News

Congratulations to Professor Zhang Ming Elected as a Fellow of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering for 2026

Professor Zhang Ming, Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering (CSBME) for the year 2026. The Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering was established in 1980 as a national first‑level academic society. It is the only professional academic organization in China that integrates research, education, clinical practice, and industrial development in the field of biomedical engineering, with over 45,000 individual registered members. The Society initiated its Fellow selection process in 2024, and to date, a total of 45 Fellows has been elected. Professor Zhang Ming took the lead in establishing the Society's Rehabilitation Engineering Branch and served as its inaugural Chair. This branch has now become the largest and most outstanding branch within the Society. His department has also been deeply involved in various academic activities of the Society over the years.  

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming speaks at scientific literacy training programme for national team

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was recently invited to participate in the 2026 “National Team Scientific Literacy Training Programme”. He delivered a keynote academic report titled “Running Biomechanics and Health Research”, introducing his team’s latest research achievements and promoting the integration of sports biomechanics research with competitive sports practice. The training programme, organised by the China Institute of Sport Science, was held at Shenyang Sport University from 27 to 29 May 2026. Under the theme “Enhancing Sports Performance through Sports Biomechanics”, the programme focused on advanced sports biomechanics technologies, scientific training and sports performance optimisation, with the aim of enhancing the scientific literacy and application capabilities of national team researchers, coaches and support personnel. The event brought together nearly 90 industry practitioners, including team leaders, coaches, researchers and medical support personnel from 24 national teams, as well as researchers from 17 member institutes of the National Sports Science Research Collaboration Network and academic representatives from major sport universities. During the visit, Prof. Zhang also toured the research platforms and training facilities at Shenyang Sport University and exchanged views with university representatives on areas including academic exchange, research collaboration, talent cultivation and technology commercialisation. The discussions laid a solid foundation for future collaboration and the advancement of sports science and technology development between the two institutions.

Dr Jason Cheung on super shoes

Dr Jason Cheung, Principal Research Fellow of PolyU Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, was featured on RTHK’s radio programme “World in a Nutshell”, sharing his professional perspectives on the technology of the so-called “super shoes” which helped runners to run a competitive marathon in under two hours. He also introduced the running shoes designed by his team for Chinese marathoners, and shared insights into the balance between innovation and fair play.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4ubRoIs (24:18 - 40:07)

Delegation from Taishan Sports Industry Group visited RISports

A delegation led by Mr. Xu Peiming (2nd left), Vice President of Taishan Sports Industry Group, accompanied by Mr. Zhu Enyuan (4th left), Deputy Director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, along with Mr. Gao Guangyu (5th left), Mr. Yang Yanming (3rd right), and Mr. Liu Song (1st right), visited RISports on 19 May 2026. The delegation toured the Institute’s laboratories to gain insights into the latest research and talent development in the field of sports science and technology. Both sides also discussed potential collaboration on the development of smart sports and health exercise equipment, aiming to foster industry-academia-research cooperation between Shandong and Hong Kong in the sports technology sector.

Delegation from Tongji University International College of Football visited RISports

Delegation from the International College of Football, Tongji University visited RISports on 18 May. Prof. Ming Zhang, Director of RISports discussed the education in sports science and brought them to visit the related laboratories.

Distinguished Sports Research Seminar "The Evolution of Muscle Mechanics Over the Past 50 Years"

The Distinguished Sports Research Seminar "The Evolution of Muscle Mechanics Over the Past 50 Years" delivered by Prof. Walter Herzog, the Professor of the University of Calgary and co-director of the Human Performance Lab, organised by RISports and jointly co-organised by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the PolyU - Samaranch Sports Development Centre and the PolyU - HKSI Research Centre was successfully held on 14 May 2026.  

RISports Welcomes Olympic Medalist Wang Junxia

Olympic gold medalist and IAAF Hall of Famer, Ms Wang Junxia, visited the Sports Engineering Laboratory at the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) last week. As a Senior Scientific Officer at RISports, Ms Wang offered professional advice on ongoing research projects and shared invaluable insights from her own Olympic journey. During the visit, she tested the Institute's gait analysis machine and provided constructive feedback based on her elite athletic experience. Her continued engagement bridges elite athletic experience with cutting-edge sports science, directly supporting RISports' mission to enhance athletic performance and advance sports technology for the community.

RISports Welcomes Delegation from Aquabloom Sports Group and Brazil sports technology companies

A delegation from AquaBloom Sports Group (ABSG) and Brazilian sports technology companies visited RISports on 10 Mar 2026. During the visit, both parties explored potential collaboration opportunities in sports technology innovation and business development. The delegation was welcomed and had discussions focused on fostering international partnerships and knowledge exchange between Brazil and Hong Kong in the field of sports science and technology. The guests were also invited to tour the related laboratories and facilities at PolyU RISports.

RISports Welcomes Delegation from Anhui Normal University

Delagates from the School of Physical Education, Anhui Normal University, including former Hong Kong table tennis elite athletes Song Ahsim (back row, 5th from left) and Wong Ching (back row, 2nd from right), visited RISports on 10 Mar 2026. Prof. Ming Zhang, Director of RISports, along with other institutional representatives, engaged in discussions with the delegation on sports science education and potential research collaboration. The visitors were also invited to tour the RISports Laboratory to gain insights into the Institute's research facilities and ongoing projects.  

RISports Provides Cutting-Edge Pre-Marathon Health and Performance Assessments

In preparation for the 2026 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) offered a series of advanced health and performance assessments to empower runners in the PolyU community. These assessments were designed to help participants understand their bodies better, optimize training, and minimize injury risks before race day. Through three key assessment tools, RISports provided a holistic view of each runner’s physical condition and running biomechanics: 3D Foot Scanning Using high-precision scanning technology, RISports captured detailed 3D models of participants' feet to analyze foot shape, arch type, and segment alignment. These data provided valuable insights into morphology-related injury potential and subject-specific footwear/insole selection. Body Composition Analysis Participants underwent a comprehensive body composition assessment to evaluate muscle mass, body fat percentage, and overall physical balance. These metrics helped runners tailor their nutrition and training programs to enhance endurance and performance. Running Gait Analysis RISports analyzed participants' running gait patterns—from kinematics-kinetics coupling to stride symmetry—using state-of-the-art pressure sensing and markerless mocap techniques. This assessment helped identify biomechanical inefficiencies and areas for improvement in running form to redistribute loads. Based on the combined data from these assessments, RISports provided personalized feedback to each participant, highlighting potential injury risks and offering practical recommendations to improve running mechanics. In addition to tailored advice, runners also received custom-prescribed LiftnGo insoles—designed to match their specific foot shape and gait patterns. These insoles were developed to enhance comfort, improve foot support, and help prevent common running-related injuries. By bridging advanced research with real-world needs, RISports continues to empower athletes with science-based tools that support both their goals and long-term health.