News

PolyU secures RGC Theme-based Research Scheme funding to develop cost-effective and sustainable Co-GenAI model

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to driving cutting-edge research that creates societal impact and technological advancement. Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Computing, has received funding from the Theme-based Research Scheme 2025/26 under the Research Grants Council for her pioneering project, “Collaborative Generative AI (Co-GenAI)”. The project has been awarded total funding of HK$62.6 million, with HK$41.79 million provided by the RGC and the remaining amount matched by PolyU and other participating universities. This initiative is aimed at reshaping the landscape of GenAI through a decentralised way. The research holds significant potential to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global leader in GenAI development, with real-world applications in healthcare and technology. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “We are delighted that our scholar has received this significant support. This pioneering project exemplifies the University’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge AI research, alongside our emphasis on inclusive and sustainable technological development. PolyU will continue to leverage its world-class research capabilities to make a profound impact on the future development of Hong Kong and the global community. With the launch of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, we are poised to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and unlock new frontiers in AI applications.” The project, led by Prof. Yang Hongxia, aims to develop a novel collaborative GenAI paradigm known as Co-GenAI. The system evolves through the integration of several hundred domain-specific models to create a foundation model designed to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) with significantly reduced centralised computational demand. By addressing the current constraints imposed by graphics processing unit (GPU) monopolies, this innovative approach is set to democratise AI development and enable broader participation in GenAI research and deployment. Co-GenAI is tailored to enhance different domains and collaborations, with the long-term goal of creating a versatile platform for the next generation of GenAI ecosystem. The project’s key tasks include the development of domain-adaptive continual pre-training infrastructure and the design of a robust, generalisable model ranking methodology. In addition, an advanced model fusion approach will be implemented to merge heterogeneous top-ranked domain-specific models. Prof. Yang expressed her gratitude for the RGC’s support and said, “Backed by a team of world-renowned researchers with extensive expertise, we believe Co-GenAI will play a transformative role in advancing the democratisation of AI, expanding its accessibility across disciplines and enhancing cost-effectiveness. We are confident that this novel paradigm will spark greater innovation and diversity in the field, ultimately paving the way for the development of a global foundation model that is both sustainable and inclusive.” To evaluate Co-GenAI, the research team will implement and deploy the system across a wide range of applications in collaboration with industry partners including Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Alibaba, and leading hospitals such as Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shandong Cancer Hospital, and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The RGC’s Theme-based Research Scheme aims to pool the academic research efforts of UGC-funded universities to conduct research on topics of strategic importance to Hong Kong’s long-term development. Evaluation criteria include qualification as world-leading by international standards and the potential impact on Hong Kong.

PolyU signs MoU with Peking Union Medical College Hospital to advance AI-powered precision diagnosis and treatment for tumors and nurture outstanding medical talent

Chinese version only

PolyU and amfori gather experts to unlock sustainable supply chain opportunities

Organised by amfori and supported by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the seminar “Unlocking Opportunities and Managing Challenges in Sustainable Supply Chain Management” was successfully held on 9 July. Over 70 industry leaders, buyers, and key stakeholders gathered to explore the latest trends, regulatory challenges, and practical solutions in sustainable supply chain management. Prof. Amanda Wang, Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies of PolyU, delivered a keynote speech providing an in-depth analysis of the regionalisation of global supply chains network. Additionally, Prof. Jimmy Jin, Assistant Dean (Fund-raising and Development) and Associate Professor of School of Accounting and Finance of PolyU, participated in the panel discussion to elaborate on the major challenges facing global sustainable supply chain management from an academic perspective. The panel session was further enriched from industry experts, including Mr Stafford Lau, Director of Prosperity Textile (H.K.) Limited and Stella Blu Textile Limited, and Mr Chris Wong, Global Head of Compliance of Otto International (HK) Limited, who shared valuable real-world experiences and practical viewpoints. The seminar concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Eric Chui, Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU and Co-Director of PReCIT, alongside Ms. Joyce Chau, Director APAC of amfori. Participants also enjoyed an exclusive lab tour at PolyU Materials Resource Centre and University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP), exploring the cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions driving sustainable development.

PolyU awarded RGC Strategic Topics Grant for advancing next-generation immunotherapy technologies

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received funding support from the Strategic Topics Grant (STG) 2025/26 of the Research Grants Council (RGC) to support a multidisciplinary biomedical project aimed at developing an integrated technology platform for next-generation cancer immunotherapy. This pioneering research, which seeks to address some of the most pressing challenges in cancer treatment, has been awarded RGC funding of HK$32.4 million. Although cancer immunotherapy represents a major breakthrough in clinical oncology, it still faces significant challenges. To address some of these, Prof. ZHAO Yanxiang, Associate Head and Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, is leading a multidisciplinary research team to develop a novel integrated approach to unlock the enormous potential of cancer immunotherapy. The project, “An integrated technology platform for next-generation cancer immunotherapy - from identification of tumor neoantigens to development of novel therapeutic vaccine modalities,” has received a total funded budget of HK$36 million, of which RGC funds 90% of the project cost with the remaining 10% matched by the participating universities, over a period of five years. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “PolyU is at the forefront of medical research and technological innovation, harnessing the strengths of our dedicated scholars, interdisciplinary research excellence, and state-of-the-art facilities and resources. This major funding from the RGC highlights our strong academic and innovative capabilities, particularly in the integration of biomedical technologies and AI-powered healthcare advancements.” Immunotherapy has revolutionised cancer treatment by using the body’s immune system to eliminate tumour cells. Antibodies that function as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy (CAR-T) have achieved remarkable clinical success, particularly in prolonging survival for some patients. However, these treatment options still face limitations as many cancer types are refractory to ICIs, and CAR-T is mostly effective in blood cancers but not in solid tumours. Recently, neoantigen-based therapeutic vaccine has emerged as a promising new modality in cancer immunotherapy. Some leading candidates, particularly mRNA-based vaccines, have shown encouraging result in early-stage clinical trials. However, challenges such as insufficient immunogenicity of neoantigens and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment remain as major hurdles for this approach. To overcome these challenges, Prof. Zhao and the research team proposes to build an integrated technological platform to develop Peptide-based Immunogenic Neoantigen Vaccines (PIN-Vax). This proposed platform has received support from STG under the project topic “Using advanced technology to advance health care challenge.” The platform comprises four interconnected modules that collectively cover the full preclinical development cycle and make use of advanced artificial intelligence technology in an integrated approach. The project plans to first apply the PIN-Vax platform to HPV-associated cervical cancer and HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma, as both cancers contain virus-derived neoantigens suitable for vaccine development. The research team will develop a robust pipeline of PIN-Vax candidates and evaluate their anti-tumour efficacy. Combing PIN-Vax candidates with ICIs is also planned to explore further synergistic effect. For future studies, this PIN-Vax platform will be applied in other cancer types, especially those showing limited response to existing ICIs or CAR-T therapy. Prof. Zhao said, “We have brought together an interdisciplinary team of academic researchers, clinicians and industry partners to build the PIN-Vax platform. Our track record and preliminary studies demonstrate the feasibility of this project. Our long-term goal is to transform this platform into an innovative engine for next-generation cancer immunotherapy, benefiting cancer patients.” STG has been set up to support collaborative research in specific areas which can help Hong Kong overcome imminent challenges and tap fast-evolving opportunities. The maximum duration of a project is five years. The ceiling of project cost per project to be awarded by the RGC is $40 million (excluding on-costs).

China Aviation Technology Industry Delegation Visit PolyU

A delegation from China Aviation Technology Industry (Hong Kong) (AVIC) visited PolyU to engage in in-depth discussions on collaboration in aviation technology and artificial intelligence, fostering industry-academia-research integration. PolyU’s Research and Innovation Office showcased the University’s exceptional achievements in academic research, technological innovation, and industry-academia partnerships during the meeting. Prof. HUANG Hailong and Prof. GUAN Yu, both Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Aeronautics and Aviation Engineering, along with Prof. ZHANG Xiaoge, Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, participated in the meeting. They presented cutting-edge advancements in safe low-altitude flight technology, solutions for thermoacoustic instability, and reliability engineering and trustworthiness assurance for AI-powered intelligent systems, highlighting PolyU’s leadership in these research domains. Mr HAO Weidi, Executive Director and General Manager of AVIC, outlined the company’s strategic priorities and innovative solutions for the low-altitude economy. Mr TAN Fei, Planning Director of Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), shared insights into the current state and challenges of the aviation industry.  Following the meeting, the delegation toured PolyU’s Aviation Engineering Laboratory, Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things, and Aviation Services Research Centre, gaining a deeper understanding of the University’s state-of-the-art facilities and research achievements. This visit established a robust communication platform between AVIC and PolyU, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration in research and technology transfer.  

PolyU and Baosteel establish joint research centre to promote high-quality development of steel industry

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel) have aligned with national strategic priorities by establishing the Baosteel-PolyU Joint Research Centre (BPJC), aiming to develop new quality productive forces in the steel industry. The strategic cooperation agreement was signed yesterday at the PolyU campus, followed by a plaque unveiling ceremony for BPJC, marking the launch of a comprehensive industry-academia-research partnership between the two organisations. Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President and Mr ZOU Jixin, Chairman of Baosteel, the strategic cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), and Mr MAO Xiaoming, Vice President of the Baosteel Central Research Institute. Following the signing ceremony, Prof. Teng and Mr Zou jointly unveiled the plaque to mark the occasion. Subsequently, Prof. Jianguo LIN, Chair Professor of Materials Technologies of the PolyU Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Director of BPJC outlined the Centre’s vision and research projects. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “This strategic cooperation will leverage PolyU research strengths and Baosteel’s industry resources and experience, helping to overcome key technological bottlenecks, advance the industry’s goal of achieving efficient and green production, and inject new momentum into Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre. By strengthening industry-academia-research collaboration and innovation, both organisations will promote the development of new quality productive forces and propel sustainable industrial advancement.” Mr Zou Jixin said, “Baosteel and PolyU have joined forces with their complementary strengths to establish the BPJC – a strategic initiative rooted in their shared vision for the future of the steel industry. This partnership will focus on practical applications and cutting-edge technological development, bringing together resources to achieve breakthroughs in original and pioneering technologies and strengthening translational research capabilities. It will drive upgrade of the steel industry value chain and contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.” BPJC will gather top talent to conduct strategic, forward-looking and basic research while accelerating the translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. By strengthening international exchanges and cooperations, it will set new standards for university-industry collaboration on innovation.

PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute establishes Artificial Intelligence Research Centre, facilitating Huizhou’s smart industrial transformation

Chinese version only

PolyU ranks third among universities in securing funding from the General Research Fund and Early Career Scheme for academic and research excellence

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a total of HK$213.3 million in funding from the General Research Fund (GRF) and the Early Career Scheme (ECS) for 237 projects for 2025/26 under the Research Grants Council, ranking among the top three universities in both total granted amounts and number of projects. A total of 212 PolyU projects have been awarded grants amounting to HK$195.1 million from the GRF, positioning it as the third-highest among local universities in both total granted amounts and number of projects. In the field of engineering, PolyU stands out among universities by securing the largest amount of funding support and projects, reaching HK$103.2 million for 99 projects. The GRF aims to supplement universities’ own research support to researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence. It covers two areas of research focused on broad knowledge enhancement and specific purposes. A total of 25 PolyU projects have been funded amounting to HK$18.2 million from the ECS. The ECS aims to nurture junior academics and prepare them for a career in education and research. Scientific and scholarly merit, and qualification and track record of the principal investigator are among the assessment criteria. 

Professor Christopher Chao receives prestigious ASHRAE Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award 2025

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded the esteemed Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award 2025 from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This prestigious recognition was presented at the ASHRAE Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on 21 June 2025. Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serving humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields. The ASHRAE Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award, initiated in 1979, honours individuals for their continuing preeminence in engineering and research work. As one of ASHRAE’s most prominent awards, the Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award is presented to one Fellow each year, or sometimes not awarded at all if no suitable nominee is identified. Prof. Chao is the third recipient from Asia to receive this distinguished honour, joining professors from the University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapoe. As the only awardee invited to deliver his acceptance speech on stage, Prof. Chao stated, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from ASHRAE. This award reflects not only my work but also the dedication and innovation of my colleagues at PolyU over the years. Together, we strive to advance research and innovation in the field of building energy and environment, contributing to the academic and professional communities that inspire us to push the boundaries of engineering excellence.” Prof. Chao’s research integrates intelligent building systems with infectious disease prevention. Using AI-driven energy optimisation, he creates infection-resilient, energy-efficient environments. This dual focus positions smart buildings as essential for health and sustainability. This recognition of Prof. Chao’s work underscores PolyU’s commitment to excellence in research and innovation, reinforcing its status as a leading university in the region. His contributions to the field, particularly in sustainable building technologies, have made a significant impact on both academic and practical applications. For more information about the ASHRAE Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award, please visit ASHRAE’s official website.

Tea and the gut: Unlocking health through its bioactive compounds

Tea, made from the Camellia sinensis plant, is one of the most widely consumed beverages in China and globally. Beyond its cultural significance, tea is rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, caffeine, and especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a potent antioxidant linked to numerous health benefits. Prof. GAN Renyou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, focuses his research on exploring how these compounds interact with the gut microbiota, which plays a vital role in breaking down tea components and enhancing their bioavailability and bioactivities. EGCG, for instance, is poorly absorbed in its original form. But colonic bacteria can convert it into more absorbable metabolites, amplifying its in vivo effects, supporting cardiovascular health and potentially preventing cancer. Another key focus of Prof. GAN’s research is tea fermentation. The six main types of tea—green, yellow, white, oolong, black, and dark—undergo varying degrees of fermentation, each producing distinct chemical profiles. For instance, the unfermented green tea retains higher levels of catechins like EGCG, while the post-fermented dark tea yields theabrownins with unique ingredients that can fight against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity. While regular tea consumption is linked to benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, better blood sugar regulation and cognitive support, Prof. GAN cautions against excessive use of concentrated green tea extracts, which may lead to adverse effects like liver damage. His work aims to identify safe and effective dosages, especially for use in supplements. Tea’s expanding role in functional foods, beverages and even cosmetics, highlights its commercial and therapeutic values. Prof. GAN’s previous experience with patents further supports the development of tea-based bioactives for the health and wellness industries. Although his findings are largely based on in vitro and animal studies, they lay a strong foundation for future clinical research. In China, where tea is both a daily ritual and a traditional remedy, his work bridges ancient practices with modern science - promoting tea as a powerful tool for preventive healthcare. Finally, tea can be considered as a typical example of “Food as Medicine”. Source: PolyU Science Newsletter  https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fs/publication/e-newsletter/issue-6/interview---fsn/