Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation)

Professor Christopher Chao is Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering, and Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He is responsible for leading the formulation and execution of strategic development of research and innovation, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship activities at PolyU, as well as fostering interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration to enhance the University’s leadership and impact on the global stage.

Professor Chao earned his BSc(Eng) in Mechanical Engineering with First Class Honours from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1988. He was subsequently awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained his MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 and 1994 respectively. Upon completing his studies, he returned to Hong Kong to dedicate his career to the advancement of higher education and research. He served as an Assistant Professor at PolyU from 1995 to 1997 before joining The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where he rose to Head of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2014 and Chair Professor in 2015. From 2018, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at HKU, gaining extensive experience in academic leadership and research management. He returned to PolyU in 2021 as Vice President (Research and Innovation), and was promoted to Senior Vice President in October 2025.

Professor Chao is an internationally renowned scholar in thermal and environmental engineering. He has published more than one hundred papers in leading international journals. His research focuses on integrating intelligent building systems with public health considerations, spanning indoor air science, built environment, building energy efficiency and energy engineering. His academic achievements have earned him wide international recognition. Ranked by Clarivate among the top 1% worldwide by citations in the field of Engineering from 2020 to 2024, he has also been listed among Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists globally. In 2025, he received the prestigious Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), becoming the third scholar in Asia to receive this distinction. Recently, he has focused on infection-resilient and energy efficient environmental systems through AI-driven energy optimization strategy. This dual focus highlights the critical role of smart buildings in safeguarding public health and advancing sustainability.

Beyond academic research, Professor Chao is deeply committed to nurturing talent and translating research into real-world impact. As Chairman of the Council of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, he plays a key role in supporting and cultivating young talent in Hong Kong. He is also a Fellow and Senior Vice President of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, actively contributing to the professional community and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He currently serves in various leadership roles, including the Research Strategy Expert Group of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, the Board of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Board of the Hong Kong Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, the Council of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the HKTDC Mainland Business Advisory Committee. He also previously served as a Board Member of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (2020–2026).