PolyU continues to advance research and education thanks to the generosity of its donors, whose recent contributions have again enabled impactful projects across different sectors.

Driving sustainable fashion innovation

The GS Charity Foundation has generously supported a research project from the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) titled “From Tradition to Tech: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Fashion Design and Brand Ecosystem Management in the Age of AI and Digital Platforms”, aimed at fostering sustainable fashion innovation.

The donation and kick-off ceremony for the research project was officiated by Professor Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, and Mr Yeung Fan, Vice-chairman and General Manager of Glorious Sun Group. They were joined by Ms Cheung Wai-yee, Director and Deputy General Manager of Glorious Sun Group; Professor the Honourable Poon Chung-kwong, PolyU President Emeritus; The Honourable Jimmy Ng Wing-ka, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress and Member of the Legislative Council; Dr Katherine Ngan, University Court Chairman; Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost; and Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation).

Professor Teng expressed gratitude for the donor’s long-standing support for PolyU, stating, “This collaboration will enable the continuous supply of talent for the textile sector, equipped with cutting-edge industry knowledge and AI expertise. This will help Hong Kong leverage its regional advantages and further consolidate the Greater Bay Area’s position as a hub for fashion innovation.”

Advancing technologies for public eye health

PolyU has received generous funding support from Vision Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (VST), a PolyU startup specialising in pioneering myopia control technologies. This significant contribution will drive cutting-edge research projects with a focus on innovative interventions for myopia (short-sightedness) and presbyopia control, enhancing public eye health while further strengthening PolyU’s leading position in optical innovation.

VST was co-founded by Professor To Chi-ho, Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry of the PolyU School of Optometry (SO), and Mr Jackson Leung, both SO alumni, with strong entrepreneurial support from PolyU. The company has successfully commercialised the University’s patented Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) technology, designed to control the progression of myopia.

VST will fund the three-year research project “Optimisation of Vision with Novel Optical Designs and Engineering” led by Professor Rachel Chun, Assistant Professor of SO, and Professor Kee Chea-su, Head and Professor of SO. The project seeks to introduce personalised solutions that prevent myopia onset and development, slow axial elongation in children, and develop innovative optical designs for presbyopia.

Nurturing Belt and Road talent with scholarships

PolyU also received a generous donation from the China Merchants Foundation to establish the China Merchants Belt and Road Scholarship. This scholarship supports outstanding Master’s students from Belt and Road countries and regions to pursue postgraduate studies at the PolyU Faculty of Business. Four students from South Korea, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia, enrolled in the Master of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management, were awarded an Admission Scholarship in recognition of their excellent academic achievements and impressive interview performances.

Representatives from PolyU, China Merchants Group, and The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association attended the inaugural scholarship presentation ceremony, including President Professor Teng; Mr Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group and Chair of the Board of China Merchants Foundation; and Mr Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Yu Xiao, Vice Chairman and President of The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, alongside professors and students from PolyU Faculty of Business, and other esteemed guests.

Professor Teng expressed heartfelt gratitude to the China Merchants Foundation for establishing this scholarship at PolyU, underscoring the University’s shared commitment to advancing the Nation’s Belt and Road Initiative. He also encouraged the recipients to unleash their potential and contribute to cultural exchange and collaboration between China and the Belt and Road countries.

The Scholarship comprises Admission Scholarship and Graduation Academic Scholarship, with the latter one awarded at the end of the 2025/26 academic year to six eligible Master’s graduates who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and fulfil the required criteria.