News

RCRE and FSE Lifestyle Services Explore Collaboration on Waste-to-Value Technologies

On 30 September 2026, Prof. Charles Xu, Director of RCRE, led a team of academic and research staff from RCRE, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Department of Computing (COMP) in a meeting with two delegates from FSE Lifestyle Services Limited. The primary objective of the meeting was to explore joint R&D opportunities in waste valorization technologies, specifically targeting the commercialization of a waste-to-value platform. After the FSE delegates introduced their company’s core service portfolio, Prof. Xu provided an overview of RCRE’s ongoing research initiatives. Several researchers then presented their work across key domains: Prof. Bo Yang (COMP & RCRE) on artificial intelligence; Dr Armin Rezayan (CEE & RCRE), Dr Ho Yin Tse (CEE & RCRE), Dr Huichuan Zhuang (CEE) and Dr Xiaofeng Pan (RCRE) on food, yard and plastic waste valorization; and Dr Junli Liu (CEE) on recycled construction materials. The visit marked an encouraging first step toward a strategic partnership between the two organizations.  

RCRE Management Committee Member Secures HK$2.12M ANR/RGC Joint Research Grant for Sustainable Concrete Innovation

We extend our warmest congratulations to Ir Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Management Committee Member of RCRE and Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, on securing HK$2,122,054 from the French National Research Agency (ANR) / Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme 2026/27. In a highly competitive exercise, Ir Prof. Poon’s project was one of only six proposals funded across all disciplines. For this 48-month collaborative project, Ir Prof. Poon will partner with Prof. Roland J.M. Pellenq from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Their project, titled “Innovative Concrete Materials for Performance, Resilience and Optimization Economics (IMPROVE-Concrete),” aims to develop durable, resilient, and cost-effective concrete materials engineered for harsh environments. By integrating multi-scale modeling, experimental testing, artificial intelligence (AI), and life-cycle assessment (LCA), the project seeks to optimize material performance, accelerate construction waste recycling, and significantly lower carbon emissions—delivering cutting-edge solutions for sustainable infrastructure. The ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme fosters high-level scientific collaboration between researchers in France and Hong Kong. We congratulate Ir Prof. Poon on this outstanding achievement and look forward to the impactful breakthroughs this international partnership will bring.    

AELi visits RCRE to Explore Collaborative Research on Food Waste Valorization

On 25 September 2026, two representatives from AEL (International Holdings) Limited (AELi) visited RCRE to explore collaborative opportunities. AELi is a green technology and biotechnology startup specializing in converting food waste into renewable energy and valuable resources. Prof. Charles Xu, Director of RCRE, opened the session by highlighting the center’s strategic research initiatives and some major projects. Subsequently, RCRE members Dr Armin Rezayan, Dr Ho Yin Tse, and Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Xiaofeng Pan presented their current research on organic waste management, with a focus on food and yard waste. The meeting concluded with discussions on potential research collaborations in food waste valorization.  

Director of RCRE Elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Canada

Congratulations to Prof. Charles XU Chunbao, Director of RCRE and Chair Professor of Advanced Biorefinery of CEE, on being elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).  This prestigious honour recognises Prof. Xu’s outstanding contributions and dedication to developing transformative biorefinery technologies that benefit multiple industrial sectors in Canada and beyond. Founded in 1882, the RSC comprises leading scholars across arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.  It is dedicated to recognising academic excellence, fostering innovation and providing evidence-based advice and scientific solutions for public policy and address global challenges.  This year, 105 distinguished scholars worldwide were elected as new RSC Fellows, with Prof. Xu being one of only three scholars across the Hong Kong SAR to receive this accolade. Looking ahead, Prof. Xu will continue to lead RCRE in scaling transformative biorefinery technologies to industrial level, converting organic waste into high-value bioproducts, contributing to drive global sustainable and advance the transition towards carbon neutrality.  

RCRE Showcases Low-carbon Innovations at ReThink HK 2026

ReThink HK 2026, organized by EnviroEvents HK and co-organized by the Business Environment Council, took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 10-11 September 2026. As a flagship forum for sustainable development, it served as the cornerstone event of Hong Kong Green Week 2026. Participating as an exhibitor, RCRE showcased low-carbon innovations that attracted significant attention from attendees, including low-carbon construction materials, recycled pavement materials, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) 2025

The PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) is a prestigious university-level accolade that recognises academic departments and faculty members for their exceptional commitment to knowledge transfer. The award celebrates outstanding contributions to innovation and commercialisation while fostering a strong culture of research impact across the PolyU community. This year, three RCRE members were honored with individual awards for their achievements: Prof. Benny C.F. CHEUNG (Management Committee Member, RCRE): Top Patents Filing Award and Most Active Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. Chi-sun POON (Management Committee Member, RCRE): Top Patents Filing Award Prof. Ka-hing WONG (Member, RCRE): Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award in the Year RCRE extends its warmest congratulations to Prof. Cheung, Ir Prof. Poon, and Prof. Wong on their well-deserved recognition!

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) Delegation Visits RCRE

A delegation of faculty members and graduate students from the School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) visited RCRE on 2 August 2026. During the visit, Prof. Charles Xu, Director of RCRE, presented the Centre’s key research focus, academic activities, as well as his current projects in biorefinery.    

CUMT Delegation Visits RCRE to Explore Green Technologies

On 15 July 2026, a delegation of faculty and graduate students from the School of Energy, China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) visited the RCRE for an academic exchange. Prof. Charles Xu, Director of RCRE, opened the session by introducing the Centre’s key research directions, academic activities, and his ongoing projects in the field of biorefinery. To showcase RCRE's diverse scientific contributions, three researchers from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) presented their latest work: Dr Danning Li (Research Assistant Professor) discussed sustainable paving materials and technologies. Dr Huichuan Zhuang (Research Assistant Professor) shared insights on urban biorefinery for woody waste management. Dr Junli Liu (Postdoctoral Fellow) presented cutting-edge and low-carbon concrete 3D printing technologies. Following the presentations, the delegation was taken on a guided tour of RCRE's facilities. The tour featured hands-on insights into the Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory, the Bioenergy Research Laboratory, and the Concrete Printing Laboratory, paving the way for future academic exchange.  

New Directorship Appointment for RCRE

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Charles Chunbao XU as Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) and Chair Professor of Advanced Biorefinery in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering with effect from 2 July 2026.  Joining PolyU following a global search, Prof. Xu is an internationally renowned scholar in advanced biorefinery and sustainable resource engineering.  With more than 20 years of research experience, he has published over 400 journal papers, holds 12 international patents and is recognised for his pioneering work in converting biomass and organic wastes into sustainable fuels, green chemicals and biopolymer materials.  He is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Institute of Canada. We welcome Prof. Xu to the PolyU family.  We are confident that, under his leadership, RCRE will continue to strengthen its research excellence and make significant contributions to waste recycling and carbon neutrality.          

AMSIGE-1 Conference Advances Green Engineering Research

The 1st International Conference on Advanced Materials, Surfaces and Interfaces for Green Engineering (AMSIGE‑1) was successfully held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 8 to10 May 2026. The conference was organised by PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), Southeast University, and the Jiangsu–Hong Kong–Macao University Cooperation Alliance (JHMUA), with co-organisation by the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), and the ESG Research and Sustainable Fashion Hub. The event brought together more than 90 participants from eight countries and regions, including scholars, academics, industry experts, and research students. It featured 17 keynote speeches, 24 invited presentations, and 27 poster presentations, with poster presenters competing for awards. The conference focused on three major themes: biology, medical, and healthcare green engineering; textile, construction, and transportation green engineering; and sustainable energy and other green engineering. Collectively, these themes highlighted interdisciplinary advances in materials, surfaces, and interfaces that contribute to sustainable development and innovation.   More details can be found here: https://esg-sft.com/en/project/cross-regional-exchange-of-knowledge-and-expertise-the-1st-international-conference-on-advanced-materials-surfaces-and-interfaces-for-green-engineering-amsige-1/