News

PAIR scholars visit Futian Shenzhen

On 30 March, Prof WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, and Prof Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, led a delegation of PolyU scholars, including Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and directors of PAIR’s constituent research units, to visit “Shenzhen–Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone” located in Futian district to learn about its latest development. The delegation joined a meeting chaired by Mr OUYANG Huiyu, Vice-District Mayor of the Futian District People’s Government, exploring research projects suitable for Futian and relevant support needs. The delegation also visited Jinjiang Municipal People's Government Office in Shenzhen to explore how to strengthen university-industry cooperation.  In February, PolyU and the city government of Jinjiang signed a framework agreement to jointly establish the PolyU–Jinjiang Research Institute to strengthen interdisciplinary industry-academia research collaboration to support the development of the Belt and Road Initiatives. Read more about the collaboration: https://polyu.hk/LZBkJ

Prof. David Cardwell of University of Cambridge shares insights on future higher education in PAIR Newsletter

In Issue 5 of PAIR Newsletter, PAIR was honoured to have invited Prof. David CARDWELL, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning) of the University of Cambridge, to share his insights on the way forward for global higher education and his vision for learning, research and engagement. Prof. Cardwell visited PolyU in January 2023 and had previously delivered PAIR Distinguished Lecture “The Future of Global Universities” online. Read the feature story now: https://polyu.hk/McRpZ

RIAIoT Leading Member speaks on edge AI at a science popularisation programme

Prof. GUO Song, Leading Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Professor in the Department of Computing (COMP), PolyU, presented a keynote speech on edge AI in an educational and science popularisation programme led by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences on 2 March 2023. Prof. Guo explained the indefinite potential of edge computing in driving the development of smart cities.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3J7mqMx Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3JdQdDv

RISE member proposes Guangdong–Hong Kong collaboration on renewable energy development towards “double carbon” goals

Ir Prof. YANG Hongxing, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of PolyU, suggested Hong Kong to collaborate with Guangdong on renewable energy development, including constructing offshore wind energy generator facilities and investing in photovoltaic power projects in Guangdong, at the 2nd Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao–Greater Bay Area New Energy Industry International Summit Forum held on 1 March 2023. Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3KPUG0q (Chinese Only) Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3SMOxUr (Chinese Only) ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3SEp7bD (Chinese Only) China News Service - https://polyu.me/3SDQ9Qx (Chinese Only)

PolyU and MCMIA co-organise university-industry collaboration forum to drive Chinese medicine innovation in the GBA

PolyU and The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) co-organised the “University-Industry Collaboration on Chinese Medicine Innovation Forum”, bringing together over a hundred academic and industry leaders from the GBA to share insights on how to promote the development of Chinese medicine (CM) under the latest national plan and policies. Further reading: https://polyu.hk/dSade

First PAIR Conference coming in May!

PAIR is organising the first PAIR Conference 2023 – Research Excellence for Societal Impacts, in hybrid mode (online and on PolyU campus), on 8–11 May 2023 (Monday–Thursday).   The four-day PAIR Conference is the first and the largest event in Hong Kong higher education dedicated to professional knowledge exchange on interdisciplinary research and development. It provides a platform for professional exchange and closer collaboration among stakeholders from various fields in industry, academia, and governments around the world to build the capacities in science, technology, innovation and research.   Registration is now open. For Conference details, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/pairconference2023/.

First PAIR Salon successfully held

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) has launched a new series of “PAIR SALON” in 2023, with the aim to encouraging industrial collaboration and facilitating knowledge transfer. The first PAIR Salon themed “Beyond Cutting Edge Research: The Marking of Meaningful Work” was successfully held on 1 February 2023 at the Hong Kong Science Park. PAIR members were warmly received by the senior management of the China Resources Group, including Mr CHEN Lei, Deputy General Manager, Science & Technology Innovation Department, China Resources Group and Ms Elaine LAM, General Manager, Hong Kong Business Division, China Resources Cement Holdings Limited. At the Salon, Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR, Prof. LI Li, Associate Director of PAIR and other eight scholars and researchers briefed the audience about PAIR’s latest development, projects and achievements in cutting-edge research and knowledge transfer, and had a fruitful exchange and discussion.

Prof. David Cardwell, Prof-Vice-Chancellor of University of Cambridge visits PolyU

Prof. David CARDWELL, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), University of Cambridge, UK, visited PolyU on 18 January 2023. Prof. Cardwell was warmly received by Prof. TENG Jin-Guang, President of PolyU, Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR.  During the visit, Prof. Cardwell exchanged views with PolyU senior management on the trends and future of the higher education. Prof. Cardwell also visited some of the laboratories of PAIR’s constituent research units to understand more about the advanced research facilities and recent research accomplishments in the fields of artificial intelligence of things and resources engineering towards carbon neutrality.

RIAIoT AI specialist introduces ChatGPT at a science popularisation programme

Prof. GUO Song, Leading Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), delivered a speech on ChatGPT at a science popularisation programme for youths organised by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences on 7 January at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. In his speech, Prof. Guo introduced ChatGPT, an AI chatbot which can simulate human conversation just like the manga character “Doraemon”, and the three elements behind the technology: model, data and computing.   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3CxiDVe Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3vOUcP6 Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3IwC4RK

Construction R&D Forum – Bringing Applied R&D to a New Height held successfully

The Development Bureau and the University-Government-Industry Consortium for Sustainable Urban Development (UGI Consortium) co-organised the “Construction R&D Forum – Bringing Applied R&D to a New Height” on 4 November 2022. The Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) of PolyU, as the host office of the UGI Consortium, was delighted to co-organise the forum with the Development Bureau and see the Government playing a key role in driving construction innovation, particularly in promoting applied research and development (R&D) in public works. The forum attracted about 400 participants including scholars from local universities and stakeholders from the Government and the construction industry, exchanging views on the promotion and adoption of applied R&D to enhance the industry’s efficacy to meet the challenges ahead. At the forum, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po delivered an opening remark; and Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ms Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development of the Development Bureau, and Ir Dr Andrew Chan, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the UGI Consortium delivered keynote speeches. Ir Wai Chi Sing, Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority and Ir Ricky Lau, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) of the Development Bureau chaired the plenary session and made a concluding remark respectively. The forum included presentations, discussion sessions, and showcase of university research projects. Five research projects from RISUD were exhibited at the forum. https://www.polyu.edu.hk/risud/news-and-events/news/2022/2022_11_04/