PolyU and Foshan Communications Group launch Joint Research Centre for Technology and Innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Foshan Communications Group’s Transportation Science and Technology Company officially launched the Joint Research Centre for Technology and Innovation at a plaque-unveiling ceremony at PolyU on 7 February. This initiative builds on a framework agreement signed in December 2025 and aims to bridge the gap between academic innovation and practical engineering applications within the transport sector. The Joint Centre establishes a structured mechanism for joint research, technology commercialisation, and two-way talent exchange to accelerate the transformation of academic research into impactful engineering solutions for the transport industry.

The ceremony to mark the official establishment of the Centre was officiated by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. LI Xiangdong, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment,  Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development; Prof. Songye ZHU, Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Prof. Yong XIA, Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as representatives including Ms Lidan GU, Party Secretary and Chairperson; Mr SHEN Zhe, Deputy Party Secretary and Director of Foshan Communications Investment Group; Mr Guodong ZENG, Party General Branch Secretary and Chairman; Ms Yuzhen ZHANG, Chief Expert and Mr Tengyu YANG, Chief Engineer of Foshan Transportation Science and Technology Co. Ltd.

During the ceremony, Prof. Teng emphasised that, as an innovative world-class university, PolyU is committed to contributing to society through its world-leading research. This new initiative seeks to connect technological innovation with practical engineering applications in the transportation sector.

Following the unveiling, the Centre’s Academic Committee held its inaugural meeting to discuss collaborative research projects addressing various transportation infrastructure challenges. These projects cover key technologies such as hybrid FRP-concrete-steel double-skin structural members, intelligent bridge monitoring and digital twin technologies, pavement defect detection using ground-penetrating radar, advanced semi-flexible pavement materials, bio-remediation of engineering waste soil for sustainable reuse, and electromechanical impedance-based non-destructive testing of concrete structures.