News

Exploring New Frontiers in Nanotechnology: Prof. David PUI Unpacks Applications in Microelectronics and Environmental Health

Prof. David Y. H. PUI from the University of Minnesota, U.S.A., delivered the PAIR Seminar titled “Nanoparticle Technologies in Microelectronics, Air Quality, Health Effects, and Filtration” on 13 June 2025 on the PolyU campus. The seminar drew over 60 attendees in person and engaged an online audience of more than 13,100 from various countries and regions who joined the live broadcast on social media platforms. The seminar commenced with a warm welcome and introduction of the speaker by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. Prof. Pui began his presentation by outlining the recent advancements in nanoparticle technologies, covering instrumentation developments, ISO standards and industry partnerships. He then delved into the applications of nanoparticle technologies in four interdisciplinary areas: Microelectronics: Contamination control in Extreme UV Lithography (EUVL) systems; Air Quality: PM2.5 mitigation, respirators, and indoor and urban pollution controls; Health Effects: Nanomedicine, bioaerosol sensors, UV-C decontamination; and Filtration: Prediction of filter media performance and wildfire impacts on electret filter efficiency, and large-scale direct-capture of atmospheric CO2 to combat climate change. In his closing remarks, Prof. Pui highlighted that nanoparticles are involved in multiple disciplines, bringing both benefits and potential harm to the environment, human health and semiconductor manufacturing. He underscored the importance of collaborative fundamental and applied research between academia and industry to foster a sustainable future, urging stronger partnerships among governments, industries and researchers to create a healthier and more prosperous society in the long run. Following the presentation was a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Ir Prof. GUO Hai, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The audience engaged in a productive dialogue with Prof. Pui. Please click here for an online review.

Exploring the frontiers of mechanics: Prof. GAO Huajian of Tsinghua University on mechano-X innovations

Prof. GAO Huajian, Xinghua Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Mechano-X Institute of Tsinghua University, China, delivered the 40th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Mechano-X: Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation at the Frontiers of Mechanics” on 13 June 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture drew over 130 attendees in person and captivated an online audience of more than 14,000 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on social media platforms. The lecture commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR, followed by an introduction of the speaker by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU. Prof. Gao began his presentation with a brief outline of important role that mechanics plays in the development of structural and functional materials, enlightening the audience on the recent advances in nanostructured materials, biomedical materials, mechanical metamaterials, soft actuators, flexible electronics, tunable mechanochromics, regenerative mechanomedicine and many more.  He further illustrated how fundamental principles of mechanics enable the proactive modulation and programming of properties in both engineering and biological systems. Through case studies, Prof. Gao highlighted the breakthroughs in mechano-energy, mechano-interfaces, and mechano-materials, demonstrating their transformative potential. In closing, Prof. Gao emphasised that mechanics remains a discipline with boundless possibilities in the era of interdisciplinary research and innovation. He underscored the promise of mechanics-based modelling and design, which could expand into areas such as nanostructured, low-dimensional, biological, biomimetic, soft, gradient, and metamaterials. Such approaches, he noted, could deeply intersect with fields including advanced manufacturing, healthcare technology, sustainable energy, and biomedical tissue and organ engineering, opening new opportunities for the development of related solutions. Following the presentation was a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. CHENG Li, Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering. The audience engaged in a productive discussion with Prof. Gao. Please click here for an online review.

MHRC members named among 2025 World’s Best Scientists by Research.com

Twelve members of the Mental Health Research Center (MHRC) have been named by leading academic research portal Research.com among the world’s best scientists in their respective disciplines, including Computer Science, Medicine, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Social Sciences and Humanities. The ranking is compiled based on a scientist’s D-index (Discipline H-index), which includes exclusively papers and citation metrics for an examined discipline. This international recognition highlights MHRC members’ exceptional contributions to their fields and the significant impact their research has had on the society. *Based on the 4th edition of Research.com ranking *In alphabetical order of disciplines and surnames of scholars World Ranking National Ranking MHRC Member D-Index Citations Publications Discipline   1504 185 (China) Prof. QIN Jing 72 19,492 316 Computer Science 716 79 (United Kingdom) Prof. Keith HAWTON 158 85,107 724 Medicine 7181 121 (China) Prof. Georg KRANZ 38 4,729 173 Neuroscience 3954 52 (China) Prof. QIU Anqi 54 10,038 206 Neuroscience 2758 35 (China) Prof. Benjamin YEE 63 15,473 186 Neuroscience 10011 99 (China) Dr Alma AU 30 2,879 106 Psychology 9782 5062 (United States) Prof. CAI Huajian 30 6,185 107 Psychology 8737 82 (China) Prof. Sylvia CHEN 34 5,092 83 Psychology 137 82 (United States) Prof. Patrick CORRIGAN 130 78,129 589 Psychology 2740 23 (China) Prof. David SHUM 62 15,108 366 Psychology 3840 35 (China) Prof. Winnie MAK 54 11,382 213 Psychology 49 1 (China) Prof. Paul YIP 104 180,365 557 Social Sciences and Humanities  

MHRC receives donation from Bright Future Charitable Foundation to develop mobile app for enhancing adolescent mental health

Prof. Hector TSANG, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Co-Founder of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) of PolyU, has received a generous donation from the Bright Future Charitable Foundation for the project “E-Breathing to Reduce Psychological Distress in Adolescents”. The two-year project aims to develop a mobile-based intervention for the early detection of Hong Kong adolescents at risk of psychological distress. The app “E-Breathing” uses Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture the psychological symptoms and support needs of adolescents and prompts users to engage in slow-paced breathing exercises when they score high on negative affect. The study will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 148 participants and evaluate the app’s effectiveness in improving users’ mood.

PolyU startups showcase innovation and entrepreneurial achievements at London Tech Week 2025

PolyU took part in the world-renowned London Tech Week 2025 held from 9 to 11 June in London, United Kingdom, as the only participating university from Hong Kong. Four PolyU startups showcased their ground-breaking innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing technologies and healthcare solutions. The event attracted business leaders, industry experts and investors from around the world, providing the PolyU startups with valuable opportunities to explore potential collaborations and establish partnerships. Among them, two startups were co-founded by PAIR members:   PolyU startup Co-founder Introduction Light-weight Technologies Limited Prof. LIN Jianguo Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Chair Professor of Materials Technologies, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering   The startup uses their globally unique light alloy manufacturing technologies, such as advanced hot stamping and extrusion techniques, with its self-developed smart industrial software and advanced simulation platform to produce ultra-thin, ultra-wide light alloy profiles and complex curved profiles that are unattainable with existing manufacturing processes. The startup provides high-strength, lightweight, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions that enable energy saving and emission reduction for the automotive, aerospace, railway, marine, and other engineering sectors, gaining wide recognition from leading global OEMs. UbiquiTech Innovations Limited Prof. CAO Jiannong Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Dean of Graduate School, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing The startup is committed to the intersection of robotics, AI and smart city solutions, with a view to developing cutting-edge autonomous robots designed to address complex challenges in modern urban and industrial environments.   Press release: https://polyu.me/4e2vIar Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/4mZfumF Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4n7cDrZ Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3SO23rP ETNet - https://polyu.me/4e2vQGX Sina HK - https://polyu.me/4l7QDeO Macau Business - https://polyu.me/3SNKcBq Taiwan Business News - https://polyu.me/4kHa2TZ BizWire Express - https://polyu.me/4k688eB Thailand Business News - https://polyu.me/3ZZb7xW The Manila Times - https://polyu.me/45hvvxX Viet Nam News - https://polyu.me/3ZvgODI Wha Tech - https://polyu.me/440qWFY The Sun Malaysia - https://polyu.me/4kFfS8a China Review News - https://polyu.me/4jNMVFK  

Trailblazing PAIR Seminar by Prof. YAO Jianping on the Advancement of Microwave Photonic Systems

Prof. YAO Jianping from the University of Ottawa, Canada, delivered the PAIR Seminar titled “Photonic Integrated Circuits for Next-Generation Microwave Photonic Systems” on 11 June 2025 on the PolyU campus. The seminar drew over 70 attendees in person and engaged an online audience of more than 15,300 from various countries and regions who joined the live broadcast on social media platforms.   The seminar commenced with a warm welcome and introduction of the speaker by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. Prof. Yao began his presentation with an overview of microwave photonics (MWP), emphasising that the technology uses light as a carrier and photonic and optoelectronic devices for the generation, transmission, control and processing of microwave signals. He compared the properties of four major material systems including indium phosphide (InP), silicon nitride (Si3N4), lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) and silicon on insulator (SOI), highlighting that SOI, Si3N4, and LNOI are playing important role in implementing photonic integrated circuits (PICs).   Prof. Yao further explored current applications of photonic integrated MWP systems. These included: true time delay networks for wideband beamforming, optoelectronic oscillators for low-phase-noise, high-frequency microwave generation, programmable signal processors for versatile photonic signal processing, high-sensitivity optical sensors and integrated MWP radar, etc.   In his closing remarks, Prof. Yao emphasised that the PICs’ miniaturised size, wide bandwidth and low loss, enhanced functionality and increased scalability enable the microchips to bring powerful solutions for MWP systems, paving the way for next-generation systems in radar, wireless communications (5G/6G), AI computing, delivering greater speed, bandwidth and dynamic range. He also stressed that heterogenous integration is a key challenge in the field, but it also presents opportunities for future development.   Following the presentation was a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. LU Chao, Director of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Chair Professor of Fiber Optics. The audience engaged in a productive dialogue with Prof. Yao. Please click here for an online review.

PolyU develops novel multi-modal agent to facilitate long video understanding by AI

A research team led by Prof. CHEN Changwen, Management Committee Member of PAIR, Interim Dean of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, has developed a novel video-language agent, VideoMind, that enables AI models to perform long video reasoning and question-answering tasks by emulating humans’ way of thinking. The VideoMind framework incorporates an innovative Chain-of-Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) strategy to reduce the demand for computational resources and power, advancing the application of generative AI in video analysis. The findings have been submitted to the world-leading AI conferences. In designing VideoMind, the team made reference to a human-like process of video understanding, and introduced a role-based workflow. The four roles included in the framework are: the Planner, to coordinate all other roles for each query; the Grounder, to localise and retrieve relevant moments; the Verifier, to validate the information accuracy of the retrieved moments and select the most reliable one; and the Answerer, to generate the query-aware answer. This progressive approach to video understanding helps address the challenge of temporal-grounded reasoning that most AI models face. Another core innovation of the VideoMind framework lies in its adoption of a Chain-of-LoRA strategy. LoRA is a finetuning technique emerged in recent years. It adapts AI models for specific uses without performing full-parameter retraining. The innovative chain-of-LoRA strategy pioneered by the team involves applying four lightweight LoRA adapters in a unified model, each of which is designed for calling a specific role. With this strategy, the model can dynamically activate role-specific LoRA adapters during inference via self-calling to seamlessly switch among these roles, eliminating the need and cost of deploying multiple models while enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the single model. VideoMind not only overcomes the performance limitations of AI models in video processing, but also serves as a modular, scalable and interpretable multimodal reasoning framework. Looking forward, the team will expand the application of generative AI to various areas, such as intelligent surveillance, sports and entertainment video analysis, video search engines and more. Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2025/0610_polyu-develops-novel-multi-modal-agent-to-facilitate-long-video-understanding-by-ai/

PolyU medical technologies showcase at 4th China (Nanchang) International Health Industry Conference and Expo 2025

PolyU showcased a range of cutting-edge smart healthcare technologies at the 4th China (Nanchang) International Health Industry Conference and Expo 2025 held in Nanchang, Jiangxi, on 6–7 June 2025. As the sole representative of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions, PolyU invited 11 research teams to the expo to showcase their cutting-edge research and technological achievements in healthcare. Among the innovative products on display, ten were developed by PAIR members:   PolyMind AI – Next-Gen AI for Portable Eye Disease Screening by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health Intelligent Ankle Rehabilitation Robot by Prof. ZHANG Dan, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), and Chair Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering AI-Assisted Pharmaceutical Product Development Platform by Prof. MA Cong, Member of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Wearable Smart Navigation and Interaction System for the Visually Impaired by Prof. WEN Weisong, Member of RIAM, RILS, SCRI, RCDSE, RCDTT and Assistant Professor of Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Liverscan: A palm-sized ultrasound device for fatty liver and liver fibrosis assessment by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Chair Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Scolioscan: 3D ultrasound imaging device to provide radiation-free assessment of scoliosis by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of RISA, Chair Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Digital Strolling for alleviating depression in mobility-impaired individuals by Prof. LI Yan, Member of RI-IWEAR and Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), and Assistant Professor of School of Nursing Virtual MRI Contrast Enhancement System by Prof. CAI Jing, Management Committee Member of RI-IWEAR and RISA, and Head and Professor of Department of Health Technology and Informatics The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton by Prof. HU Xiaoling, Member of RISA and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), and Associate Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering E-bibliotherapy App for Caregivers of People with Dementia by Prof. WANG Shanshan, Member of RISA and Assistant Professor of School of Nursing   Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3Hx7QQ8 China News Service - https://polyu.me/3FLvmIz ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/43UASkk East Money - https://polyu.me/3FDdsI4 NetEase - https://polyu.me/4kv6KD0 Sina - https://polyu.me/45Rgu5Y Toutiao - https://polyu.me/4kOx4b0  

RILS study revealing Malacca heritage with cutting-edge geospatial technologies

A project named “Antiquity and Heritage Lost, Found and Revealed: Promotion of 21st Century Geo-spatial Technologies” led by Prof. Wallace LAI Wai-lok, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Associate Head (Teaching) and Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics, has been granted HK$3.22 million from the General Support Programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF-GSP) of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government. This two-year project, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Baptist University and local amateur war historians, aims to uncover and document the city’s concealed historical sites using advanced geospatial technologies. By employing techniques such as geo-referencing, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning, and geophysical technologies, the team is capturing detailed images of buried wartime relics and antiquities, bringing these lost historical relics back to light. To foster community involvement in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, the team will organise public programmes such as guided visits to cultural and wartime heritage sites, STEAM-focused seminars, interactive workshops, and immersive exhibitions. The team has collaborated with wide stakeholders including government bodies, universities and industry partners, science magazines, non-government organisations and local village community to enhance public engagement and advance the application of geospatial innovations in uncovering Hong Kong’s hidden historical stories. In May 2025, the team expanded the study scope to Malacca, Malaysia, where they conducted 3D scanning and mapping of historic structures, including the Porta de Santiago and St. Paul’s Church. By integrating digitised historical maps with modern scanning technologies, the team identified remnants of long-buried colonial fortifications. Further expeditions to other regions in Malaysia and Indonesia are planned.   Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/tc/media/media-releases/2025/0604_polyu-study-uncovering-hong-kong-s-hidden-history-with-cutting-edge-geospatial-technologies/ Online coverage: HK01 - https://polyu.me/4mNd5LL Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4ktud7O Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4ksFCEP hkong.hk- https://polyu.me/4kR8y9a Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/45eqdTL (subscription required) Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/43Jt84w

PAIR Newsletter · Issue 14 · June 2025 is now available online

We are excited to release the latest issue of the PAIR Newsletter! Knowledge transfer is fundamental to research development.  Issue 14 of the PAIR Newsletter provides a glimpse of the recent activities at PAIR involving the flow of ideas and diffusion of technology, including PAIR’s annual International Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting, inaugural Public Forum for Research and Innovation, noteworthy events as well as latest external collaborations in phytonutrients research, drug development and the upcycling of food waste. Collaboration is integral to unleashing universities’ research impact.  The Feature Stories section offers the perspectives of three noted scholars on research collaborations.  PAIR Senior Fellow, Prof. Iain McCULLOCH from Princeton University explains the importance of a versatile, collaborative culture for research translation and commercialisation.  PAIR IAC Member, Prof. CUI Zhanfeng from Oxford University delves into the trend of global universities’ increasing research collaborations with China.  Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) shares PolyU’s latest developments for driving China’s textile and fashion industries forward through the transformation of textile technology research. The Research Achievements section and People section include our researchers’ latest breakthroughs and accomplishments in the fields of ferroelectrics, health, energy, hydroclimatology, computing, hydraulics environmental engineering and more.  Our latest episode of PAIR Research Impact Video Series introduces the novel electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction system developed by PAIR researcher which contributes to carbon neutrality by converting carbon dioxide into raw material for plastics.  Read on to discover the latest updates at PAIR! PAIR Newsletter · Issue 14: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/publications/issue-14/