local postdoctoral researchers at a pivotal stage in their careers. The scheme provides funding for a 24-month full-time postdoctoral period, with an option to extend the research for up to an additional 12 months.

HKSTAM 2026 Successfully Concluded at PolyU

The 29th Annual Conference of the Hong Kong Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (HKSTAM2026), in conjunction with the 21st Jiangsu–Hong Kong Forum on Mechanics and Its Applications, was successfully held at PolyU on 18 April 2026. Co-organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), HKSTAM and the Jiangsu Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (JSTAM), and sponsored by Dantec Dynamics, the conference was chaired by Professor Hui TANG and Professor Zhongqing SU of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU. This annual event provides a regular platform for scientists and engineers working in mechanics and related areas from universities in Hong Kong and Jiangsu to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations. This year’s conference attracted 80 abstract submissions, including 13 from JSTAM, 47 from HKSTAM, and 20 from institutions in other regions. The morning session of the conference featured four Distinguished Lectures delivered by Professor Wei-Hsin LIAO (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Professor Xinxing SHAO (Southeast University), Professor Yang LU (The University of Hong Kong), and Professor Wei XU (Hohai University). In the afternoon, 10 parallel sessions showcased 51 outstanding presentations, mainly by postdoctoral fellows and PhD students. For the first time, this year’s conference included a mini-symposium titled “Young Scholars Forum on Mechanics Across Disciplines: Materials, Biology, Robotics, and Interfaces”, co-organized by Prof. Changhong LINGHU and colleagues from The City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The forum was designed to encourage interaction among early-career faculty members. Following a rigorous selection process, ten PhD students from PolyU, HKU, HKUST, CityU, and Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) received the Best Student Presentation Awards. Among them were four students from PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering: Ming MA, Xinyu YANG, Qi YUAN and Nan ZHOU. The conference concluded with a closing ceremony where the organizing committee extended sincere gratitude to all participants. Looking ahead, HKSTAM and JSTAM reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing young researchers and strengthening cross-regional collaboration in mechanics and its interdisciplinary applications.    

PolyU and HEBUT sign MOU to cultivate young talents and foster research collaboration

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hebei University of Technology (HEBUT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 14 April 2026. Initiated by PolyU's Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and HEBUT’s School of Mechanical Engineering (SME). This close collaboration aims to explore collaborative opportunities in the areas of Mechanics of Energy Storage Composites and Advanced Materials and Structural Monitoring. Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. H.C. MAN, Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Engineering; Mr Dachun ZHAO, Vice-Governor of the People's Government of Hebei Province; and Prof. Xu HAN, HEBUT Party Committee Secretary, the MoU was signed by Prof. Hui TANG, Associate Head (Research) of PolyU ME, and Prof. Qibo DENG, Vice Director of HEBUT Department of Engineering Mechanics. Under the MoU, two institutions will closely collaborate in three key areas. This includes the joint talent cultivation and student exchange programmes, empowering students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world contexts. Both parties will also leverage their exceptional research and academic strengths, to engage in collaborative research, resource sharing and contribute to the establishment of joint research centres. In addition, PolyU ME and HEBUT SME will strengthen academic collaboration by regularly arranging lectures, seminars and other academic exchange activities for both staff and students.

ME PhD Student Named Prestigious Schmidt Science Fellow

Congratulations to Mr XIA Qing, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected as a 2026 Schmidt Science Fellow — the first ever PolyU student, and only student from Hong Kong this year to receive this prestigious honour. With only about 30 fellows selected each year from hundreds of nominees worldwide, this achievement represents exceptional calibre and distinction. Recognised globally as one of the most prestigious opportunities for early career scientists, the Schmidt Science Fellows programme empowers fellows to pursue an ambitious interdisciplinary pivot by embarking on postdoctoral research in a new field beyond their PhD.  Qing will pivot from Electrocatalysis to Physical Engineering by exploring a new way to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers without the high energy use and pollution associated with traditional methods, which rely on high temperatures and high pressures. His work aims to design a small, efficient, modular nitrogen-fixation system that works under normal conditions, supports low-carbon agriculture, and helps reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based fertilizers worldwide. The approach aims to reduce global emissions and to support more sustainable, accessible food production. Mr XIA Qing is a doctoral researcher under the supervision of Professor ZHANG Xiao. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is immensely proud of this significant accomplishment, which underscores our commitment to cultivating world-class research talent. Read more about 2026 Schmidt Science Fellows.

ME Received Accolade at 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won a total of 37 accolades at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention.  The Department is pleased that Prof. Zhang Dan, Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Director of PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute, has been awarded a Silver Medal for his innovative work. This achievement underscores the commitment of the ME community—faculty and alumni alike—to embracing research breakthroughs. Silver Medal .color-button { background-color: #C0c0c0; color: white; transition: background-color 0.3s; transform: skew(-30deg); } .text_format { display: inline-block; transform: skew(30deg); } .color-button2 { background-color: #CD7F32; color: white; transition: background-color 0.3s; transform: skew(-30deg); } Intelligent Ankle Rehabilitation Robot Principle Investigator: Prof. ZHANG Dan Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering Project description: The Intelligent Ankle Rehabilitation Robot addresses the limitations of traditional rehabilitation devices, which often lack precision, adaptability and suitability for home use.   The robot uses a generalised parallel mechanism to offer improved compactness, rigidity and precision, making it well suited for home rehabilitation. It integrates three-axis motion rehabilitation with electromyographic feedback technology, enabling personalised training and increased adaptability to patient needs.   By reducing device size and improving portability, the system increases accessibility for home rehabilitation, enhances efficiency of training and eases the workload of rehabilitation professionals. It offers a more efficient, precise and user-centred approach to ankle rehabilitation, providing significant advantages over existing solutions.  

Prof. Cheng Song Secures Highly Competitive ITF Fund for "Drop-in" Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Cheng Song, Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has successfully secured a grant of around HK$1.4 million from the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) Seed Fund under the Innovation and Technology Fund. The project, titled "Developing a ‘Drop-in’ Sustainable Aviation Fuel with Blending Ratio above 50% Based on Localized Feedstocks in Hong Kong", addresses one of the most critical challenges in the aviation industry’s transition to carbon neutrality. Currently, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the primary solution for reducing civil aviation emissions; however, its application is strictly limited by international standards to a maximum blending ratio of 50% with conventional jet fuels. Prof. Cheng’s research aims to break through this "blending bottleneck" by developing an innovative SAF sourced from localized Hong Kong feedstocks that can be used at ratios exceeding 50% while remaining fully "drop-in" compatible with existing jet engine infrastructure. This project aligns perfectly with the Hong Kong Government's increasingly ambitious climate policies. In the 2025-26 Budget, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to establishing Hong Kong as a regional hub for sustainable aviation. Notably, authorities have set a target for 1% to 2% of all flights departing from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to be powered by SAF by 2030. To support this mandate, the government is actively exploring the construction of a dedicated SAF landing and blending facility in Hong Kong to bolster the local supply chain. By providing a localized solution for high-performance SAF, Prof. Cheng’s work will directly assist in fulfilling these targets and aid the government in formulating oriented policies for SAF certification. Launched in November 1999, the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) (Platform & Seed) aims to support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes, aiming to transfer the R&D results to local industries, with strong commercialisation potential or exploratory and forward-looking in nature.  

ME Long Service Award 2025 Tea Gathering

Colleagues of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have always been devoting themselves to the development of ME. This year, 12 ME staff members received the Long Service Award, two of them received the Award for their 25th year of service. The Department held a tea gathering at ME entrance on 6 Mar 2026, Department Head Prof. Su Zhongqing and Associate Heads, Prof. Ruan Haihui and Prof. Tang Hui, on behalf of the University, paid tribute to long-serving staff members for their loyal and committed service over the years. Congratulations to the awardees and heartfelt thanks for their years of dedication and devotion which have marked the achievements of the Department.   Long Service Award 2025 Award Recipients Length of Service Name Post Title 25 years Prof. CHENG Li 成利 Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Engineering, Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering 25 years Ms Merlin WONG 王倩卿 Clerical Officer II 15 years Dr TAM Wai Yin, Eunice 譚慧賢 Senior Lecturer 10 years Prof. AN Liang 安亮 Assistant Dean (External Engagement) of Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor 10 years Prof. CHU Kar Hang, Henry 朱嘉行 Associate Professor 10 years Mr Benny LEUNG 梁志權 Technical Officer 10 years Mr Eric LEUNG 梁立本 Assistant Officer 5 years Prof. LI Mengying 李夢穎 Assistant Professor 5 years Dr FU Yiqiang 符毅强 Research Assistant Professor 5 years Dr LIU Qiang 劉強 Research Assistant Professor 5 years Dr YU Xiaoliang 於曉亮 Research Assistant Professor 5 years Ms Onki LAW 羅安琪 Executive Officer