PAIR: A Driving Force for Tackling Global Challenges
We live in an era defined by challenges that are global in scope, complex in nature, and profound in their impact—from climate change and widening inequality to food and energy insecurity, global health threats, rapid urbanisation, and the disruptive power of new technologies. These are not problems that can be solved in isolation or confined within the boundaries of a single discipline. They demand new ways of thinking—bold, collaborative approaches that bring together diverse fields of knowledge.
The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) was officially inaugurated in 2022 to meet precisely this need. As a dynamic platform for cutting-edge, boundary-crossing research, PAIR unites experts from across disciplines to focus on issues of socioeconomic importance—from Advanced Technologies and Manufacturing, Good Health and Well-being, to Smart and Sustainable Cities.
To explore PAIR’s achievements, strategies, and future vision, we spoke with its Director, Professor Chen Qingyan.
Professor Chen Qingyan
• Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
• Chair Professor of Thermal Building Science, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering
PAIR is not just about generating knowledge for its own sake. Our vision is closely aligned with PolyU’s strategic direction to create societal impact on a global scale. By harnessing the University’s world-class strengths in science, technology, and engineering, we are committed to driving innovations that improve lives, enhance industries, and pave the way to a brighter future.
~ Professor Chen Qingyan
Breakthrough research for societal impact
What follows is a series of pioneering projects by PAIR researchers, reflecting the Academy’s diversity of expertise and commitment to addressing pressing societal challenges.
Stronger, More Sustainable Materials: 3D-printed Titanium Alloys
Professor Keith Chan (photo, right), Associate Director of PAIR’s Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Chair Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), together with Professor Chen Zibin (photo, left), a member of RIAM and Assistant Professor at ISE, is working in partnership with RMIT University and the University of Sydney, to develop a novel high‑strength, ductile, and sustainable titanium alloy (α–β Ti‑O‑Fe) using 3D printing techniques. This breakthrough alloy holds enormous promise for applications as diverse as aerospace, marine engineering, consumer electronics, and biomedical devices. Beyond its versatility, it offers distinct advantages—lower production costs, enhanced performance, and sustainable waste management.
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Fatty Liver Detection Device: Assessment in Just 30 Seconds
A startup co-founded by Professor Zheng Yongping, Director of PAIR’s Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, has recently launched the world’s first lightweight intelligent fatty liver detection device—FattaLab®. Weighing only 140 grams, this palmsized portable device can complete fatty liver assessment within 30 seconds along with the use of a mobile app, with a detection accuracy at medical-grade standards. This device marks a technological breakthrough from “estimation” to “diagnosis level” for fatty liver point-of-care assessment, enabling timely intervention in community settings to improve health outcomes.
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Intelligent Clothing that Outperforms the Heat
Professor Shou Dahua, Associate Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) , a member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies, and Associate Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles, and his team have developed a first-of-its-kind thermally insulated and breathable soft robotic clothing that can automatically adapt to changing ambient temperatures, helping to ensure worker safety in hot environments. Professor Shou has also developed the award-winning iActiveTM, an intelligent, electrically activated sportswear with a nature-inspired active perspiration function, which reduces the weight and stickiness caused by sweat accumulation during exercise, enhancing athletic performance. |
These are just a few examples of PAIR’s groundbreaking research. Other bold initiatives being undertaken by PAIR researchers include the creation of sustainable and smart floating farms to strengthen food security, innovative lenses to slow the progression of myopia, low-fat ice cream that tastes as good as regular ice cream, and sophisticated space instruments capable of collecting lunar soil using robotic arms—all part of PAIR’s mission to deliver research that genuinely matters for people, industry, and the world.
Shaping minds: the advanced education programme
This academic year marks a milestone for PAIR, as the Academy extends its reach beyond cutting-edge research into education with the launch of the Advanced Education Programme (AEP). Designed to equip students with up-to-date insights into the world’s most pressing challenges, AEP blends academic depth with real-world relevance. Delivered in a flexible hybrid format (online and in person), the programme harnesses the expertise of PAIR’s leading research units and top scholars.
The inaugural course, Healthy Life and Smart Living, has been successfully launched, offering students a holistic understanding of how to live well in a rapidly changing world. Looking ahead, upcoming courses will address Sustainable Cities and Advanced Technologies, further broadening the scope to cover themes that define our collective future.
The purpose of AEP is to give students a comprehensive, end-to-end perspective on issues of profound relevance to their lives—from the science of healthy living to the transformative power of advanced technologies.
Through AEP, we not only enrich student learning but also reinforce PolyU’s global reputation as a university engaged with the big issues shaping society and everyday life.
~ Professor Chen Qingyan
Accessible to all, AEP is offered free of charge, with a certificate of completion available at a small fee for those who wish to formally credential their learning.
A hub of world-class talent
One of PAIR’s greatest strengths lies in its community of world-leading scholars, each an expert in their domain. By uniting these exceptional minds under a shared interdisciplinary mission, PAIR not only accelerates groundbreaking research but also serves as a powerful magnet for attracting more renowned academics to PolyU by providing them with a platform to push the boundaries of knowledge.
PAIR also offers seed funding to its academics undertaking interdisciplinary research projects that demonstrate potential for securing funding from external sources, growing and scaling up into larger initiatives that make a real impact.
Professor Chen emphasises the importance of this model in nurturing the next generation of researchers and innovators.
Younger talents have the chance to work under the guidance of seasoned scholars and Chair Professors on projects supported by substantial external funding. Through mentorship, they learn how to develop compelling proposals that win major grants, preparing them to become leading research talents of the future.
~ Professor Chen Qingyan
Beyond fostering a community of leading academics at PolyU, PAIR also engages in collaboration and knowledge exchange with top scholars outside the University. A prime example is the “PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series”, which brings visionary thinkers from around the world—including Nobel Laureates and Academicians—to PolyU to share their insights. These lectures not only inspire and educate the PolyU community but also open doors to potential collaboration opportunities. Recent speakers have included distinguished scholars from the University of Cambridge, Tsinghua University, Princeton University, Northwestern University, and other leading institutions—further establishing PolyU as a vibrant hub for the world’s leading scholars.
What’s next for PAIR
In terms of the future, Professor Chen envisions PAIR forging new frontiers in addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges. There are plans to establish a research institute on microbiology—an area of growing global importance in the face of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, earlier epidemics like swine flu and SARS, the threat of antimicrobial resistance, and other urgent public health concerns. Recently, the University has approved the establishment of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social and Governance Advancement, underscoring the critical role of policy in shaping a sustainable future.
With its world-class talent, strategic focus, and unwavering commitment to impact, PAIR is poised to continue shaping impactful solutions that matter for communities, industries, and humanity at large.
Research Institutes and Research Centres under PAIR
12 Research Institutes
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| Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing | Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things | Research Institute for Future Food |
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| Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems | Research Institute for Land and Space | Photonics Research Institute |
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| Research Institute for Quantum Technology | Research Institute for Smart Ageing | Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute |
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| Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy | Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology | Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development |
7 Research Centres
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| Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation | Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations | Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism |
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| Mental Health Research Centre | Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality | Research Centre for SHARP Vision |
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| Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion | ||
