Welcome to this issue of Innovation Digest, themed "Gear Up to the Summit: Next-Gen Sports Science Elevating Athletes to Their Zenith". The year 2026 marks an extraordinary milestone for global sport. Fresh from the excitement of the FIFA World Cup in July, attention now turns to the 2026 Asian Games in September, when elite athletes will once again take centre stage.

 

At the same time, Hong Kong has reinforced its commitment to high-performance sport through substantial investment in world-class infrastructure and advanced technologies. At the forefront of these efforts, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) brings together leading scholars whose rigorous research helps athletes optimise their physical capabilities and achieve peak performance.


In this issue, we spotlight PolyU's latest breakthroughs in two key areas. The "Sports Medicine & Rehab" section presents new insights into:

 

Meanwhile, the "Sports Gear" section explores advances in wearable technology, including:

 

Furthermore, "Engagement & Partnership" continues to feature recent PolyU collaborations with external organisations as well as engagement activities. Finally, "Student Corner" proudly showcases some of the achievements of our students.

 

As you explore these pages, we invite you to discover how cutting-edge research bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and performance in the field. We hope this issue offers new perspectives on how science empowers today's athletes to push boundaries, break records and redefine human potential.


Enjoy the read.

 

Prof. Cheng DONG
Chairman of the Editorial Committee

Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer)

Chair Professor of Cell Engineering and ImmunoMedicine,

Department of Biomedical Engineering