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Two PolyU young scholars named 2025 “MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 China”, underscoring University’s commitment to nurturing research excellence

Two outstanding young scholars from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof. Tsz-woon Benedict LO, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry, and Dr Jiaxin LV, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, have been named on the 2025 “MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 China” (TR35 China) list in the “Visionaries” and “Inventors” categories, respectively. They are recognised for their pioneering research achievements in catalytic science and advanced manufacturing technologies, honouring their excellence in transforming classic technologies into novel applications and developing new cutting-edge technologies. Securing two of the five spots awarded to Hong Kong university scholars this year, PolyU further demonstrates its exceptional research strength and unwavering commitment to fostering young research talent and driving frontier innovation. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, congratulated the two scholars on receiving the prestigious honour, stating, “We are thrilled to see PolyU’s young talents demonstrating exceptional strength on the international research stage and addressing global challenges through pioneering achievements. PolyU has long been committed to supporting young scientists in advancing frontier research and technology transfer. Since launching the ‘Young Innovative Researcher Award’ in 2022, PolyU has sought to recognise young innovators with originality and breakthrough potential. PolyU will continue to provide robust support for young scholars and nurture a new generation of research leaders who will help shape the future.” Prof. Lo developed the synchrotron resonant soft X-ray diffraction (RSXRD) technique, achieving a major breakthrough beyond the limits of conventional methods. In an international first, his work enables, the three-dimensional atomic-resolution mapping of framework aluminium (Al) in industrial-grade zeolite catalysts. This landmark achievement, published in Science in 2025, provides atomic-level evidence for the rational design of zeolites, definitively resolving the decades-long “black box” surrounding the precise spatial arrangement of active sites. Delivering high precision, selectivity and energy efficiency in catalytic processes without requiring modifications to existing factory reactor hardware, the industrial value of this technique has been validated through collaborative projects. It offers significant scientific and practical benefits for improving carbon-resource conversion efficiency and helping address global climate challenges. Dr Lv developed the Multi-container Extrusion (MCE) technology, which enables the integrated, seamless manufacturing of ultra-wide, thin-walled light alloy components that previously required segmented welding. This innovation increases profile width to more than three times that of traditional methods while reducing extrusion pressure by 70% to 90%. By establishing multi-scale material models and integrating artificial intelligence-assisted optimisation, she has significantly shortened product development cycles, holding four cross-border core patents as the primary inventor and patentee. This original technology was successfully commercialised in 2024, driving the establishment of a 6,500-ton industrial production line. When applied to passenger vehicles, these structural components achieve a potential weight reduction of up to 50% and carbon emission reductions of approximately 30%, comprehensively rewriting the manufacturing standards for large-scale lightweight components. Established by the MIT Technology Review, the annual TR35 global list recognises outstanding young technological innovators across multiple frontier tech and industrial fields. The TR35 China regional selection was established in 2017 to recognise exceptional and internationally influential young scientific and technological leaders in China.

PolyU ranks among leading universities in multiple RGC funding schemes, underscoring distinctive research leadership

Four research projects of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have received support from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) funding exercises in 2026/27, amassing total funding of over HK$124 million. PolyU ranks high among local universities in terms of the number of funded projects: two interdisciplinary artificial intelligence (AI) projects supported by the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) will drive the development of green fuels and corporate AI risk management, while the other two, supported by the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme and the Strategic Topics Grant (STG) respectively, cover the fields of smart manufacturing and the silver economy. PolyU will continue to harness its research prowess, advancing high-quality socio-economic development for the benefit of society. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “We are grateful for the RGC’s robust support for PolyU’s research excellence. The awarded projects reflect our strength in interdisciplinary research, integrating AI with different academic disciplines to spearhead innovative development of green energy, smart manufacturing, the economy and corporate governance; and contributing to the development of the silver economy in Hong Kong. As a global top 50 university, PolyU will continue to capitalise on its competitive edge in world-class research and top talent, sparing no effort in fostering knowledge transfer and translating frontier research into impactful solutions to drive innovation across diverse industries, supporting Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology centre.” The AoE Scheme aims to provide support to universities funded by the University Grants Committee to build upon their existing strengths and develop them into areas of excellence. The purpose of the TRS is to focus academic research on themes of strategic importance to Hong Kong's long-term development, while the STG supports collaborative research in specific areas which can help address important issues for Hong Kong. The University’s projects that were awarded funding are as follows:

Ammonia as a Hydrogen Carrier: Advancing Zero-Emission Energy Solutions

As decarbonisation accelerates, hydrogen is a key clean energy carrier, but its storage and transport remain challenging. The research from Prof. Molly Li Mengjung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Physics and Materials at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, explores ammonia as an alternative hydrogen carrier, focusing on efficient hydrogen release and practical integration into real-world energy systems. Unlike hydrogen, which requires high-pressure or cryogenic storage, ammonia can be liquefied under mild conditions and transported using existing infrastructure. Although toxic and requiring careful handling, ammonia provides a more practical and scalable hydrogen carrier. The main challenge is ammonia cracking—the decomposition of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia does not readily release hydrogen, and conventional cracking requires temperatures around 500°C, making the process energy-intensive. To address this, Prof. Li’s team has developed nanostructured cobalt-based catalysts with a core-shell design, where cobalt nanoparticles are coated with a metal-oxide layer. This structure enhances performance by preventing particle aggregation at high temperatures and by providing a dynamic surface that improves ammonia adsorption and facilitates efficient hydrogen and nitrogen release. These catalysts also exhibit dynamic nanoscale behaviour, allowing their surfaces to adapt to reaction conditions. This improves ammonia adsorption and product desorption, enabling more efficient hydrogen production at lower temperatures. Beyond catalyst design, Prof. Li emphasises system integration. A key challenge is bridging the temperature gap between high-temperature ammonia cracking and fuel cells, which operate at 80–150°C, to minimise energy losses and ensure efficient operation. Hydrogen purity is another critical factor. Ammonia cracking produces a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, and applications vary in their requirements. Fuel cells need high-purity hydrogen, necessitating additional purification, while combustion-based uses can tolerate lower purity. System design must therefore be tailored to specific applications. The technology has already advanced beyond the laboratory. Prof. Li’s prototypes include ammonia-powered golf carts, minibuses and charging stations, demonstrating the potential for decentralised energy supply and transportation. Mainstream adoption depends on scalable, cost-effective green ammonia production, advances in catalysts and reactor design to improve cracking efficiency, and optimised system-level engineering for reliable, high-performance operation. Together, these advances demonstrate how ammonia can become a practical, potentially zero-carbon hydrogen carrier.   Source: Faculty of Science Newsletter (June 2026)  

PolyU hosted the 10th International Conference on Aerospace System Science and Engineering to promote multidisciplinary research in aerospace

Organised by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and hosted by Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the 10th International Conference on Aerospace System Science and Engineering (ICASSE 2026) was successfully hosted from 16 to 17 July, further demonstrating its growing international influence in aerospace research and innovation. As a premier international platform for advancing aerospace research, ICASSE 2026 brought together more than 160 leading researchers, academics and aerospace industry professionals from 10 countries and regions. The conference featured keynote and invited presentations by distinguished scholars and experts from academia and industry, covering emerging topics such as AI-enabled aerospace systems, autonomous flight and advanced composite materials, while showcasing the latest developments in aeronautics, astronautics and aerospace systems engineering. Prof. Li-Ta HSU, Associate Professor and Limin Young Scholar in Aerospace Navigation in the AAE of PolyU and Prof. Wu XU, Vice Dean of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics (SAA) of SJTU, served as the conference chairman. The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks by Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research) of PolyU, and Prof. Shiqiang HU, Secretary of the CPC School Committee of SAA of SJTU. Prof. Qi ZHAO, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of PolyU, also delivered a keynote speech. Beyond the technical programme, the conference fostered extensive academic and institutional exchanges. A delegation from SJTU visited PolyU to explore collaboration opportunities in aerospace research and education, including tours of research laboratories of AAE and the Research Centre for Unmanned Autonomous Systems. The conference also hosted an editorial meeting for the journal Aerospace Systems on 18 July, where participants discussed future directions for the journal, including space-related research and special issues on emerging aerospace topics. Through its state-of-the-art facilities, strong research capabilities and commitment to international collaboration, PolyU facilitated meaningful exchanges among universities, researchers, industry leaders and journal representatives. The success of ICASSE 2026 further strengthens PolyU's position as a hub for aerospace innovation, cutting-edge aviation research and global talent development.  

PolyU research reveals fat distribution as key to brain health, with visceral fat accumulation significantly accelerating brain ageing and showing much stronger association than BMI

The impact of obesity on brain ageing and the risk of dementia has long been a concern in the medical community. In clinical practice, body mass index (BMI) is commonly used as an assessment indicator, but it does not accurately reflect differences in fat accumulation across various body regions. A recent study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has revealed that fat distribution in specific body regions is significantly and distinctly associated with brain structure and cognitive function. In particular, visceral fat was found to accelerate brain ageing and lead to cognitive decline, having more detrimental impact on brain health than any other type of fat. Led by Prof. Anqi QIU, Chair Professor of Neuroinformatics of the PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Director of the Mental Health Research Centre and Global STEM Scholar, a PolyU research team conducted the world’s first large-scale multimodal study to systematically explore the correlation between regional adiposity and brain structure, functional connectivity, and cognitive performance. The study provides a new scientific basis for research into Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and other age-related brain disorders. The findings have been published in the international journal Nature Mental Health. The research has shown that BMI alone is insufficient when assessing brain decline and cognitive ageing, whereas regional adiposity is an indispensable indicator. This milestone in neuro-epidemiological research will assist the healthcare sector in developing more precise and personalised brain health prevention and intervention strategies. The research team conducted a multidimensional correlation analysis of health data from over 18,000 participants in the UK Biobank, examining the relationship between regional adiposity data measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and results from multimodal brain imaging and cognitive testing. The findings revealed that fat accumulation in the arms, legs, trunk and visceral regions was differentially associated with, and affected, neural systems, including the morphology of the sensorimotor, limbic, default mode and subcortical–cerebellar–brainstem systems. The study specifically noted that visceral fat was the only type of fat directly linked to compromised white-matter integrity in the brain. White matter acts as the “cables” for transmitting neural signals in the brain, and damage to it is closely aligned with the pathogenic mechanisms of vascular cognitive impairment and cerebral small vessel disease. Prof. Qiu said, “Fat in different parts of the body maps out entirely different trajectories of change in the brain, which cannot be detected by body weight or BMI alone. Our analytical model clearly demonstrates how fat in different regions causes differential damage to brain systems. Notably, regional adiposity is an intervenable and modifiable health risk factor. Reducing visceral fat through targeted lifestyle interventions can open up new pathways for the proactive prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.” The research team suggested that visceral adiposity might be the most harmful type of regional adiposity for the brain due to its tendency to trigger chronic inflammation in the body, which may then lead to neuroinflammation. This study establishes a comprehensive analytical framework and highlights the importance of targeted reduction of visceral fat to help maintain mental acuity and prevent dementia.  

Four PolyU scholars honoured as RGC Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows, spearheading innovations in advanced manufacturing, mathematical finance, neuroscience and IoT

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to pursuing world-leading research and innovation for societal benefits. In the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) 2026/27, four distinguished PolyU scholars have been awarded fellowships. The Schemes offer support for the awardees’ continued innovations and breakthroughs in diverse frontier fields, spanning advanced semiconductor manufacturing, mathematical finance, cognitive neuroscience and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, extended his congratulations to the awardees and said: “These prestigious fellowships are a resounding testament to PolyU scholars’ outstanding research achievements. Their projects exemplify the University’s determination to pursue research excellence and its commitment to advancing world‑leading innovation. PolyU will continue to cultivate a vibrant research environment, providing significant resources and support for our researchers to focus on frontier R&D. Through innovative solutions, we will continue to create tangible societal benefits while inspiring and nurturing the next generation of research talent to propel Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub.” The RGC SRFS and RFS schemes aim to provide sustained research support for outstanding full Professors and Associate Professors with relief from teaching and administrative duties, so enabling them to more fully focus on R&D and nurture the next generation of research talent for Hong Kong. Each of the two schemes award 10 fellowships annually, with awardees being conferred the title “RGC Senior Research Fellow” or “RGC Research Fellow” and provided a grant of around HK$8.5 million and HK$5.6 million respectively. The successful projects showcase the University’s exceptional strength in bridging theoretical breakthroughs with real-life applications, underscoring the world-class calibre of PolyU research and the University’s commitment to translating frontier knowledge into impactful solutions that address pressing global challenges. The PolyU awardees are as follows.

PolyU develops durable shade-stable perovskite–organic tandem solar cells, advancing thin-film solar technology application

It is common for solar panels to be shaded by trees, clouds, birds or buildings. For thin-film solar technologies, however, such shading can cause the shaded areas to develop reverse bias stress (negative voltage), which can reduce power-generation efficiency and even damage the modules of the solar cell. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed a new generation of perovskite–organic tandem solar cells (POTSCs) that not only deliver high power-generation efficiency but also effectively resist the damage caused by negative voltage. Even under an extreme reverse-bias of –40 V, the tandem devices retain more than 90% of their initial power-generation efficiency, far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies — marking a key step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. Thin-film solar technologies, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), perovskite and organic solar cells, offer the distinct advantages of their light weight, flexibility and cost-effective manufacturing. However, these materials share a common weakness: owing to their electron–ion hybrid conducting properties, once a solar cell is partially shaded and generates negative voltage, its sustained performance becomes difficult and components may even be damaged. The ability to resist reverse bias is therefore key to determining whether thin-film solar technology is durable and capable of stable, long-term operation. Organic solar cells (OSCs) have made significant strides in both efficiency and durability in recent years. Yet their behaviour under reverse-bias condition and underlying charge transport mechanisms in bulk heterojunctions (the power-generating active layer inside the cell, formed by blending two materials), remains largely unexplored by the scientific community. Filling the related knowledge gaps is an indispensable step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. Prof. LI Gang, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Renewable Energy, and Associate Director of the PolyU Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), and his research team have tackled the often-overlooked yet critical aspect of reverse-bias. Prof. Li said, “We have achieved important advances in the stability of OSCs and POTSCs under challenging reverse-bias conditions. Our research makes breakthrough contributions to the understanding of both device operation and durability in organic and perovskite solar technologies.” The reason OSCs are damaged under reverse-bias lies in defects known as deep trap states within the bulk heterojunction. These are invisible traps in the solar cell material that immobilise the charges responsible for power generation, reducing the cell’s efficiency and even causing damage. The team achieved a breakthrough through its innovative approaches and strategic interventions. By suppressing isolated acceptor clusters within the donor-acceptor intermix region (the area at the power-generating core of the cell where the two materials responsible for releasing and receiving charges are blended), the team successfully minimised the above-mentioned defects and developed high-performance OSCs with an irreversible breakdown voltage exceeding -35 V. In other words, as long as the negative voltage does not exceed -35 V, the cell will not be permanently damaged. This substantially enhances damage resistance and establishes a new benchmark for the efficiency and stability of OSCs. The study shows that, by suppressing reverse tunnelling (the phenomenon whereby, when a solar cell is shaded, current flows in reverse, generating negative voltage and damaging the cell) in n-i-p inorganic perovskite-organic tandem solar cells, the organic solar cells successfully protect the perovskite layer. Even after exposure to an extreme reverse-bias of -40 V, the tandem devices retained more than 90% of their initial efficiency. Moreover, these tandem solar cells proved highly stable: after continuous operation at -20 V for 12 hours, they retained 90% of their initial efficiency; and after continuous operation at -4.5 V for 2,000 hours, they retained as much as 97% of their initial efficiency - far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies. The research has been published in the paper “Perovskite–organic tandem solar cells with superior reverse-bias stability,” in Nature Materials. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of reverse charge transport mechanism in bulk heterojunctions organic solar cells, overcoming reverse-bias instability in perovskite-based solar cells and providing critical guidelines for developing robust POTSCs. In earlier research, Prof. Li and his team demonstrated the n–i–p inorganic POTSCs achieving an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.9% (certified 25.1%) through bottom contact modulation, with improved stability under various conditions. That study, “Inorganic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells with 25.1% certified efficiency via bottom contact modulation”, was published in Nature Energy in 2025. In the latest study, the n-i-p POTSCs also demonstrated PCE exceeding 26% along with unparalleled reverse-bias stability, advancing their progress towards practical applications. Dr HUANG Jiaming, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Mr HAN Yu, PhD student, both of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering are the first authors of the Nature Materials and Nature Energy articles, respectively. Dr REN Zhiwei, Research Assistant Professor of the same department is the co-corresponding author of both publications. Prof. Li added, “The exceptional reverse-bias stability under shadowing conditions has been vividly demonstrated in scalable perovskite-organic tandem solar cell minimodules. This marks a significant leap forward, paving the way for a sustainable and efficient future powered by renewable energy systems.”

PolyU scholar elected ISPRS Fellow 2026 for outstanding contributions to GeoAI and remote sensing

Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and a Global STEM Scholar, has been elected as an International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Fellow 2026. With a strict limit of no more than five Fellows elected globally at any ISPRS General Assembly, the honour recognises his outstanding scientific contributions and international leadership in photogrammetry, remote sensing and geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI). This prestigious distinction reflects Prof. Weng’s international standing and PolyU’s strength in advancing AI-enabled geospatial research for environmental and societal impact. His research contributions have significantly shaped the fields of urban remote sensing, urban climate studies, and AI-driven Earth observation, offering crucial data-driven solutions that support sustainable urban development worldwide. Prof. Weng has dedicated his research to urban environmental issues and has significantly advanced the understanding of urbanisation, climate change and environmental sustainability. His pioneering work in sub-pixel analysis, time-series remote sensing imagery and geospatial analytics has had a profound impact on studies of urban heat islands, urban growth and sustainable urban development worldwide. Beyond his fundamental scientific contributions, Prof. Weng has been actively advancing practical applications of GeoAI technologies. His research team integrates AI, earth observation, remote sensing and big data analytics to develop innovative solutions for sustainable urban development, environmental monitoring and urban resilience. Their work supports informed decision-making in diverse areas including transportation, urban planning, public safety, climate adaptation and disaster management. In addition, Prof. Weng leads PolyU Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) and JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations.  The RCAIG focuses on developing innovative geospatial AI technologies to address environmental and societal challenges in geomatics, with a vision to become a global R&D hub in GeoAI. The JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations is a joint effort of PolyU, Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and the Hong Kong SAR government to support the "Global STEM Professorship Scheme". The laboratory focuses on the development of original and innovative Earth Observation (EO) methodologies and technologies and their applications for studies of the causes, effects, and responses to environmental and societal challenges in cities and urban areas, with the goal of becoming a global research hub in EO.  Under his leadership, the research centre and the laboratory have been pushing the frontiers of geospatial intelligence and earth observation, driving transformative solutions for global urban sustainability. This latest fellowship adds to Prof. Weng’s distinguished record of international accolades. He is a Foreign Member of Academia Europaea and an elected Fellow of several of the world's leading scientific organisations, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Association of Geographers (AAG), the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). Furthermore, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and Lead of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)’s Global Urban Observation and Information Initiative, contributing actively to the advancement of the field. Since 2010, the ISPRS Fellowship has been among the highest distinctions in the global photogrammetry, remote sensing, and spatial information science community. It recognises individuals who have made exceptional and sustained contributions to the advancement of the discipline.  

PolyU scholar Prof. Yi-Qing NI receives 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Professor Yi-Qing NI, Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and Director of National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been honoured with the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award is a national award presented biennially and is hailed as “the highest award in China’s engineering sector”. It aims to honour Chinese engineers and scientists who have made outstanding achievements and significant contributions in engineering science and technology, and engineering management. Since its establishment in 1996, the Award has recognised 423 distinguished individuals from different engineering fields. This year,40 awardees were selected from 471 candidates, including one Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Achievement Award recipient and 39 Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award recipients, with Prof. Ni one of the three Award recipients from Hong Kong. Prof. Ni is world-renowned scholar in the fields of structural health monitoring and vibration control. He was ranked in the World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists in rankings released by Stanford University for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025 (in both the career-long and single year citation categories). He was also ranked among the world’s top 0.05% scholars on the 2025 ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars – Lifetime list and placed fourth globally in the field of “Structural Health Monitoring”. Prof. Ni was nominated by PolyU President and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG. Prof. Teng congratulated him saying, “This award carries profound significance. It not only affirms Prof. Ni’s dedication and outstanding achievements over the years, but will also inspire PolyU staff and students to continue upholding the spirit of innovation in service of the long-term development of the nation and society.” Prof. Ni expressed his gratitude, “I am deeply grateful to the President for his trust and nomination, and I would also like to thank the research team that has worked alongside me over the years. We have always upheld a spirit of continuous innovation and change, starting from real-world needs to advancing smart rail transit and structural safety monitoring technologies, and applying our research outcomes to major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and in the country more widely. Looking ahead, my team and I will continue to work hard to bring innovative PolyU technologies onto the international stage, deepen collaboration with the Chinese Mainland and overseas partners, enable more people to benefit and make greater contributions to national development and the long-term well-being of society.” Prof. Ni joined PolyU in 2001. His research expertise covers structural health monitoring, structural dynamics and control, smart materials and structures, and sensor technologies. As a core member of PolyU’s multi-disciplinary rail technology research team, he has contributed to the development of fibre Bragg grating sensors that have significantly enhanced the safety and stability of railway services. These devices can be installed on railway tracks and connected to fibre-optic cables, helping maintenance staff more effectively monitor wheel flats and rail conditions, carry out repairs in a timely manner, and safeguard passenger safety. In 2015, PolyU was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China to establish the Hong Kong Branch of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre, with Prof. Ni serving as Director. The Centre brings together professors from five departments across two PolyU faculties to study high-speed rail from an integrated and macro perspective. Leveraging the internationalisation of China’s high-speed rail, the Centre exports its monitoring systems overseas, thereby promoting Hong Kong’s innovative technologies to the world. Prof. Ni has an outstanding record of research achievements and has received numerous accolades. The monitoring systems he has helped develop have won multiple awards at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in Switzerland and at the China International Industrial Fair. In 2016, the project “Key technologies for building the Canton Tower”, in which he participated, received a second-class State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Beyond his dedication to academic and scientific research, Prof. Ni is also committed to advancing knowledge transfer. As Director of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, he leads the Institute in focusing on areas such as intelligent transportation, Grand Canal culture and tourism, and medical aesthetics, actively aligning PolyU’s research strengths with local industrial development and societal needs to accelerate the real-world application of research outcomes for the benefit of society. ***END***

Revolutionising building cooling: PolyU’s award-winning AI delivers major energy savings

In Hong Kong, skyscrapers are abundant, leading to significant energy consumption, with cooling systems accounting for more than half of the total power usage. Prof. Fu XIAO, Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment and Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has developed an award-winning AI system, which effectively helps reduce up to 40% of daily energy usage, paving the way for a greener and more energy -efficient future. As cities strive towards carbon neutrality, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into building management systems is emerging as a game-changer. The ability of AI to process vast streams of data and predict future cooling demands and the performance of a building's energy systems allows it to make real-time, optimised decisions, which offers a promising path to smarter, greener and more cost-effective cooling solutions. Prof. XIAO and her research team's AI-empowered digital twin platform for smart energy management was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2025. This innovation has demonstrated substantial energy savings and operational improvements in various large buildings. Prof. Xiao’s research, titled “An AI-enabled optimal control strategy utilizing dual-horizon load predictions for large building cooling systems and its cloud-based implementation,” was published in Energy and Buildings. The research addressed the limitations of conventional cooling system controls, which typically rely on fixed rules or single-horizon predictions. Such approaches often fail to adapt to the complex and dynamic nature of building cooling demands, leading to unnecessary energy wastage and suboptimal performance. Her innovative AI system introduces a dual-horizon load prediction strategy, leveraging both day-ahead and hour-ahead forecasts to optimise the operation of central cooling plants with multiple chillers. By combining ensemble learning and automatic machine learning (AutoML), the system generates highly accurate, probabilistic predictions of cooling loads, enabling more robust and adaptive control decisions. Unlike traditional systems that might only rely on single-horizon predictions or fixed control rules, this AI solution uses a hierarchical approach. Day-ahead forecasts, based on predicted weather, occupancy and historical data, determine the chiller sequence and the morning start-up time for the entire plant. Hour-ahead predictions, combining real-time data with updated weather forecasts, fine-tune the start and stop times of each chiller and adjust chilled water temperatures. This dual-horizon method ensures that both long-term trends and short-term fluctuations are captured, ensuring more stable and efficient system performance. Supported by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), the proposed system has been implemented in a high-rise government office building in Hong Kong. The building's cooling system comprises multiple chillers serving both high and low zones, with a sophisticated network of pumps and heat exchangers.  The AI control strategy was deployed via a cloud-based platform, which interfaced with the existing building management system (BMS) using the BACnet protocol—a widely adopted standard for building automation. This setup allowed for seamless data collection, real-time monitoring and AI-driven optimisation, while also maintaining compatibility with the existing BMS infrastructure. Operational data from the BMS were collected at 15-minute intervals and systematically stored for easy access and analysis. A key innovation of the system is its use of ensemble learning and AutoML to develop robust prediction models. Multiple data-driven models are trained independently, each capturing different aspects of the building's thermal behaviour and operational patterns. By combining these models, the AI can improve prediction accuracy and estimate uncertainty, enabling it to make more informed and flexible optimisation decisions.  The performance of the AI-enabled control strategy was rigorously validated through a six-week on-site test during the transition season and early summer. Achieving an average energy saving of 18.4%, the system outperformed conventional rule-based controls, with daily savings ranging from 1.1% to nearly 40%. On a typical test day, the power consumption of the chillers was reduced by up to 21%, and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the chiller plant increased by as much as 47%. These improvements were achieved without compromising thermal comfort, as the system dynamically adjusted to meet real-time cooling demands. Detailed analysis of the test data revealed several key benefits. First, the AI system was able to reduce unnecessary chiller switching by accurately predicting when additional capacity would be needed, thus avoiding the energy wastage associated with frequent start-ups and shutdowns. Second, by optimising the chilled water supply temperature in response to predicted loads, the system improved the efficiency of the chillers. For every 1°C increase in chilled water supply temperature, the chillers achieved energy savings of approximately 3% under ideal conditions while the overall chiller plant saved about 1%. One of the most significant outcomes of the project was its demonstration of practical, scalable AI deployment in existing buildings. The cloud-based implementation required only minor modifications to the BMS and could be rapidly deployed to other sites with similar infrastructure. This rapid deployment capability is crucial for accelerating the adoption of AI-enabled energy management across the building sector. Beyond its implementation in the government office building, the same AI technology has been successfully applied to other large-scale cooling systems. For example, in a recent project supported by the PolyU Carbon Neutrality Funding Scheme, the AI-enabled strategy was deployed in the chiller plant at PolyU. The research, titled “Development of a probabilistic cooling load prediction-based robust chiller sequencing strategy and its real-world implementation,” was published in Applied Energy. The study shows the system reduced the average daily number of chiller switches by 56.5%, achieved daily energy savings of approximately 3,945 kWh and improved the chiller plant's COP by 4.2%. These results further underscore the robustness and generalisability of the approach, highlighting its potential for mass deployment in diverse building types. Source: Innovation Digest