PolyU innovations win 37 awards at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva
PolyU’s research teams achieved remarkable success at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, capturing 37 accolades for 32 pioneering innovations that demonstrate outstanding transformative potential to tackle pressing global challenges.
The accolades received include two Special Awards, six Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 14 Gold Medals, 10 Silver Medals, two Bronze Medals, one Special Prize, and two Special Merit Awards. These innovations cover diverse fields – from life sciences, healthcare, and vision health to aerospace, artificial intelligence, robotics, and more – underscoring PolyU’s commitment to creating a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Two innovations receive special awards
Among the award-winning PolyU innovations, two projects distinguished themselves by earning special awards. They are:
Prof. Simon Lee Ming-yuen and his research team developed PD-001R for neurodegenerative diseases, earning the Prize of Korea Invention Promotion Association and a Gold Medal.
Prize awarded: | Prize of Korea Invention Promotion Association and a Gold Medal |
Project title: | PD-001R: A First-in-Class Candidate for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases |
Developed by: | Research team led by Professor Simon Lee Ming-yuen, Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Innovation, Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and Founder of PolyU startup AIM Pharmaceutical International Limited, in collaboration with Dr Zhao Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and Chief Technology Officer of AIM Pharmaceutical International Limited |
Project description: | PD-001R is a first-in-class, novel small-molecule drug candidate for Parkinson’s disease, derived from Alpinia oxyphylla Fructus and synthesised as a new molecular entity. Its primary mechanism of action is the promotion of pathological α-synuclein aggregate degradation. Preclinical studies show that it efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier, exerts neuroprotective effects in animal models of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and exhibits favourable oral bioavailability and safety. |
Prof. Tam Hwa-yaw’s team and CLP Power Hong Kong Limited collaborated on the development of the autonomous inspection robot. The project was awarded the Thailand Award for the Best International Invention & Innovation and a Gold Medal.
Prize awarded: | Thailand Award for the Best International Invention & Innovation and a Gold Medal |
Project title: | Revolutionising Power Generator Inspection: The Baffle-compatible Autonomous Robot |
Developed by: | Research team led by Professor Tam Hwa-yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, in collaboration with CLP Power Hong Kong Limited |
Project description: | This low-profile autonomous robot is designed for inspecting electrical generators. With a thickness of 36mm, it can pass through the gap between the stator and rotor without the need to dismantle the multi-ton rotor. The robot efficiently reduces costs and downtime, and supports proactive maintenance while enhancing generator reliability. Additionally, the robot carries a fibre-optic condition monitoring system that continuously assesses the health of its critical components, providing early indication of failures and ensuring inspection safety. |
The event attracted over a thousand entries from about 40 countries and regions. Click here for the full list of PolyU awardees and their remarkable inventions.
Professor Dong Cheng, PolyU Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement), attended the event to support PolyU teams and presented the “Prize of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University” and the “International Strategic Technology Alliance (ISTA) Global Innovation and Invention Award”.
Professor Christopher Chao, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), praised the teams, “Their accomplishments affirm PolyU’s steadfast commitment to advancing frontier research innovation and translating research outcomes into impactful real-world solutions.”
A pioneer in innovation and entrepreneurship, PolyU fosters startups through “PolyVentures”, its flagship startup ecosystem. Among this year’s winning teams, 11 startups were supported by PolyVentures and two were led by the InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), a partnership between PolyU and the University of Waterloo. To date, PolyU has nurtured over 600 active startups, including 2 listed companies, 3 unicorns, and 26 ponies, highlighting its success in research commercialisation and entrepreneurial impact.
PolyU continues to excel on the global stage. Recently, at another major event – the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, the world’s largest event for the mobile and connectivity industry – PolyU stood out as the only university exhibitor from Hong Kong and was recognised as a finalist for the Global Mobile Awards. To learn more about the innovations showcased, please visit here.
