News

RCRE Seminar - Optimisation of Green Concrete for Structural Applications: Recycled Aggregates and Low Carbon Materials

Prof. Miren Etxeberria from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya delivered a seminar on 17 March 2026. The seminar was titled “Optimisation of Green Concrete for Structural Applications: Recycled Aggregates and Low Carbon Materials.” It was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU. Around 60 participants attended the seminar.        

RCRE Director, Associate Directors and Members Win Awards at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

Congratulations to the RCRE Director, two Associate Directors and three members for receiving a total of five awards at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland. These accolades include two Gold Medals, two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal. The award-winning projects are listed below.  Gold Medal – “Green Energy-driven Electrochemical Upcycling of Urban Solid Wastes” by Prof. Shipeng ZHANG and Ir Prof. Chi-sun POON Gold Medal – “Dragonfly Vision: A Mini Camera for Instant 180° Imaging” by Prof. Xuming ZHANG Silver Medal – “Nanocarbon-coated Conductive Aggregates (NCCA) for Smart, Sustainable Asphalt Pavement” by Prof. Zhen LENG Silver Medal – “Safety-assured AI-driven Drone System for Cleaning Building Exteriors” by Prof. Weisong WEN Bronze Medal – “Sustainable Long-lasting Rewritable Textiles for On-demand Pattern Customisation” by Prof. Bingang XU To learn more about their impactful projects, please visit:  https://www.polyu.edu.hk/kteo/knowledge-transfer/innovations-and-technologies/award-winning-innovations/geneva2026/

PolyU x BTRi Public Lecture - Ultra-High Performance Concrete: From Commercialization to Revolution

Dr VOO Yen Lei from Dura Technology Sdn Bhd delivered a lecture entitled “Ultra-High Performance Concrete: From Commercialization to Revolution” on 5 March 2026. The lecture was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU, and the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi), with support from the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI) and the HKIE Civil Division. The lecture attracted more than 80 participants.        

RCRE Seminar: Foam Concrete for Energy Absorbing Applications

Prof. David Lange from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign delivered a seminar entitled “Foam Concrete for Energy Absorbing Applications” on 28 January 2026. The seminar was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU, the HKIE Civil Division and the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI). Over 90 participants joined the seminar.      

RCRE Showcases at the HKGIA Exhibition of 2025 HKAEE Information Sharing Seminar

RCRE participated in the HKGIA exhibition of the 2025 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) Information Sharing Seminar, where they showcased their innovative technology in sustainable high-strength lightweight concrete. The exhibition took place at the Hong Kong Productivity Council on 19 January 2026.  

RCRE Director Wins Silver Award at the 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards

We are delighted to announce that a research project led by Ir Prof. Chi Sun POON, Director of RCRE and Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, along with team members Dr. Jian-xin LU (RCRE Member and Research Assistant Professor of CEE), Mr. Chunpeng ZHANG (PhD student of CEE), and Mr. Dingqiang FAN (PhD student of CEE), has received the Silver Award at the 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA). This prestigious recognition celebrates the team’s outstanding contributions to green innovation.  The award-winning project, titled “Sustainable High-Strength Lightweight Concrete: Reshaping the Future of Modular Construction”, focuses on developing advanced lightweight concrete solutions for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC). The research features two key innovations: a core-shell lightweight aggregate concrete for load-bearing structural elements, which significantly reduces structural weight while maintaining high strength, and a CO2-foamed concrete for non-load-bearing components, enabling carbon utilization and storage during both production and curing. Together, these complementary materials address both structural performance and environmental sustainability. Notably, the technologies have progressed beyond laboratory research and have already been successfully implemented in real construction projects in Hong Kong, demonstrating their practical feasibility and readiness for industry adoption. The Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards recognize exceptional achievements in green innovation and sustainable development. This recognition highlights RCRE’s commitment to translating research excellence into impactful solutions that support the construction industry’s transition toward low-carbon and sustainable building practices. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ir Prof. Poon and his team on this remarkable achievement.      

RCRE Seminar: Research Needs for Cementitious Materials

Prof. Karen Scrivener from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne delivered a seminar entitled “Research Needs for Cementitious Materials” on 8 January 2026. The seminar was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU. Over 60 participants joined the seminar.    

RCRE Public Lecture: Realistic Strategies for Decarbonising Construction

Prof. Karen Scrivener from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne delivered a lecture entitled “Realistic Strategies for Decarbonising Construction” on 6 January 2026. The event was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU, the HKIE Civil Division and the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI). Prof. Scrivener’s insightful presentation attracted more than 90 participants.    

Industry Delegation Visits RCRE

A group of visitors from the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), Arup, and Gammon Construction visited the RCRE on 6 January 2026. During their visit, Prof. Chi-sun Poon, Director of RCRE, presented recent advancements in low-carbon high-performance lightweight concrete and explored opportunities for collaborative research and application. The visit also featured a guided tour of the concrete printing laboratory, where ongoing projects and innovative technologies were showcased.      

RCRE Seminar: The Promise of Nano-Materials as Functional Additives in Concrete

Prof. Nemkumar Banthia of University of British Columbia delivered a seminar on the topic of “The Promise of Nano-Materials as Functional Additives in Concrete” on 19 December 2025. The seminar was jointly organized with CEE of PolyU. Over 50 participants joined the seminar.