Prof. Yang CHAI, Director of Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Things, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Chair Professor of Semiconductor Physics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been honoured with the “Prize for Scientific and Technological Innovation - Youth Innovation Award” by the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Award 2025. This award recognises outstanding young scientists and engineers under the age of 45 who have achieved significant scientific and technological innovations in their respective fields, delivering remarkable economic and social benefits.
Prof. CHAI’s research focuses on bioinspired computing and semiconductor devices. He has pioneered a disruptive in-sensor computing paradigm that revolutionises AI computation at the sensor level, which he has successfully implemented through hardware for vision sensors. His innovative research in sensory AI advances machine vision, enabling enhanced image recognition, visual adaptation to extremely dim or bright lighting, and agile perception of dynamic motion.
Some of his key innovations include:
- Advanced vision sensors that emulate human visual adaptability
- Optoelectronic graded neurons for perceiving dynamic motion
Prof. CHAI is a distinguished academic in the field of nanoelectronic devices and emerging computation paradigms. His works have been published in prestigious journals such as Nature, Nature Electronics, and Nature Nanotechnology, and have been highlighted in Nature, IEEE Spectrum, and more and they are highly cited by research teams worldwide. His research on in-sensor motion perception was selected as one of the “China Chip10 Sciences”.
To further showcase Prof CHAI’s achievements:
- PolyU distinguished scholar Prof. Yang Chai receives Croucher Senior Research Fellowship 2026 for revolutionising AI computation
- PolyU scholar elected IEEE Fellow 2025
- PolyU research in advanced sensory AI recognised by BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024
- PolyU scientist awarded 2024 Falling Walls Winner for energy-efficient innovations in sensory AI systems
- (Video) Meet PolyU Academician: Professor Yang CHAI
The Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation was established to honor Chinese distinguished professionals who are devoted to the achievements, progress and innovations of the Nation’s science and technology. Since 2007, the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre (BHKAEC) has been responsible for nominating Hong Kong experts and scholars for the “Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress” and the “Prize for Scientific and Technological Innovation”. Nominations for the 2026 are now open, with the deadline set for March 31. For inquiries: BHKAEC
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