News

Prof. WONG Ka-hing named Lifetime Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials

Congratulations to Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), on being named a Lifetime Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM). This prestigious honour recognises Prof. Wong’s outstanding academic achievements and visionary leadership in advancing interdisciplinary innovation.  Under his leadership, RiFood has successfully translated multiple cutting-edge research findings in food and materials science into impactful real-world applications, and has played an active role in promoting sustainability and social responsibility across the industry. Looking ahead, RiFood will continue to advance future food development through innovation, creating lasting and positive societal impact through promoting human health and environmental sustainability.

PolyU study urges smarter transport governance, with three recommendations to advance smart circular city development

A study led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, points out that urban transport governance should no longer be confined to fragmented and reactive management practices.  Instead, it should adopt a more systematic and targeted, tiered policy approach to address transport issues at different levels. The study notes that, in the face of increasingly severe road congestion, road expansion and widening alone cannot fundamentally relieve transport pressure.  If there is insufficient integration among different modes of transport, including buses, the MTR, cycling, walking and shared mobility, increasing road capacity alone is unlikely to bring meaningful improvements to the overall travel convenience for the public. The research further argues that promoting the development of a “circular city” requires going beyond a narrow focus on road congestion when addressing transport issues.  It requires a comprehensive response to six major challenges: traffic congestion, air pollution, inadequate public transport efficiency, poor connectivity between transport links, ageing infrastructure and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels.  Prof. Lai believes that urban transport governance should move away from a fragmented response model towards a tiered strategy based on the nature of different problems, supported by appropriate technological tools to enhance overall governance effectiveness. Prof. Lai added that, compared with tackling congestion in isolation, issues such as air pollution and transport mode integration should be treated as more pressing priorities, as they directly affect the public’s daily travel experience, public health and quality of life.  The study suggests that artificial intelligence can be applied to traffic flow forecasting, real-time monitoring, demand analysis and multimodal connection optimisation.  Blockchain technology, meanwhile, can help facilitate transparent data sharing, emissions tracking, smart contract execution, and the establishment and development of carbon credit mechanisms. At the policy level, the study proposes three recommendations.  First, policymaking should be guided by a problem-oriented approach, with appropriate matching of technologies to identified issues.  Second, a unified data platform should be established to strengthen collaboration across government departments and transport operators.  Third, procurement and performance evaluation mechanisms should be reformed, shifting away from a system that prioritises equipment acquisition to one based on outcomes. Prof. Lai emphasised that cities seeking to advance smart mobility should adopt a pilot-first and progressive implementation strategy.  By integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, transport governance can evolve from a short-term, emergency-response model into a long-term, low-carbon and resilient circular city governance system.   Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Q9gg4u

From one-way caregiving to intergenerational inclusion: Prof. JIN Ying of University of Cambridge on reimagining cities amid the longevity revolution

On 14 April 2026, Prof. JIN Ying, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism and Director of Studies for Robinson College of the University of Cambridge, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “What does improving longevity mean for the future of our cities?” at the PolyU campus. The seminar attracted nearly 100 entrepreneurs, scholars, researchers and students joining onsite, and over 16,400 online viewers across various social media platforms to explore how the global “longevity revolution” is reshaping urban space, cultural activities, and socio-economic development. Prof. Jin opened the seminar by highlighting that 2026 marks an important tipping point in the global demographic landscape, as the global median age reaches 31.1 years. He noted that while ageing is a global trend, East Asian countries are experiencing a markedly faster pace of population ageing than Western nations. Prof. Jin further emphasised that although increased life expectancy is often regarded as a healthcare or public health issue, in reality, it is closely intertwined with city planning and urban design. He highlighted that macro-economists often describe population ageing as a “Grey Rhino”, implying that it is a highly probable yet long-ignored threat associated with a series of consequences, including rising dependency ratios, shrinking workforces, and escalating healthcare expenditures. One of the core themes of the presentation was the need for society to undergo a fundamental shift from “caregiving” to “inclusion”. Prof. Jin argued that society must move beyond the entrenched mindset of older adults as “care recipients” or “social burdens”. Drawing on the philosophical perspectives of Confucius’ concept of filial piety and Zhuangzi’s notion of aligning with nature, he emphasised that how a society treats its older population fundamentally reflects its core societal values. As such, city transformation goes beyond improvements in urban infrastructure and represents a shift in values. To truly improve “health expectancy”, Prof. Jin emphasised that reshaping urban design is critical, not only to foster greater independence across generations but also to strengthen intergenerational relationships, ensuring that both urban environments and humanistic values evolve in tandem with demographic changes. Prof. Jin also discussed the importance of “spatial balance” in urban planning. Using the United Kingdom as a case study, he demonstrated how the excessive concentration of jobs and wealth in a small number of urban hubs exacerbates regional inequality. He argued that longevity should not be understood solely as the extension of life span, but also as a process in which people of all generations can equitably enjoy quality of life and development opportunities. He advocated for fostering inclusive and equitable business and employment environments to ensure that cities remain vibrant and resilient, even as populations continue to age. In his concluding remarks, Prof. Jin summarised that while population ageing is often perceived as a pressing problem, it is also an opportunity that should be embraced. He warned that because of persistently declining birth rates, particularly in East Asia, this “urban revolution” must take place before today’s younger generations enter old age. He cautioned that forward-looking planning, individual responsibility and government-community collaboration are essential; without them, demographic imbalance will become an irreversible crisis. The seminar concluded with a highly interactive Q&A session, during which participants and the speaker engaged in in-depth discussions on several practical challenges. Addressing the varying societal responses to policy measures, Prof. Jin elaborated on differences in perceptions across social groups. When asked how less-wealthy countries can cope with population ageing under resource constraints, he acknowledged the difficulty but emphasised that continued technological advancement will play a crucial role. Furthermore, the discussion explored the link between health and longevity for active retirees. Prof. Jin noted that by building supportive networks, young-old adults can continue to play an active and meaningful role in society, thereby pointing to a development pathway for the longevity era in which resilience and community support go hand-in-hand. Please click here for an online review.

PolyU redefines 3D glass nanomanufacturing with a thousand-fold precision gain

Prof. WEN Xiewen, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Assistant Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, was recently interviewed on the RTHK programme “Under the Sun”, where he introduced his team’s newly developed 3D glass nanofabrication technology. Prof. Wen explained that his team has successfully developed a 3D glass nanofabrication technique that overcomes the limitations of the traditional subtractive processing approach used in semiconductor fabrication.  Instead, it adopts an additive manufacturing method to directly produce high-precision glass nanostructures.  Compared with earlier glass 3D printing technologies, the manufacturing precision has improved by a factor of 100, and it has been further enhanced by up to 1,000 times according to the latest research. He noted that the development of this technology involved challenges across multiple stages, including materials development, laser processing and post-processing.  From the synthesis of glass raw materials and the development of a specialised non-linear laser system to post-processing techniques designed to prevent deformation, all key technologies were developed in-house.  As a result, the team has established a complete vertically integrated technology chain. Prof. Wen added that this new technology has wide-ranging applications in areas such as precision optics, biochips and advanced packaging, and is expected to reduce production costs significantly.  For example, producing a wafer-level glass device measuring 1 cm2 using conventional methods can cost several thousand to as much as HK$10,000, whereas the team’s technique reduces it to just one percent. The team has established a company and is now actively improving process yield and accelerating technology industrialisation, while also exploring broader application areas such as glass-based optical data storage.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4mJjTdT (04:26 - 23:36) (Chinese only)

Prof. BU Siqi featured in Ta Kung Wen Wei, advocating cross-border green power flow to stabilise Hong Kong’s electricity supply

Prof. BU Siqi, Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Associate Head (Research) and Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, recently gave an exclusive interview to Ta Kung Wen Wei, in which he shared views on the development of cross-border electricity supply for Hong Kong. Prof. Bu noted that Hong Kong’s electricity supply still relies primarily on natural gas power generation, making it relatively susceptible to fluctuations in international energy prices.  He emphasised that, if Hong Kong is to advance its green transition, the city should invest a lot on the charging facilities on the consumption side in order to meet the growing charging demand of EVs. For the generation upgrade, there is a technology to mix natural gas and hydrogen for generation, but the cost of hydrogen is still high and the percentage of hydrogen in the mix is still restricted. However, given the city’s limited land resources and natural conditions, the potential for wind and solar power development is relatively limited.  In the longer term, Hong Kong should therefore actively expand its cross-border power transmission network and import lower-cost, more stable green electricity from the Greater Bay Area, particularly Guangdong Province.  This would help increase the share of renewable energy in Hong Kong’s energy mix, enhance the stability of electricity supply, and alleviate upward pressure on tariffs. He also pointed out that as Hong Kong’s existing power grid facilities continue to age, the two power companies face constraints related to financing and project duration in carrying out large-scale upgrade investments under the Scheme of Control Agreements framework.  On the consumption side, Hong Kong’s electric vehicle charging facilities remain insufficient, charging times for heavy goods vehicles are still relatively long, and the related cost-sharing mechanism has yet to be fully addressed.  In his view, it is more reasonable for end users to share the related costs. To support the development of green electricity, Prof. Bu suggested introducing time-of-use tariffs to encourage the public to charge vehicles during off-peak periods or when green electricity supply is more abundant.  He also proposed integrating solutions such as energy storage systems, vehicle-to-grid technology and virtual power plants to further enhance grid flexibility, helping Hong Kong move towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/421xenY Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4c7Ff0E  

Simple stretching helps improve blood circulation for sedentary Hong Kong people, expert says

Prof. Arnold WONG, Associate Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) and Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was recently interviewed on Viu TV programme “Medicine Online”, where he explained how simple stretching exercises can help improve blood circulation, thereby easing pain, enhancing mood and helping to prevent cognitive decline. Prof. Wong noted that many people in Hong Kong, due to busy work schedules, spend long periods sitting still and often overlook the importance of daily physical activity.  He pointed out that prolonged inactivity can impair blood circulation and increase strain on certain parts of the body.  As such, one of the most effective ways to counter so is to change posture regularly — for example, moving around from time to time or engaging in light movement — ideally every 20 to 30 minutes. Although it may not always be practical to do full body stretching movements during work hours, physiotherapists suggest that, where circumstances allow, people can still perform some simple stretches in their seats to help promote blood circulation.  For the lower limbs, for instance, basic movements such as flexing the feet or gently moving the toes up and down can help improve blood flow.  People may also sit at the edge of a chair to stretch back muscles or try seated leg raises. Prof. Wong added that many Hong Kong people have adopted an inactive lifestyle.  Even after work, when feeling tired, they often prefer resting to exercising.  However, moderate exercise can in fact help reduce risk of inflammation and inflammatory pain, and help prevent cognitive decline.  Current research further has shown that moderate exercise can improve the overall condition of older adults, including reducing the risk of cognitive decline, improving mood and strengthening the quadriceps. He emphasised that exercise does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial.  Walking, for example, is already a simple yet effective option.  By avoiding prolonged sitting and promoting blood circulation through small movements in daily life, people can bring significant benefits to their overall health.   Online coverage: Viu TV - https://polyu.me/4veZaSO (8:48 - 10:26) (Chinese only)  

Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung: Dynamic capabilities and digital collaboration as key to supply chain competitiveness

Amid growing uncertainty in global supply chains, firms that continue to rely solely on internal resources and established operating models are finding it increasing difficult to maintain a long-term competitive edge.  A study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) finds that, in the face of multiple challenges, including geopolitical risks, cost volatility and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, businesses must strengthen the dynamic capabilities of their supply chains, deepen value co-creation mechanisms, and embrace digital transformation to effectively enhance supply chain resilience and overall competitiveness. The study was led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement, Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics.  The research identifies three core dimensions of supply chain dynamic capability.  The first is sensing capability, that is, a firm’s ability to identify external risks and potential opportunities at an early stage.  The second is adaptive capability, i.e., the ability to respond swiftly and make effective decisions during crises or sudden changes in the operating environment.  The third is reconfiguring capability, which refers to the capacity to flexibly adjust supply chain resource allocation and operating models in response to shifts in both internal and external environments. The study further highlights that dynamic capabilities do not necessarily lead to innovation performance or competitive advantage.  Their impacts must be realised through the process of value co-creation. Specifically, firms need to build closer collaborative relationships with suppliers, customers and logistics partners.  Through joint product design, process optimisation and information sharing, capabilities at the individual firm level can be extended across the wider supply chain network, thereby fostering knowledge integration, resource coordination and innovative outcomes. The study also finds that digital transformation plays a significant reinforcing role in this process.  The higher a firm’s level of digitalisation, the greater its efficiency in information flows, cross-organisational coordination and supply chain transparency.  This, in turn, enhances the effectiveness of value co-creation and further amplifies the positive impact of dynamic capabilities on innovation and performance.  In other words, digital technology is not merely a tool for improving operational efficiency, but also a critical enabler of collaborative innovation and strategic transformation across supply chains. The study emphasises that future market competition will no longer be confined to rivalry between individual firms, but will instead centre more on multi-faceted competitions between supply chain ecosystems in terms of collaborative capability, resilience and innovation performance.  Firms that can effectively integrate dynamic capabilities, value co-creation and digital transformation will therefore be better placed to build sustained competitive advantage in a highly uncertain external environment and to strengthen their leadership within the wider industrial ecosystem.   Online coverage: HK01 - https://polyu.me/4vpkmpl

PolyU pioneers multi-tiered AI model for more cost-effective and intelligent sewer system management

As climate change intensifies rainfall and flooding, the need for smarter, more resilient sewer system management is increasingly urgent.  A research team led by Prof. Tarek ZAYED, Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), Professor of Department of Building and Real Estate, has developed a multi-tiered model integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enable more cost-effective and intelligent sewer system management.  The model supports a wide range of functions, from predicting exfiltration severity and identifying leakage-prone areas to monitoring and forecasting overflow incidents in high-risk locations.  This smart management model uses deep learning algorithms to analyse condition of sewer pipelines with a high degree of accuracy.  By applying these algorithms, ageing and defective sections can be identified more effectively, helping to prioritise locations for CCTV inspections. A core component of the system is the team’s pioneering Exfiltration Severity Index (ESI), which quantifies and models pipe-level exfiltration severity, enabling sewer line managers to identify segments that prone to leakage in advance.  Prof. Zayed explained that sewer exfiltration occurs when sewage escapes from a defective sewer system into the surrounding environment, which can contaminate soil or groundwater with pollutants such as pathogens and toxic compounds, posing risks to both ecosystems and public health. The AI model incorporates a range of parameters, including pipe characteristics, climatic conditions and environmental impacts, to predict the likelihood and severity of exfiltration.  This provides valuable insights for prioritising the most urgent maintenance work.  The team’s research showed that the system achieved an 85% accuracy rate in severity assessment, significantly reducing the risk of groundwater contamination.  In addition, through optimised maintenance scheduling, the predictive model improved operational efficiency by 50% to 60% and reduced emergency repairs by 30% to 40%.  The team’s findings have been published in the journal Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, under the title “Proactive Exfiltration Severity Management in Sewer Networks: A Hyperparameter Optimization for Two-tiered Machine Learning Prediction”. In addition to leakage, blockage is another major cause of sewer system failures and, in more severe cases, flooding.  To address this issue, Prof. Zayed’s team has applied IoT-based technologies to simulate the performance of sewer networks and overflow events under different blockage scenarios. In collaboration with the Drainage Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the team installed water-level sensors across drainage networks in Kowloon, collecting real-world data and applying a range of data mining techniques for case study simulations, as well as for model calibration and validation. The IoT-based monitoring system delivered impressive results: sewer segments identified as having blockage issues showed an 85% improvement in overall performance following targeted cleaning. The related study, “Performance Assessment of Sewer Networks under Different Blockage Situations Using Internet-of-things-based Technologies”, has been published in the journal Sustainability.  The research was supported by the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund and the Environment and Conservation Fund. Press release: https://polyu.me/4tHS0VL   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/41nOG64 Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3OrIxmm Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3OjGn8a; https://polyu.me/41WeB4V Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4vivqER

Research finds strabismus common among students in Hong Kong special education schools, urging more robust ophthalmic referral and support mechanisms

Prof. Jeffrey LEUNG Tsz-wing, Member of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Assistant Professor of the School of Optometry at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, together with his research team, conducted a cross-sectional study in three special education schools.  The study provided vision screening for students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and assessed their ocular alignment, visual acuity and stereopsis. The study was conducted using a questionnaire survey, which collected data on the students’ eye-care history, carers’ awareness of vision problems, and their access to financial support for ophthalmic care services.  The findings showed that strabismus is fairly common among students in Hong Kong special education settings, while carers’ limited awareness of strabismus has become a major barrier preventing students from receiving the ophthalmic care they need. The findings highlight the urgent need for public health reform.  Prof. Leung noted that, in the long term, it is necessary to establish an integrated closed-loop referral system and strengthen cross-sector collaboration to improve coordination between schools and ophthalmic healthcare providers, so as to ensure that this vulnerable group can receive timely, equitable and appropriate ophthalmic care services. The findings were published in Optometry and Vision Science under the title of “Ocular misalignment and unmet eye care needs among students with special education needs in Hong Kong”.   Read the full paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ovs2.70026

PolyU joins hands with AFCD to promote commercialisation of local fisheries products

The Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) has joined hands with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and industry partners in developing processed fisheries products to promote the commercialisation of distinctive locally produced processed fisheries and agricultural products. The collaborative research outcomes include a jelly product made from fish-scale collagen, which combines health and environmental sustainability elements and demonstrates the concept of resource upcycling; as well as cherry wood-smoked fisheries products, which offer a fresh, sweet flavour with a fruity aroma.  These products are vacuum-packed and quick-frozen, allowing consumers to simply reheat them before eating, making them both convenient and tasty. In recent years, RiFood has also developed products such as dace fish “siu mai”, fresh fish luncheon meat and grouper spring rolls.  These products are now available in supermarkets and on the “Local Fresh” platform, encouraging the public to support high-quality, safe and low-carbon local fisheries and agricultural products. AFCD has also produced a series of short videos about the project and published them on its social media platform to showcase the Department’s efforts in supporting the industry to develop processed fisheries products.   Watch the short video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BB9HFaEnv/?mibextid=wwXIfr