Media Releases

PolyU partners with Cell Press to publish interdisciplinary journal Nexus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), through its publishing house the PolyU Press, has selected Cell Press to publish Nexus, a new gold open access journal that aims to bring together scientists and engineers to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. PolyU Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings Prof. Jerry YAN will serve as the journal’s inaugural editor-in-chief. Now open for submissions, Nexus covers all subjects in the areas of applied sciences, engineering, technology, and inter- and multi-disciplinary fields. The journal will publish original research and reports as well as reviews and commentaries on innovations that aim to improve lives, protect the planet, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “As the name of the journal suggests, we envision Nexus to be the leading scholarly forum that connects science with engineering and technology and brings together different disciplines to address the many challenges faced by society today through collaborative and interdisciplinary research. This vision reflects the spirit of PolyU’s motto: ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind.’” Nexus is Cell Press’s first partner journal in the physical sciences and the first title published in collaboration with a university. Its addition marks Cell Press’s continued growth in open access physical sciences titles, which include Cell Reports Physical Science and Cell Reports Sustainability. Ms Anne KITSON, Managing Director of Cell Press and the Lancet, said, “We are embarking on a journey to create something new, inspiring, and transformative that will drive progress towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our shared vision for Nexus as a home for scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines is intended to spark new collaborations and ideas in order to drive progress towards achieving a more sustainable future for all.” In naming the journal Nexus, editor-in-chief Prof. Jerry Yan wanted to emphasize that it will be a place that connects different fields and people. In addition to publishing research, reviews, and letters, there will be original content types that will allow authors to touch on how scientists and engineers can work together, for instance, to organize larger research projects or aggregate funding to support interdisciplinary initiatives. Prof. Yan said, “As an editor, I was beginning to feel that we have a gap between science and engineering, and just because they’ve historically been distinct disciplines, the reason both sides do what they do is to solve problems, and those problems are interconnected. This means Nexus can’t be a traditional journal—we will need to go beyond the paper, encourage knowledge and system sharing, and challenge both sides to sync their approach.” Prof. Yan also serves as the advisory editor-in-chief of Applied Energy and is the founding editor of Advances in Applied Energy, both published by Elsevier. He has published over 400 papers in scholarly journals and is an award-winning and highly cited researcher with over 10 patents. Prof. Yan wanted to partner with Cell Press on Nexus because, after collaborating with staff on other projects, he saw “it’s a place where new things happen quickly and efficiently,” he says. To contact the editor-in-chief or for inquiries about the journal, email nexus.polyu@polyu.edu.hk. Sign up for content alerts at https://info.cell.com/nexus-registration.   ***END***

PolyU hosts premier interdisciplinary research conference in the Greater Bay Area with Prof. Yan Nieng and over 100 leading experts as distinguished speakers

The first and largest interdisciplinary research and development conference in Hong Kong commenced at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today, with some 100 internationally renowned experts as distinguished speakers to share their knowledge and insights during the 4-day conference. The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders from industry, academia, and governments worldwide to engage in closer exchange and collaboration, enriching and expanding interdisciplinary knowledge to foster a brighter and more sustainable future. Under the theme of “Research Excellence for Societal Impacts”, the Conference has 15 streams focused on three core areas: advanced technologies and manufacturing, good health and well-being, and smart and sustainable cities. Besides insightful keynote and discussion sessions, the programme also comprises laboratory visits and presentations of select research papers. At the Conference opening session, Prof. YAN Nieng, Founding President of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and a world-leading structural biologist, delivered an insightful presentation on the frontier research of proteins that may play a key role in the pharmaceutical development of pain relief solutions. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “This academic conference is specifically dedicated to interdisciplinary research and emerging technologies, which are especially relevant in today's complex world. Tackling pressing societal issues, such as climate change, an ageing population, poverty, energy shortages and so forth requires game-changing interdisciplinary solutions that transcend the boundaries of individual disciplines.” Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Chairman of the Conference’s Scientific Committee, said, “As we finally emerge from the pandemic and return to normality, this year's Conference marks a new chapter for academia in Hong Kong and around the world to establish, renew and deepen interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of society.” Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of PolyU, said, “The Conference is important for us to understand what it means to be innovative, interdisciplinary, and agile. It is a major step towards closer interinstitutional and cross-sectoral collaboration to embrace the challenges ahead.” Officially inaugurated in July 2022, PAIR is PolyU’s interdisciplinary research hub with 16 research institutes and centres and over 400 senior researchers, making it the largest research platform of its kind in the Greater Bay Area. ***END***

PolyU joins China Resources to drive the establishment of the CR-PolyU Joint Research Institute for Carbon Neutral New Materials

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), China Resources Enterprise, Limited (China Resources) and China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday (4 May) on research collaboration in carbon neutrality and sustainability-driven projects, talent development and start-up projects, and a framework agreement to drive the establishment of the CR-PolyU Joint Research Institute for Carbon Neutral New Materials. Witnessed by Mr Xiangming WANG, Chairman of China Resources Group; Ms Cheng WU, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; and Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, the agreement was signed by Mr Ying CHEN, Assistant General Manager of China Resources Group, Chairman and CEO of China Resources Enterprise, and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU. Mr Xiangming Wang said, “This collaboration relies on the abundant industrial resources of China Resources Group, combined with the strong scientific research capabilities and technology of PolyU. The aim is to extensively apply the results of research into new materials to industry, and jointly establish an ‘Industry-University-Research Integration’ research center to conduct commercial transformation and incubate startup projects. Against the backdrop of the Nation’s active promotion of the dual-carbon policy and the demand for new industrialisation in Hong Kong, the collaboration drives demand-driven development, strengthens the integration of production and application, and aims to solidify the research foundation of material science, sustainable development and other research directions to promote technological research and development, new products and new business models, and achieve open innovation.” PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “This collaboration will facilitate talent nurturing for researchers and provide support for knowledge transfer. On the one hand, the two parties will provide more external opportunities for PolyU graduate students to exchange and collaborate. On the other hand, China Resources will provide incubation support for PolyU’s startups. These will help Hong Kong become an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area. Moving forward, China Resources and PolyU will jointly carry out frontier technology research and designated subject and technological innovation in basic fields based on the joint research institute platform, so as to attract researchers and incubate scientific and technological innovation start-up projects in sustainable development fields.

PolyU to set up research centre on culture and art technology with NVIDIA

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is collaborating with NVIDIA to establish a joint research centre for the innovation of culture, art technology and interactive media with the goal of nurturing talents and conducting collaborative research. The joint Research Centre on Culture and Art Technology (CAT) is to be set up by PolyU and NVIDIA. It is NVIDIA’s leading global research centre partnered with an education institution to facilitate art, design and media innovation. The School of Design (SD) of PolyU will team with NVIDIA for the establishment of CAT, which aims to become a leading research centre in culture and art technology. Leveraging Hong Kong’s position in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) with vibrant art and creative activities, CAT intends to become the hub of culture and art technology research internationally, driving creative innovation in the art-tech field. This academia-industry collaboration combines the strengths of NVIDIA technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and high performance computing, and PolyU’s expertise in cross-disciplinary research and education, to promote and create impactful and creative research on art technology. A memorandum of understanding to establish the centre was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Dr Simon SEE, Senior Director of NVIDIA AI Technology Center. Prof. CHAO said, “PolyU is pleased to collaborate with NVIDIA in the areas of creative industry and art-tech. Combining PolyU’s strength in design education and research excellence and NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence computing expertise, I believe this synergy of academia and industry will generate a significant positive impact in the near-future. PolyU’s leading interdisciplinary research will be translated into practical use to create innovative solutions for the creative, art and entertainment industries.” Dr SEE said, “The collaboration between PolyU Design and NVIDIA on the establishment of the world's first joint research centre with a leading design school will be groundbreaking for creative and art technology. This collaboration will drive cutting-edge research and enable the development of innovative solutions for the creative industry with the help of AI.” Prof. Henry DUH, Centre Director of PolyU-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre of PolyU said, “PolyU always seeks for strong community engagement to produce timely and cutting-edge industry relevant research. By leveraging NVIDIA’s expertise in artificial intelligence, we will provide a collaborative platform for GBA culture groups and art communities to create new forms of arts.” Under this collaboration, PolyU will work with NVIDIA to organize a series of events including workshops, sharing sessions, art-tech exhibition, as well as the hackathon in Asia to reach the community and to facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation and entrepreneurship.   ***END***

PolyU wins record-breaking number of awards at Geneva Inventions Expo and snatches highest number of prestigious Grand/Special Prizes among HK delegations

Impactful innovations from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have won a record-breaking number of accolades at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), widely regarded as among the most important annual global events devoted exclusively to inventions. In particular, 28 PolyU innovations garnered 31 prizes – the highest number of prizes PolyU teams have ever received at this event. They include 3 Grand/Special Prizes, 5 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 12 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals and 6 Bronze Medals. In fact, PolyU teams won the highest number of the prestigious Grand/Special Prizes among Hong Kong delegations at the Expo. The PolyU inventions which earned the Grand/Special Prizes include a highly efficacious myopia control spectacle lens, a long-acting anti-obesity and insulin-sensitising drug, and a lightweight surveillance camera with ultrawide vision for the Tianwen-1 Mars mission. PolyU’s innovations garnered 31 prizes at the 48th Geneva Inventions Expo, alongside the achievements of other Hong Kong delegations, cementing Hong Kong’s reputation as a key innovation and technology hub. The award-winning innovations by PolyU improve people’s lives and expand humankind’s horizons – with applications not only here on Earth, but also in space. In addition, these innovations help the world adapt to climate change and prepare for future pandemics, as well as safeguard people’s health and well-being. Among the awarded innovations, 12 are driven by PolyU start-ups, including those led by PolyU scholars – a testament of the University’s start-up ecosystem that has supported over 7,600 PolyU academics, researchers, alumni and students in their entrepreneurial endeavours. The exceptional performance of PolyU teams at the Geneva Inventions Expo underscores the University’s aspiration to harness its excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to drive PolyImpact – inventions and innovations by the PolyU community that create long-lasting, real-world impact. The Geneva Inventions Expo this year attracted about 1,000 inventions from about 40 countries and regions. To learn more about PolyU’s impactful innovations showcased in the Expo, please refer to the Appendix and the website of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/kteo/Knowledge-Transfer/Innovations-and-Technologies/Award-winning-Innovations/Geneva2023/. Project Principal Investigator(s) Award(s) Novel High Efficacy Nano Multi-ring Defocus Incorporated Spectacle Lens for Myopia Control Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Director of State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology Prof. TO Chi-ho Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry, School of Optometry Mr Jackson LEUNG Tze-man Co-founder, Vision Science & Technology Co Ltd (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Prize of the State of Geneva Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury ABarginase: First-in-class Drug for Treatment of Multiple Obesity-related Metabolic Disease Prof. Thomas LEUNG Yun-chung Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Prof. Alisa SHUM Sau-wun Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Prize of the International Federation of Inventors' Association – IFIA Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Mars Landing Surveillance Camera for Tianwen-1 Mars Soft Landing Mission Prof. YUNG Kai-leung Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, PolyU Prize of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca Romania Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury AI-Assisted Design of Functional Clothing for Scoliosis Treatment Dr Joanne YIP Yiu-wan Associate Dean and Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury MicroGlue: Microbial-derived Technology to Remove Microplastic Pollutants Dr CHUA Song-lin Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Dr LIU Yang GBA Startup Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury A Novel Wireless Self-adaptive Hydropower Harvesting System for Applications in Urban Water Supply Pipelines Prof. YANG Hongxing Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Gold Medal Advanced Real-time Prediction and Early Warning System for the Spread of Emerging Pathogens Prof. John SHI Wenzhong Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Urban Informatics, Chair Professor in GISci and Remote Sensing, Director, PolyU-Shenzhen Technology and Innovation Research Institute (Futian), Director, Smart Cities Research Institute, Academician, International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences (UK) Gold Medal A Sport-Specific Soft Manikin System for Sports Bra Design Dr YICK Kit-lun Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles Gold Medal Revolutionary Mussel-inspired Polyester for Next Generation Sportswear and Functional Clothing Prof. John XIN Haozhong Lee Family Professor in Fashion & Textiles, Chair Professor of Textile Chemistry, School of Fashion and Textiles Gold Medal Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Materials with High Efficiency Prof. TAO Xiaoming Director, Research Centre of Smart Wearable Technology, Vincent and Lily Woo Endowed Professorship in Textiles Technology, Chair Professor of Textile Technology, School of Fashion and Textiles Dr ZHANG Ziheng Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Fashion and Textiles, CEO, Ecolar Technology Limited (a PolyU Academic-led start-up) Gold Medal Advanced Intelligent System for Radiation-free Scoliosis and Posture Evaluation Mr Jackal XU Zhenda PhD Student, Department of Computing, Founder, Zero Dynamic Medical Technology Company Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Prof. GUO Song Professor, Department of Computing, Chief Scientist, Zero Dynamic Medical Technology Company Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Gold Medal Novel AI Automated Histological System for Carcinoma Detection Dr Martin YEUNG Ho Yin Research Assistant Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Co-Founder, Anatomic Technologies Limited (a PolyU startup) Gold Medal A Portable Non-invasive and Ultrasensitive Saliva Glucose Sensor Prof. YAN Feng ADoRI-IWEAR & Chair Professor of Organic Electronics, Department of Applied Physics Gold Medal Gold-LAMP: A Portable Ultra-fast Nucleic Acid Testing System Prof. YIP Shea-ping Chair Professor and Head, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Co-Founder, Pocnat Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Dr Thomas LEE Ming-hung Associate Professor and Associate Head (Academic), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Co-Founder, Pocnat Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Gold Medal High-throughput Microfluidic Platform for CTCs Detection in Cancer Precision Diagnostics Prof. YANG Mo Associate Head (Research) and Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering Gold Medal Long-lasting Self-disinfecting Materials Technology Dr Chris LO Kwan-yu Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles, Co-Founder, Immune Materials Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Prof. KAN Chi-wai Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles, Co-Founder, Immune Materials Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Gold Medal Durable, High-Selectivity, and Energy Efficient CO2 Electroreduction System Prof. Daniel LAU Shu-ping Head, Director of UMF, Associate Director of PRI, Chair Professor of Nanomaterials, Department of Applied Physics Gold Medal One-Stop Solution with AI Visual Object Recognition for 3D Model Generation Dr LI Yaxin Postdoc Fellow, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics, CEO, Micro Dimension Limited (a PolyU startup) Prof. CHEN Wu Head and Professor, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics Silver Medal PolyPi: Edge-AI Empowered Robot for Autonomous In-pipe Inspection Prof. CAO Jiannong Dean of Graduate School, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing, Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Associate Director of University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics (UBDA) Silver Medal BioCharttery: A Climate-smart and Carbon-negative Growing Material Prof. Daniel TSANG Chiu-wa Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Co-Founder, BioCharttery Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Dr HE Mingjing Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Co-Founder, BioCharttery Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Silver Medal System for Evaluation and Triage for Healthy Knee Prof. Amy FU Siu-ngor Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management, Assoc. Head (RS) & Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Prof. CHEN Changwen Chair Professor of Visual Computing, Department of Computing Silver Medal All-in-one Luminescence-based Point-of-care Testing Device for Virus Diagnosis Prof. HAO Jianhua Chair Professor of Materials Physics and Devices, Department of Applied Physics Silver Medal Mutual Cognitive Human-robot Collaborative Manufacturing System Dr ZHENG Pai Assistant Professor, Endowed Young Scholar in Smart Robotics, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Co-founder, CobotAI Limited (a PolyU Academic-led start-up) Bronze Medal Novel Smart Precast Porous Road System Against Flooding Prof. WANG Yuhong Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Bronze Medal The Fleming Ankle – Lightweight and Wearable Exoskeleton for Mobility Enhancement Dr Kelvin HEUNG Ho-lam Research Assistant Professor, Department of Building and Real Estate, Co-Founder & CTO, Fleming MedLab Limited (a PolyU Academic-led startup) Bronze Medal HiVE: Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment Dr Jacky CHUNG Kin-hung Senior Engineering Manager (Building Services, Construction & Safety), Industrial Centre Dr Kevin WONG Ka-fai Senior Engineering Manager (Building Services, Construction & Safety), Industrial Centre Bronze Medal Modular Rail Particle Damper for Noise and Vibration Reduction in Railways Prof. NI Yi-qing Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit, Director of National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) Dr AO Wai-kei Research Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Bronze Medal Food Waste-derived 3D Printing Material Prof. WONG Ka-hing Director, Research Institute for Future Food, Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition Prof. Daniel TSANG Chiu-wa Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Core Member, Research Institute for Future Food Bronze Medal   ***END***

PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 presents forum to promote collaboration for a secure Web3 ecosystem

The PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 organised the “Better Web3 Forum” themed “Blockchain-powered Web3 Ecosystem Through Industry-Academic Collaboration” on 22 April at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The Forum brought together renowned scholars, industry practitioners and Web3 enthusiasts to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with building a decentralised web that is secure, private and regulated, emphasising the importance of industry-academia collaboration. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, delivered the opening remarks and said, “As evidenced by our recent recognition by CoinDesk as the leading university in Blockchain 2022, PolyU has been a pioneering institution in blockchain research. The PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 is the first research lab in Hong Kong to focus on the intersection of law and Web3. We believe academia-industry collaboration provides a win-win model for accelerating technology development and creating impactful innovations.” Leaders from industry and academia were invited to deliver keynote speeches. The speakers included Dr XIAO Feng of HashKey Group, Prof. Robert DENG of Singapore Management University and Prof. Guofei GU of Texas A&M University. Their presentations covered Web3’s impact on society, cryptography, secure computation, and strategies to ensure security and privacy. As highlighted by the Joint Lab Director Prof. Allen AU Man-ho and Co-director Dr Daniel LUO Xiapu, both also from PolyU’s Department of Computing, the Joint Lab is exploring research into and development of technological solutions, as well as relevant legal and industry standards. There were two stimulating panel discussions. The first, “The Future of Virtual Asset and its Regulatory Landscape”, was moderated by the Joint Lab Co-director Mr Paul LI, joined by Mr Raymond CHAN from Metaverse Securities, Ms Julia CHARLTON from Charltons Law, Mr Lawrence CHU from Venture Smart Financial Holdings, Mr Kavi HARILELA from Payment Asia and Mr Robert LUI from Deloitte China. The other discussion, “Collaborating Across Industry and Academia for Web3”, was moderated by Dr Daniel Luo Xiapu, joined by Prof. Robert Deng, Prof. Guofei Gu, Mr Leo LI from Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, Prof. Haitian LU from PolyU and Mr Victor YIM from Cyberport. The success of the “Better Web3 Forum” marks a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between academia and industry in advancing the development of Web3 technologies, and providing a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for future development. PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 will continue its research and look forward to future collaborative initiatives to further promote the adoption and advancement of Web3 technologies with a view to providing a better environment for all. About PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 The PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3 aims to be the world-leading research lab in Hong Kong focused on the intersection of law and Web3, encompassing the research and development of technological solutions and the exploration of relevant legal and industry standards. The Joint Lab will promote the safety, security and protection of privacy in the areas of Web3 and blockchain, to provide regulators and other stakeholders with essential tools to enhance safeguards for the investment community and the general public, and provide a solid foundation for a better Web3 ecosystem. For more information about the Joint Lab, please visit https://lawandweb3.comp.polyu.edu.hk/.   ***END***

PolyU research brings innovative solutions to promote new energy transportation and enhance driving safety

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) applies advanced technologies to drive the development of smart cities and smart mobility and bring innovative solutions to society. In the latest batch of Smart Traffic Fund approved projects, three PolyU projects have received total funding of approximately HK$8.42 million. One of the recently-funded projects focuses on designing software for optimising the planning and scheduling of new energy buses to build a more environmentally friendly travel experience and promote the development of new energy public transport. The other two projects relate to the development of a network connected advanced driver assistance system that provides predictive warnings and driving advice for improved driver safety, and to a human-machine co-operative driving system that monitors driving conditions and enhances driving safety with the real-time estimation of driving risks. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “The Smart Traffic Fund has been instrumental in powering innovation in long-term transportation development. These funded projects help PolyU realise its mission of creating positive impact in society and showcases our committed efforts to addressing social needs through the application of advanced technologies. Moving forward, PolyU will continue to be at the forefront of innovative research in the transportation industry.” Since the HKSAR Government launched the Smart Traffic Fund in November 2021, a total of 36 projects have been funded, of which 14 are PolyU led projects, involving approved funding of approximately HK$45.9 million. With continuous contributions, PolyU has been leading in funding achievements. Previously-funded PolyU projects have employed various advanced technologies to predict and assist in the management of different traffic conditions, such as using artificial intelligence to predict vacant parking spaces, deep learning models to predict traffic data, 3D geo-spatial models for driving simulation safety assessment and using intelligent automation technology to assess driver behaviour and psychological status. Details of the three recently-funded projects: Principal Investigator Project Title Project Summary Dr Weihua GU, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering Development of Software for Optimising the Planning and Scheduling of New Energy Buses The project aims to develop a software tool to optimise the planning and scheduling of new energy buses on different routes. Dr Hailong HUANG, Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Development of a Personalised and Connected Advanced Driver Assistance System This project aims to develop a personalised and connected advanced driver assistance system, which targets both driving habits of individual drivers and motion prediction of surrounding vehicles so as to improve driving safety by providing predictive warnings and driving advice. Dr Chao HUANG, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Designing of an Intelligent Human-machine Cooperative Driving System This project aims to develop a human-machine cooperative driving system to enhance driving safety. Monitoring of drivers’ driving status and real-time estimation of driving risks will be included in the system.   ***END***

PolyU’s School of Nursing hosted the 5th Hong Kong Innovation Day cum Innovation Awards Competition successfully

The School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the 5th Hong Kong Innovation Day cum Innovation Awards Competition successfully yesterday on PolyU’s campus. The event provided a platform for entrepreneurs, healthcare and social care professionals, and scholars to showcase new innovations aimed at improving the delivery of healthcare and social services. The competition this year received strong support from the academic and healthcare sectors, with 15 teams selected as finalists to compete for the Innovation Awards. The jury panel was comprised of doctors and professors from universities. A Social Innovation category was included in the competition, demonstrating PolyU’s concern for the development of social services. The winning team will be awarded entry to the Global Healthcare Innovation Day to be held in Brighton in the UK later this year, where they will compete with other champions from different parts of the world for the Innovation for Health Award of Excellence. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Innovation Day, Prof. Engle Angela CHAN, Professor and Interim Head of The School of Nursing of PolyU, said, “There has been an increasing demand for networking among entrepreneurs, scholars, and healthcare and social care professionals to promote innovation and explore collaboration opportunities. The significance of the Hong Kong Innovation Day has grown noticeably over the years and this is reflected in the high number of entries and participants.” Results of the 5th Hong Kong Innovation Day cum Innovation Awards Competition: Champion Project Title: Liverscan: Palm-sized Real-time B-mode Ultrasound Imaging Guided System for Liver Fibrosis and Steatosis Assessment Project Leader: Prof. ZHENG Yong-ping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing and Director of Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University First Runner-up Project Title: Robotic Surgery Remote Mentoring via AR with 3D Scene Streaming and Hand Interaction Project Leader: Dr DOU Qi, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Second Runner-up Project Title: A novel green wide-spectrum antiviral/antimicrobial material: Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) oligomer Project Leader: Dr ZHANG Ziheng, Chief Executive Officer, Ecolar Technology Limited The Best Social Innovation Award Project Title: Virtual Hospital – an immersive virtual reality game to strengthen nursing education Project Leader: Dr Kitty CHAN, Senior Teaching Fellow, The School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University   The School of Nursing of PolyU has been hosting the Hong Kong Innovation Day cum Innovation Awards Competition in alternative years since 2013. For more information, please visit https://sn.polyu.edu.hk/hkia/   ***END***

PolyU admits 24 outstanding athletes through SALSA Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to promoting the dual-track development of young athletes in sports and academic pursuits. This year, 24 outstanding athletes have been admitted to PolyU under the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission (SALSA) Scheme, and will embark on their undergraduate studies in the 2023/24 academic year. The newly admitted student-athletes have achieved remarkable results for Hong Kong in athletics, badminton, boccia, fencing, gymnastics, swimming, speed skating, track cycling and martial arts, among others, in international and regional tournaments. They will be enrolled in a wide range of undergraduate programmes, including physiotherapy; medical laboratory science; management and marketing; and language sciences, translation, and speech therapy. PolyU offers over 200 scholarships to student-athletes every year in recognition of their distinguished achievements in sports, and provides residential college accommodation to aid their development through hostel life. In addition to receiving a scholarship of as much as HK$400,000 during studies, eligible student-athletes admitted through the SALSA Scheme will be given individual mentorship in academic work, flexibility in learning and study assessments, extension of study periods and more, offering these students comprehensive support to facilitate their holistic development. Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU welcomed the 24 student-athletes to the University and said, “PolyU has been supportive of whole-person education and sports development. We hope the student-athletes not only shine in sports but are also able to receive high-quality education, which will provide them with more opportunities to succeed in their future endeavours. We also look forward to seeing them apply their sporting spirit in classes and making a positive impact on their peers.” Among the admitted athletes is track cyclist LEUNG Chun-wing, who won a gold medal in men’s Madison and two silver medals in men’s Omnium and Team Pursuit respectively at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. He is now the assistant coach of the Hong Kong cycling team and will enrol in the management programme. “I hope to equip myself for my future career through studying at PolyU. Meanwhile, I will also take up a managerial role in the Hong Kong cycling team and develop diverse capabilities,” he remarked. KWOK Tsz-fung, the Hong Kong team’s substitute athlete in men's 500m short-track speed skating at the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, will undertake the medical laboratory science programme. He said, “I was in high school amid the pandemic and aspired to study medical-related subjects to contribute to society. PolyU’s courses are well-recognised and pave the way for my healthcare career.” He hopes to keep up his professional level training alongside studies and represent PolyU to compete in the winter edition of the FISU World University Games. The first runner-up winner in the women’s Foil Team at the Junior World Cup, CHUNG Wan-yin, will study physiotherapy. She suffered an ankle ligament injury last year during training, leading to a two-month suspension of training. “I was taken good care of by the physiotherapist at that time, which inspired me to pursue this profession,” she said. With the all-round support from PolyU, she is eager to bring more victories for Hong Kong on the international stage. Swimmer CHAN Tsun-hin, who has participated in the Asian Open Water Swimming Championships, is now competing for the quota for the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou. He learnt about the Scheme through his brothers, who are also swimmers, and he will pursue aviation, maritime and supply chain management. “PolyU has devoted enormous resources to supporting student-athletes, allowing us to strike a balance between studies and training, and to realise dual-track development,” he said. *****END*****

PolyU connects young people with technology to promote anti-drug education under the Beat Drugs Fund

Technology profoundly connects young people to new knowledge, information and social communications. In designing its anti-drug programme, researchers in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have integrated creative and entertaining elements of technology into campaigns aimed at young people. In promoting the awareness about the harmful effects of drugs on young people, two PolyU projects have received support from the Beat Drugs Fund. The projects feature mini-film package production and parent-child workshops that adopt current technologies including virtual reality (VR) and interactive robots to engage young people and raise their awareness about drugs. These two community-based projects aim to encourage the participation of multiple stakeholders, including parents, teachers, social workers, counsellors and healthcare professionals, to comprehensively explore with young people effective approaches to combating the temptation of drugs. The project led by Prof. Hector TSANG Wing-hong, Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Head and Chair Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has initiated a VR-enabled mini-film package in order to effectively communicate anti-drug messages to young people. Prof. Tsang said, “Edutainment in health communication effectively supports strategies used by rehabilitation professionals to convey messages in substance abuse rehabilitation, not only in promoting community re-integration for those with substance abuse experience but also proactively combating the temptation of drug use among young people, in particular those drugs commonly misused including marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD). The use of innovative technology including VR in providing simulated experiences of side-effects of drug abuse among the youngsters can raise their anti-drug awareness.” The project led by Dr Katherine LAM Ka-wai, Research Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, establishes a community network by connecting nursing students with youngsters and their parents with interactive robot-assisted workshops on anti-drug awareness. Prof. Christina WONG, Director of Research and Innovation, said, “PolyU has always been committed to creating innovations that benefit society. To help effectively promote an anti-drug message, the two funded projects fully consider the culture and preferences of young people while providing stakeholders with sustainable programmes, which are of great significance.” Under the Beat Drugs Fund, the Regular Funding Scheme aims to support different sectors in society to propose further anti-drug projects, such as the organisation of preventive education and publicity programmes targeting the general public or specific groups; the provision of drug treatment and rehabilitation services to people with drug problems; and the conduct of research on drug abuse problems. Appendix: PolyU-led projects awarded the Beat Drugs Fund   ***END***