Four high-impact research projects secure significant RAISe+ funding
Bridging the gap between lab discoveries and commercial applications is vital for modern academic and global success. In a significant milestone, four PolyU projects secured funding in the third round of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme. Designed to support research commercialisation, the awarded initiatives span fields including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, fintech, and the digital transformation of legal services, highlighting PolyU’s strengths in applying academic excellence to these frontier areas while offering solutions to enhance industrial productivity.
Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) at PolyU, congratulated the research teams, noting that the HKSAR Government’s support empowers researchers to pursue world-leading innovation for societal benefits. He emphasised, “These high-commercialisation-potential projects will support Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub, as well as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.”
He added that the University will remain committed to translating its research outcomes into real-world applications through industry-academia-research collaboration, making significant contributions to Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.
The four awarded projects at a glance:
Forging with Clarity: Intelligent In-Situ Laser Melt Pool Monitoring Technology
Led by Professor H. C. Man, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor in Manufacturing Engineering, Chair Professor of Materials Engineering and Director of University Research Facility in 3D Printing, the project introduces IntraSpect™, an intelligent in-situ melt pool control technology. Serving as an “industrial eye”, it integrates high-frequency optical tomography with a multi-modal AI engine to provide micron-level 3D real-time and closed-loop control, effectively eliminating manufacturing defects like porosity. Offering top-tier performance at half the cost of competitors, the system ensures a rapid return on investment within one year. Aligned with the “15th Five-Year Plan” and “China Intelligent Manufacturing 2030”, IntraSpect™ enables the EV battery and electronics sectors to transition from passive defect detection to proactive quality prevention.
WiseLaw: Next Generation Agentic AI for Legal Services
Incubated by PolyU and led by Professor Lu Haitian, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance of the School of Accounting and Finance, and Director of the Mainland Development Office, WiseLaw Digital Technology Co. Ltd is Hong Kong’s first technology enterprise specialising in AI for cross-border legal and compliance services. Its core product, “Lawrence”, is an AI Digital Employee designed to function as a professional team member rather than a simple tool. Lawrence provides continuous support for legal research, compliance review, contract analysis, risk identification, knowledge management and workflow coordination across international business scenarios. By leveraging advanced Large Language Models and proprietary Harness Engineering and Agentic Memory solutions, the platform significantly enhances operational efficiency while reducing compliance costs. This innovation empowers corporations to navigate global expansion with a sophisticated framework for mitigating legal risks.
ShieldTrade: Multi-layer Defense System for Secure Web3 Transactions
Led by Professor Allen Au Man-ho, Associate Head (Research and Development) and Professor of the Department of Computing, ShieldTrade is a next-generation multi-layer defence system designed to safeguard Web3 transactions. The platform provides real-time protection by detecting and blocking interactions with sanctioned addresses, malicious contracts, and fraudulent dApps before execution. By analysing transaction patterns using advanced techniques including binary analysis, fuzzing and symbolic execution, ShieldTrade offers proactive defence against emerging decentralised threats. This innovation ensures a safer environment for users, significantly enhancing security and building trust within the Web3 ecosystem.
New Generation of Miniature Quantum Chip with Embedded System for Cybersecurity
Led by Professor Liu Ai-qun, Director of the Research Institute for Quantum Technology, Chair Professor of Quantum Engineering and Science of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Hong Kong Global STEM Scholar, this project addresses the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity in the age of quantum computing. As traditional encryption becomes vulnerable, the team is developing a new generation of miniature quantum chips with embedded systems. By integrating optical quantum components with classical electronics (ARM and FPGA) on a single CMOS-fabricated chip, the project significantly reduces size and cost while ensuring high security. These chip-scale devices support high-speed communication and are designed for seamless integration into IoT devices, handhelds, and fibre-optic networks. This innovation provides a robust, scalable solution for safeguarding data across global communication infrastructures.
