News

Two PAIR scholars receive First Prizes of CSVE Science and Technology Awards 2023

Two collaborative projects co-led by PAIR scholars and mainland researchers have been awarded First Prizes of Science and Technology Awards 2023 by the Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering. A total of 16 projects were awarded this year, including 4 for first prizes and 12 for second prizes. PolyU is the only institution in Hong Kong receiving this prestigious honour. The award-winning PolyU project “Acoustic black holes and applications to vibration and noise control in equipment engineering”, co-led by Prof. CHENG Li, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, aims to address issues of vibration and noise in engineering applications. The team unveiled the fundamental physical principles of slow wave phenomena in vibrating structures, established a comprehensive analysis and design methodology, and devised new structures suitable for diverse vibration and noise control applications in equipment engineering. Another award-winning PolyU project “Machine learning methods for structural health diagnosis and operation maintenance of bridges”, co-led by Prof. XIA Yong, Management Committee Member of RIAIoT, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Development (RISUD) and the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to develop cutting-edge machine learning methods for full-field measurement and modal identification, damage detection, reliability evaluation, and decision-making in the operational maintenance of bridges. These innovative techniques help enable accurate health diagnosis and cost-effective operation maintenance strategies for bridge structures.

PolyU-led Scolioscan wins gold award at GBA High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition

Scolioscan, a 3D ultrasound imaging system for radiation-free scoliosis assessment, has won the Gold Award at the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition 2023. The system was developed by the research team led by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Director of the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Scolioscan is the world’s first and only ultrasound scoliosis assessment system. The technology can provide images of spine structure with the accuracy of spinal deformity measurement comparable with X-ray results. It is radiation-free, cost-effective, and can be used without site limitations. The system only takes 30 seconds to complete the scan and assessment, and the operating cost is about one-third of that of traditional equipment.  Scolioscan has over 26 patent clusters and more than 100 patents in total. The system also has 19 world-leading and pioneering technologies. It has been clinically tested and used in more than 50 hospitals and clinics in Europe, Australia, Mainland China, and Hong Kong, and the results have been published in more than 20 international journal publications. In addition to earlier accumulated financing of over HK$100M, the startup company has further secured about HK$23M in pre A+ financing during the competition of this award. Scolioscan is currently being processed for the registration of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), preparing to enter the US market. Jointly organised by the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration), the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, and relevant municipal governments in the provinces of China, the competition shortlisted 100 quality projects from 809 entries, and selected winning projects for 10 gold awards, 15 silver awards, and 25 excellence awards.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/48q9T17 Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3ScAqIr

ADoPAIR appointed as Endowed Professor in Chinese Culture and Creative Design

Congratulations to Prof. Lilly LI, Associate Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and Professor in the School of Fashion and Textiles, for being appointed as Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Chinese Culture and Creative Design. Prof. Li focuses on the integration of culture, creative design and technology through design thinking. Her research works drive industry innovation through an interdisciplinary approach. Prof. Li has secured over 70 research projects, resulting in innovative, cutting-edge technologies and products. These innovations have been widely adopted for commercial applications, contributing to a total knowledge transfer value exceeding HK$350 million. The Endowed Professorship Scheme aims to recognise outstanding PolyU academics and their contributions. Endowed professors are provided with extra resources to continue their excellent work in research and teaching.  Further reading: https://polyu.hk/dOzSY

PolyU scholars appointed to Hong Kong Web 3.0 Standardization Association

Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), and Prof. CAO Jiannong, Director of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Dean of the Graduate School, have been appointed by the Hong Kong Web 3.0 Standardization Association as members of its advisory committee and expert committee respectively. Established on 4 January 2024, the Association is dedicated to pursuing research on the standardisation of Web 3.0-related fields, pooling resources and establishing consensus in the industry, promoting technological innovation, fostering standardisation in industrial ecosystem, with a view to supporting government decision-making, and expanding Hong Kong’s international influence and voice in the field of Web 3.0.   Online coverage: CCTV - https://polyu.me/41TU9Re (Chinese only)

RCRE team shines in Aramco Sustainability Techno-Quest

A research proposal by the team comprising Ir Prof. POON Chi-sun, Director of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), and Dr SHEN Peiliang, Member of RCRE, won the Sustainability Techno-Quest competition organised by Aramco. The award-winning proposal “Turning Recycled Concrete Powders into High-value-added Products by Advanced Carbonation” was selected from over 30 applications, and was awarded RMB 1.5 million for project implementation. Themed  “Carbon Footprint Reduction through Alternate Sequestration”, the Sustainability Techno-Quest is a research and development (R&D) competition inviting researchers and research groups from academia, research institutes, service sectors, and industry across China to develop potential R&D projects and technological solutions focusing on CO2 solidification and CO2 to oilfield chemicals.

PAIR researcher receives national outstanding impact award

Congratulations to Dr ZHANG Xiao, Member of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), and Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, for winning the “2023 China Rising Stars in Science and Technology – Outstanding Impact Award”. The results of this year’s selection were announced at the China New Technology Forum held in Zhejiang on 14 December 2023. Launched by ScholarSet in 2015, the programme elects winners of the “2023 China Top Ten Rising Stars in Science and Technology Award” and other special prizes, based on public and experts’ votes, to recognise outstanding young scholars in China for their remarkable achievements in scientific research and promoting the transformation and popularisation of scientific research outcomes. Online coverage: QQ - https://polyu.me/48g4QQ5

Two PAIR projects receive Smart Traffic Fund to enhance bridge monitoring and parking management

Two innovative projects led by PAIR researchers were awarded a total funding of around HK$17.36 million from the Smart Traffic Fund of the HKSAR government. The project “Digital Twin-based Long-span Bridge Health Monitoring”, led by Prof. XIA Yong, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to develop a digital twin-based long-span bridge health monitoring platform, which will be applied to the Tsing Ma Bridge. Another project “Blockchain-enabled Cyber Physical System for City-wide Parking Management”, led by Dr TSANG Yung-po, Member of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, aims to utilise Web 3.0 and blockchain technology in enabling intelligent access control to car parks, as well as AI to evaluate the supply of and demand for parking spaces. Press release: https://polyu.me/3RI3E2Q   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3GGaQpJ Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/3RFbaLB

Ten PAIR academics recognised amongst world’s most highly cited researchers

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved the third highest number of the world’s most highly cited researchers in Hong Kong in the list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2023” by Clarivate Analytics. A total of 15 PolyU academics (including two former PolyU scholars) have been named on the list, and ten of them are PAIR members. This year, a total of 6,849 researchers from 67 countries and regions across a diverse range of research fields have received the designations. The list identifies the most influential scholars from around the world, determined by their production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science citation index over the past decade. The named PAIR researchers are as follows: Name Title and Affiliated PAIR Constituent Research Unit Prof. Daniel S.P. LAU Associate Director of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Management Committee Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Prof. LI Gang Associate Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Management Committee Member of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Prof. LOH Kian Ping Member of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Prof. Geoffrey Q. P. SHEN Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Member of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) Prof. WANG Zuankai Member of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Prof. WU Tao, Tom Member Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Prof. YAN Feng Associate Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Member of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Member of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) Dr ZHANG Xiao Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Prof. YAN Jinyue Jerry Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Dr HUANG Bolong Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE)   Further reading: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2023/1121_15-polyu-academics-recognised-amongst-worlds-most-highly-cited-researchers/

SCRI MC Member receives best paper award at international conference

Congratulation to Prof. LU Haitian, Management Committee Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), for receiving the Best Paper Award for his paper titled “Extracting Scenarios from Autonomous-Vehicle-Involved Crashes” at the 18th International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Knowledge Engineering held in Fuzhou, China on 17–19 November 2023.

Two PAIR scholars win BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

Two PAIR scholars have been awarded the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP) for their outstanding contributions to the scientific and technological innovation and transformation in Hong Kong. The two PAIR awardees are: Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai, Associate Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Management Committee Member of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) and Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology—prize winner in the “Advanced Manufacturing” field; and Dr Daniel LUO Xiapu, Leading Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI)—prize winner in the “Fintech” field.   PolyU press release: https://polyu.hk/Prext   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3MrOXOe Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/40iqvEI Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3sfLICy Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3sg4mdz Economic Digest - https://polyu.me/47iK5mF Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/40iQfAE Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/46VlkwM RTHK - https://polyu.me/3SkwZ3Z Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3MoG3AQ