News

PolyU develops novel multi-modal agent to facilitate long video understanding by AI

A research team led by Prof. CHEN Changwen, Management Committee Member of PAIR, Interim Dean of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, has developed a novel video-language agent, VideoMind, that enables AI models to perform long video reasoning and question-answering tasks by emulating humans’ way of thinking. The VideoMind framework incorporates an innovative Chain-of-Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) strategy to reduce the demand for computational resources and power, advancing the application of generative AI in video analysis. The findings have been submitted to the world-leading AI conferences. In designing VideoMind, the team made reference to a human-like process of video understanding, and introduced a role-based workflow. The four roles included in the framework are: the Planner, to coordinate all other roles for each query; the Grounder, to localise and retrieve relevant moments; the Verifier, to validate the information accuracy of the retrieved moments and select the most reliable one; and the Answerer, to generate the query-aware answer. This progressive approach to video understanding helps address the challenge of temporal-grounded reasoning that most AI models face. Another core innovation of the VideoMind framework lies in its adoption of a Chain-of-LoRA strategy. LoRA is a finetuning technique emerged in recent years. It adapts AI models for specific uses without performing full-parameter retraining. The innovative chain-of-LoRA strategy pioneered by the team involves applying four lightweight LoRA adapters in a unified model, each of which is designed for calling a specific role. With this strategy, the model can dynamically activate role-specific LoRA adapters during inference via self-calling to seamlessly switch among these roles, eliminating the need and cost of deploying multiple models while enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the single model. VideoMind not only overcomes the performance limitations of AI models in video processing, but also serves as a modular, scalable and interpretable multimodal reasoning framework. Looking forward, the team will expand the application of generative AI to various areas, such as intelligent surveillance, sports and entertainment video analysis, video search engines and more. Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2025/0610_polyu-develops-novel-multi-modal-agent-to-facilitate-long-video-understanding-by-ai/

PolyU medical technologies showcase at 4th China (Nanchang) International Health Industry Conference and Expo 2025

PolyU showcased a range of cutting-edge smart healthcare technologies at the 4th China (Nanchang) International Health Industry Conference and Expo 2025 held in Nanchang, Jiangxi, on 6–7 June 2025. As the sole representative of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions, PolyU invited 11 research teams to the expo to showcase their cutting-edge research and technological achievements in healthcare. Among the innovative products on display, ten were developed by PAIR members:   PolyMind AI – Next-Gen AI for Portable Eye Disease Screening by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health Intelligent Ankle Rehabilitation Robot by Prof. ZHANG Dan, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), and Chair Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering AI-Assisted Pharmaceutical Product Development Platform by Prof. MA Cong, Member of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Wearable Smart Navigation and Interaction System for the Visually Impaired by Prof. WEN Weisong, Member of RIAM, RILS, SCRI, RCDSE, RCDTT and Assistant Professor of Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Liverscan: A palm-sized ultrasound device for fatty liver and liver fibrosis assessment by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Chair Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Scolioscan: 3D ultrasound imaging device to provide radiation-free assessment of scoliosis by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of RISA, Chair Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Digital Strolling for alleviating depression in mobility-impaired individuals by Prof. LI Yan, Member of RI-IWEAR and Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), and Assistant Professor of School of Nursing Virtual MRI Contrast Enhancement System by Prof. CAI Jing, Management Committee Member of RI-IWEAR and RISA, and Head and Professor of Department of Health Technology and Informatics The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton by Prof. HU Xiaoling, Member of RISA and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), and Associate Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering E-bibliotherapy App for Caregivers of People with Dementia by Prof. WANG Shanshan, Member of RISA and Assistant Professor of School of Nursing   Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3Hx7QQ8 China News Service - https://polyu.me/3FLvmIz ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/43UASkk East Money - https://polyu.me/3FDdsI4 NetEase - https://polyu.me/4kv6KD0 Sina - https://polyu.me/45Rgu5Y Toutiao - https://polyu.me/4kOx4b0  

RILS study revealing Malacca heritage with cutting-edge geospatial technologies

A project named “Antiquity and Heritage Lost, Found and Revealed: Promotion of 21st Century Geo-spatial Technologies” led by Prof. Wallace LAI Wai-lok, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Associate Head (Teaching) and Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics, has been granted HK$3.22 million from the General Support Programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF-GSP) of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government. This two-year project, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Baptist University and local amateur war historians, aims to uncover and document the city’s concealed historical sites using advanced geospatial technologies. By employing techniques such as geo-referencing, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning, and geophysical technologies, the team is capturing detailed images of buried wartime relics and antiquities, bringing these lost historical relics back to light. To foster community involvement in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, the team will organise public programmes such as guided visits to cultural and wartime heritage sites, STEAM-focused seminars, interactive workshops, and immersive exhibitions. The team has collaborated with wide stakeholders including government bodies, universities and industry partners, science magazines, non-government organisations and local village community to enhance public engagement and advance the application of geospatial innovations in uncovering Hong Kong’s hidden historical stories. In May 2025, the team expanded the study scope to Malacca, Malaysia, where they conducted 3D scanning and mapping of historic structures, including the Porta de Santiago and St. Paul’s Church. By integrating digitised historical maps with modern scanning technologies, the team identified remnants of long-buried colonial fortifications. Further expeditions to other regions in Malaysia and Indonesia are planned.   Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/tc/media/media-releases/2025/0604_polyu-study-uncovering-hong-kong-s-hidden-history-with-cutting-edge-geospatial-technologies/ Online coverage: HK01 - https://polyu.me/4mNd5LL Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4ktud7O Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4ksFCEP hkong.hk- https://polyu.me/4kR8y9a Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/45eqdTL (subscription required) Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/43Jt84w

PAIR Newsletter · Issue 14 · June 2025 is now available online

We are excited to release the latest issue of the PAIR Newsletter! Knowledge transfer is fundamental to research development.  Issue 14 of the PAIR Newsletter provides a glimpse of the recent activities at PAIR involving the flow of ideas and diffusion of technology, including PAIR’s annual International Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting, inaugural Public Forum for Research and Innovation, noteworthy events as well as latest external collaborations in phytonutrients research, drug development and the upcycling of food waste. Collaboration is integral to unleashing universities’ research impact.  The Feature Stories section offers the perspectives of three noted scholars on research collaborations.  PAIR Senior Fellow, Prof. Iain McCULLOCH from Princeton University explains the importance of a versatile, collaborative culture for research translation and commercialisation.  PAIR IAC Member, Prof. CUI Zhanfeng from Oxford University delves into the trend of global universities’ increasing research collaborations with China.  Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) shares PolyU’s latest developments for driving China’s textile and fashion industries forward through the transformation of textile technology research. The Research Achievements section and People section include our researchers’ latest breakthroughs and accomplishments in the fields of ferroelectrics, health, energy, hydroclimatology, computing, hydraulics environmental engineering and more.  Our latest episode of PAIR Research Impact Video Series introduces the novel electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction system developed by PAIR researcher which contributes to carbon neutrality by converting carbon dioxide into raw material for plastics.  Read on to discover the latest updates at PAIR! PAIR Newsletter · Issue 14: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/publications/issue-14/

PolyU hosts the inaugural Master Lecture by Prof. Zhang Wenhong, Director of the National Medical Centre for Infectious Diseases, on the value of medical innovations in combating pandemics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI), together with the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), today co-hosted the inaugural PolyU Master Lecture. Prof. ZHANG Wenhong, Director of the National Medical Centre for Infectious Diseases and Head of the Institute of Infection and Health at Fudan University, gave the keynote speech, “The Race between Evolving Infectious Diseases and Human Technology”, sharing insights on how medical innovation and technology can rapidly anticipate and counteract the challenges posed by the unpredictable progress of infectious diseases before the next pandemic emerges. The event attracted approximately 450 participants, including PolyU faculty members, students, alumni, healthcare professionals and members of the public. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, expressed gratitude to Prof. Zhang for sharing his profound insights on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, which enriched participants’ understanding. He remarked, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus genome monitoring system developed by a PolyU research team became a pivotal tool for the HKSAR Government’s precise pandemic response. In recent years, PolyU has been actively promoting interdisciplinary innovation through PAIR and other research platforms, and advancing research in cutting-edge fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. PolyU has submitted a forward-looking and innovative proposal to the Government for the establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school, aiming to leverage the University’s robust capabilities in medical science, medicine and engineering integration, and AI-driven medicine to nurture a new generation of healthcare professionals who are socially responsible and technologically proficient.” Prof. Zhang Wenhong is a world-renowned expert on infectious disease control, specialising in the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. He is currently Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, Director of the Shanghai Sci-Tech Inno Centre for Infection and Immunity, and Dean of the Department of Internal Medicine at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University. He has been appointed as an Honorary Professor of the PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics and serves as an Expert Advisory Committee member for the University’s proposed third medical school. A prominent figure in the field of infectious diseases in Mainland China, Prof. Zhang has been honoured as a COVID-19 fight role model and a Young and Middle-Aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions of the National Health Commission in recognition of his exceptional professional excellence in the Nation’s fight against the pandemic. He is also a recipient of the 2nd National Award for Excellence in Innovation, as well as other awards, for his scientific and technological achievements. During his lecture, Prof. Zhang shared insights on the origins and evolution of infectious diseases, the importance and challenges of vaccination during pandemics, and how medical innovations can predict and counter pandemic outbreaks. Prof. Zhang pointed out that infectious diseases evolve in unpredictable patterns, constantly reshaping themselves in ways that challenge the medical community’s ability to anticipate the next dangerous variant. While medical researchers methodically develop vaccines and treatments through careful scientific processes, disease-causing organisms rapidly adapt through random mutations that can bypass the most sophisticated defences. Prof. Zhang further pointed out that while vaccination can effectively reduce the severity and mortality rate of infections, the silent transmission chains within communities and the emergence of new variants can weaken the protection vaccines provide. Developing new vaccines will enable the global community to respond more effectively and help prevent future outbreaks and epidemics. Key strategies in addressing the next pandemic include achieving herd immunity, scaling up vaccine production, improving treatment plans, and developing tools and methods for the detection, response and containment of future infectious threats. The following Q&A session was moderated by Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI and Prof. Gilman SIU, Professor of the HTI. Prof. Zhang engaged in in-depth exchanges with participants, inspiring all present. Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/4kkxWo0 CRHK - https://polyu.me/44YCXhk Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/4kJRxhj  Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/4jpXa35  Line Today - https://polyu.me/453bLOx Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/4mN7GV6 Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3Z8Kmqz Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4kJj0zt Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3T1LGbc Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4jzyULL Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/4jtxuT6 HK01 - https://polyu.me/3HlACmM Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3HgmWJQ Orange News - https://polyu.me/45ocytB Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3SwSzBe Line Today - https://polyu.me/3HgVxrd Global News - https://polyu.me/4khGr36 ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/4dGdgEi Day Day News - https://polyu.me/3HnWkqa

PolyU research reveals rising soil nitrous acid emissions driven by climate and fertilisation change accelerate global ozone pollution

A study led by Prof. WANG Tao, Executive Committee member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with his research team, has unveiled the pivotal role that soil nitrous acid (HONO) emissions play in the increase of the ozone mixing ratio in the air and their negative impact on vegetation. The team analysed global soil HONO emissions data from 1980 to 2016. The researchers found that soil HONO emissions have increased from 9.4 Tg N in 1980 to 11.5 Tg N in 2016. Using the chemistry-climate model to simulate the impact of these emissions on atmospheric composition, they discovered an average 2.5% rise annually in the global surface ozone mixing ratio, with localised increases reaching up to 29%. The team pointed out that soil HONO emissions are influenced by the combined effects of nitrogen fertiliser usage and climate factors such as soil temperature and soil water content, resulting in seasonal and geographical variations. The research established a comprehensive dataset by integrating multiple variables, including climate factors like soil temperature, soil water content, and fertiliser type and application rates into the parameterisation scheme. For unquantifiable factors such as microbial activities, land use, and soil texture, the team applied diverse parameters based on latitude, longitude, and land use data of the corresponding soil samples. The findings have been published in Nature Communications. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57161-6 Press release: https://polyu.me/4dB8NCN Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3HbRc8x Tech and Science Post - https://polyu.me/3Sp8bXq China Review News - https://polyu.me/4khPQry

PolyU participates in Asia Summit on Global Health, showcasing innovations in healthcare technology

  The global demand for healthcare continues to rise due to an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Scholars, startups, and research teams from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) participated in the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 26 and 27 May. They shared insights with industry experts from around the world and showcasing the University’s research achievements in healthcare technology innovations. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, stated, “PolyU has consistently harnessed expertise and research capabilities in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, public health, and engineering. We leverage the unique advantages of medical and engineering integration and empowering medicine with AI to develop innovative solutions that meet societal needs. As a pioneer in innovation and entrepreneurship, PolyU is committed to nurturing startups and promoting the commercialisation of research outcomes to contribute to the well-being of society and humanity globally.” Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, Chair Professor of Systems Biology and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics and Global STEM Scholar, participated in a thematic session on the theme of “Data-driven Healthcare Transforming Patient Journey”. With industry peers, he explored innovative applications of and prospects for using big data and AI technologies in optimising patient healthcare processes. Prof. Zhang highlighted the importance of healthcare data for researchers and the need for long-term collaboration among all stakeholders to collectively advance healthcare research and innovation. Additionally, seven PolyU startups, three research teams, and The InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research showcased their research and technological achievements in healthcare technology at the “InnoHealth Showcase” and ASGH exhibition respectively. Their innovations cover areas such as pharmaceutical and therapeutics, AI and digital health, medical device and diagnostics, and community health and wellness, highlighting PolyU’s strengths in these fields. PolyU is dedicated to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship development that benefits to the world. Through PolyUVentures, its signature startup ecosystem, the University bolsters PolyU startups at every stage of their entrepreneurial journeys – from education and ideation to incubation, acceleration and fundraising. Over the years, PolyU has nurtured about 600 startups, including two listed companies, three unicorns and 26 ponies. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/43iuswc  

Two PAIR members receive PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award 2025

Congratulations to the following two rising stars at PAIR for winning the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2025! YIRA aims to honour young PolyU researchers under the age of 35 who have demonstrated originality, contributed to technological advancement, and propelled transformational innovation into solutions to addressing global challenges through their research. Each awardee will receive a research funding support of HK$500,000 and a personal cash prize of HK$20,000 to encourage their continued pursuit of innovative and impactful research. Awardee Post Title and Department Affiliated PAIR Research Unit Research Focus Prof. LIN Wanyu Assistant Professor of Department of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence and Department of Computing Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things An Interpretable Deep Learning-Based Computational Framework for Crystal Materials Design Dr TAO Yong Research Assistant Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Member of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality   Advancing CO2 Mineralization and Waste Concrete Valorization for a Sustainable Future  

RCTFF and RI-IWEAR co-host The Fiber Society 2025 Spring Conference

The Fiber Society 2025 Spring Conference was successfully held on the PolyU campus, 21–23 May 2025. The conference was jointly hosted by various PolyU units including the School of Fashion and Textiles, Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), and Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Joint Research Centre for Fiber Innovations and Renewable Materials, and PolyU–Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute. Prof. SHOU Dahua, Associate Director of RCTFF and member of RI-IWEAR, was the Conference Chair of the Organising Committee. Themed “Future Fibers for Wellbeing, Intelligence, and Sustainability”, the event brought together more than 300 scholars, experts and industry representatives from approximately 20 countries and regions, and featured total of 200 high-quality academic presentations focusing on the latest advancements in fiber science. Founded in 1941, The Fiber Society is dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge pertaining to fibers, fiber-based products, and fibrous materials. Its members include chemists, physicists and engineers specialising in fiber science engineering and technology.

Prof. ZHANG Dan develops the world’s first 3-DoF ankle rehabilitation robot product

Prof. ZHANG Dan, Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation, and his research team have developed the world’s first Ankle Joint Rehabilitation Robot product with three degrees of freedom (3-DoF), enabling home-based rehabilitation training for patients with restricted joint mobility, as well as postoperative ankle rehabilitation for patients with cerebral palsy and stroke. Integrated with embodied intelligence technology, the system can automatically adjust to the target position for training according to the user’s foot size and ankle joint position, thereby providing personalised rehabilitation training. Patients can also undergo rehabilitation training using the robot on bed without standing. The system fully simulates the natural movements that occur in multiple directions and angles at the ankle joint including flexion, rolling and rotation, surpassing similar rehabilitation equipment on the market that only supports one or two degrees of freedom. The robot combines force feedback function，EMG feedback function and neuromuscular electrical stimulation technology to provide two training modes, patient-initiated active training, machine-driven passive training, and resistance training to meet the training needs of users at different stages of rehabilitation. The intelligent robot is designed to be portable, and its cost is much lower than that of similar equipment on the market. Prof. Zhang is now collaborating with Huashan Hospital, an affiliate hospital of Fudan University, to carry out clinical trial in which hospital patients are provided with robot-assisted rehabilitation for free. Prof. Zhang is currently Director of PolyU—Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute and Director of Consortium for Intelligent Robotics Research. He also serves as a Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF). Online coverage: Headline Daily- https://www.stheadline.com/ad-innovation/3454044/%E9%86%AB%E5%B7%A5%E7%B5%90%E5%90%88%E8%B8%9D%E9%97%9C%E7%AF%80%E5%BE%A9%E5%BA%B7%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E4%BA%BA-%E5%8A%A9%E4%B8%AD%E9%A2%A8%E6%82%A3%E8%80%85%E5%B1%85%E5%AE%B6%E5%BE%A9%E5%BA%B7