Prof. TAM Hwa Yaw, Associate Director of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Chair Professor of Photonics, was recently featured in 21st Century Business Herald. He shared insights from more than thirty years of dedicated research and application in fibre optic technology, as well as his experience in successfully incubating seven companies.
Prof. Tam candidly remarked, “It wasn’t that I chose fibre optics, but rather that fibre optics chose me.” This statement reveals the profound bond he has with the technology. Born in Brunei and raised in Malaysia, Prof. Tam once faced the challenge of being stateless and without a passport due to his unique circumstances. To broaden his career prospects, he switched from physics to electronic engineering, and it was at the University of Manchester in the UK that he first encountered fibre optic communications—thus beginning his academic and industrial journey.
In 2014, Prof. Tam led his team to establish the world’s first city-scale fibre optic sensing network, covering 90% of Hong Kong’s railways, and later expanding the technology to Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia, and other regions. His railway laser sensing technology earned him the Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis, one of the highest-prized international innovation awards in laser technology. In recent years, Prof. Tam has further applied fibre optic sensing technology to the medical field, collaborating with the university and hospital in Australia to develop plastic fibre optic sensors for cochlear implant surgery, significantly enhancing the safety and precision of the procedure. This technology is now entering clinical trials.
Prof. Tam places great emphasis on the integration of academia, industry and research, encouraging students to engage in hands-on practice. He founded the Engineering Entrepreneurship Club to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among undergraduate students. Speaking on the transformation of research into industry in Hong Kong, he believes that government policy support is crucial, and suggests that young scholars should focus on research, while senior academics should actively drive the industrialisation of research outcomes. Prof. Tam’s journey exemplifies innovative breakthroughs and outstanding contributions, spanning from academia to industry, and from large-scale railway systems to microscopic medical applications.
Online coverage:
The 21st Century Business Herald - https://polyu.me/4rsJNV9
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