Media Releases

PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management celebrates 45 years of Educational Excellence; Renowned hotelier Mr Jung-Ho Suh inducted into the School’s Gallery of Honour

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrated “45 Years of Educational Excellence” by hosting a gala dinner at Hotel ICON on 30 May. Nearly 300 guests from around the world attended the event to celebrate the School’s 45th anniversary. The School also announced that Mr Jung-Ho SUH, Chairman of the Ambassador Hotel Group, was inducted into the SHTM Gallery of Honour on the same day and presented him the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award at the dinner. In her welcome address, Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU, said, “The year 2024 represents a special milestone for the SHTM. For everyone at the School and the University, the key thing to celebrate is not the mere passage of time, but the vision and scale of achievement that have led to the creation of a world-leading centre of educational and research excellence that continues to set new standards for advancing knowledge and serving the hospitality and tourism industry. I have full confidence in the SHTM’s ability to reach even greater heights of global excellence and continue to lead development in the field in the years ahead.” In its pursuit of excellence, the SHTM strongly emphasises innovative research and encourages a robust research culture amongst its international faculty of more than 90 academics from 20 countries and regions worldwide. In the current academic year, more than 1,450 students from around the world are enrolled on the School’s programmes, which range from the undergraduate to doctoral levels. The upscale Hotel ICON, which opened in 2011, is at the core of the SHTM’s innovative approach to education and research. This unique, purpose-built and purpose-driven hotel not only supports the School in nurturing a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals who will become leaders in hospitality and tourism, but also enables SHTM faculty members to conduct in-depth research to advise this global industry. Along with providing world-class facilities for learning and research, the School has continuously expanded its innovative programme offerings over the years. In 2023, SHTM became a two-time recipient of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) Institutional Achievement Award, exactly two decades after first receiving this recognition from the Society in 2003. These impressive results are due to the hard work and endeavours of all SHTM and Hotel ICON colleagues. They would also not have been possible without the support and guidance from PolyU, members of the School’s International Advisory Board, the School’s Advisory Committee, the industry and SHTM alumni. As the School bids farewell to its first 45 years, it sets its sights on achieving further global excellence in the field over the next decades. The celebration culminated in the announcement of the prestigious 2024 SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Jung-Ho Suh, Chairman of the Ambassador Hotel Group, was honoured with the accolade. An esteemed leader in the dynamic field of hospitality, Mr Suh is a pioneer of the hospitality industry in Korea. He has achieved remarkable business success by expanding Ambassador Hotel Group, one of the country’s top hotel groups, to embrace a highly diverse range of brands under Accor-Ambassador Korea. His achievements and contributions to the hospitality industry are exceptional. Mr Suh is truly a role model for future hospitality professionals and a source of inspiration for all. At the ceremony, Mr Suh said, “It is a great honour to be bestowed the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. I am humbled to accept it and join past recipients, whom I have long admired and respected. It has been a tremendous pleasure to be a part of this exciting global industry, which has, in itself, been extremely rewarding.” “The SHTM, under the leadership of Dean Kaye Chon, has gone from strength to strength, and is now among the top few hotel and tourism schools in the world. I am very much encouraged to have witnessed the School’s ongoing efforts in nurturing generations of hospitality leaders, driving the overall development of the industry. On the occasion of the School’s 45th anniversary, may I congratulate all SHTM faculty and staff on achieving this major milestone,” he continued. Highly regarded for his exemplary achievements in hospitality, Mr Suh has relentlessly pursued innovation and success, both within the Ambassador Hotel organisation and in the broader hospitality industry. His strong academic foundation, which includes a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and an MBA degree from UNLV’s Business College, has equipped him with a profound understanding of the hospitality industry and a passion for the profession. The numerous accolades Mr Suh received for his contributions to the tourism industry in Korea and France further validate his exceptional leadership and dedication. Please visit the School’s website for the biography of Mr Jung-Ho Suh. Expressing his sincere congratulations to Mr Suh on receiving the honour, Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “The SHTM prides itself in being a leading force in education and research in hospitality and tourism. Our commitment to excellence is well supported by industry heavyweights and visionary leaders such as Mr Jung-Ho Suh. With steadfast support from our industry partners, our School is committed to nurturing the bright minds who will become future leaders of this very exciting global industry.” The Gallery of Honour is located in the SHTM lobby and displays portraits of the outstanding recipients of the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award, who represent the world’s most successful hospitality organisations and recognisable brands. The School established the Award to honour individuals who have made substantial contributions to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and the world, as these leaders have helped define the global hospitality landscape and drive the industry forward. Mr Jung-Ho Suh (right) inducted into the SHTM’s Gallery of Honour.   ***END***  

PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award fosters new energy for scientific research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has honoured six young researchers with the Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2024. Their research endeavours cover a wide range of areas and bring benefits to materials science, green energy, environmental development, and healthcare through the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies. The research projects of the six awardees encompass various areas, including new materials, green energy, advanced manufacturing, intelligent construction, textile technology, and medical technology. These projects explore the frontiers of knowledge, consider practical applications, and assess their impact on various industries. These projects include the design of a new generation of nano-porous materials to enhance the storage and release of hydrogen, the development of novel computing devices to reduce computational energy consumption in Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), and the design of a recycling certification to establish a sustainable circular economy. Additionally, the awardees are working on the development of biocompatible smart wearable materials for daily health monitoring, the advancement of high-performance swept lasers for applications in industrial inspection and medical diagnostics, and the exploration of four-dimensional (4D) real-time tumour tracking technology to improve cancer treatment. Prof Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Chairman of the YIRA 2024 assessment panel, said, “Congratulations to the six awardees. Their research projects span across disciplines and fields, dedicated to providing solutions to the challenges our world faces today, while showcasing promising prospects. PolyU takes pride in nurturing numerous outstanding scientific talents who are ambitious, dedicated to research, and pursue innovation. Previous awardees have gained international recognition for their excellent research capabilities.” The University is committed to supporting researchers in developing impactful interdisciplinary research and leveraging their expertise to contribute to emerging and future industries. This initiative aligns with the national vision of fostering “New quality productive forces” while simultaneously bolstering the talent pool. For the third consecutive year, the YIRA aims to recognise young researchers under the age of 35 with outstanding research capabilities. Each awardee will receive HKD 500,000 in research funding and a personal cash reward of HKD 20,000.   The Young Innovative Researchers 2024 are (in alphabetical order): Awardees Research Focus Description Dr CHEN Jiewei Research Assistant Professor Department of Applied Physics Novel Computing Devices for Low-power Artificial Intelligence of Things Develop novel topological devices with new physical mechanisms in the post-processing units of AIoT to reduce computational energy consumption while minimising unnecessary data transmission by improving intelligent sensing, pre-processing, and information extraction capabilities. Dr CHEN Shaoyu Assistant Professor School of Fashion and Textiles Smart and Recyclable Materials from Supramolecular-Dynamic Covalent Co-Assembly of Stimuli-Responsive Amphiphiles and Biobased Polyelectrolytes Adopt ecological and recyclable approaches to biocompatible and intelligent materials with feedback signals. These materials are designed for use in advanced wearable sensors, textiles, and soft robotics, enabling daily health monitoring and more. Dr GUO Xiaomeng Associate Professor Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies Promoting Usage of Recycled Materials Through Label Design Design recycling certification mechanisms to promote green consumption and motivate enterprises to adopt recycled materials, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the circular economy. Dr HUANG Dongmei Assistant Professor Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering High performance swept laser and its applications Develop high-performance swept lasers with a high sweep rate, wide sweep range, and long coherence length, as well as accelerate innovation and breakthroughs in their applications, which range from medical diagnostics to industrial detection. Dr LI Tian Assistant Professor Department of Health Technology and Informatics Contrast-Adaptive Real-Time (CART) 4D-MRI Technique via Cascaded Deep Learning for Abdominal Tumour Tracking in MRI-guided Radiotherapy Propose a new real-time 4D tumour tracking solution called CART 4D-MRI to overcome the limitations in imaging speed and quality of current Magnetic Resonance-guided Radiotherapy (MRgRT) techniques. This innovation aims to provide faster and clearer tumour images, facilitating improved treatment for abdominal cancer patients. Dr TIAN Tian Assistant Professor Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Design and development of novel nano-porous materials with enhanced hydrogen storage and delivery capacity Design and synthesize a new generation of nanoporous materials to enhance hydrogen storage and delivery capacities. This will address current technical bottlenecks, such as storage costs and safety risks, and ultimately facilitate the transition to a net-zero society in the long term.     ***END***  

PolyU promotes traditional Chinese silk printing at Chinese Culture Festival; in collaboration with Beijing Union University and Lanzhou Jiaotong University to showcase intangible cultural heritage fostered by the Silk Road

Since launching the Chinese Culture Festival in March this year, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has organised a series of events embracing different art forms and themes to enhance appreciation of Chinese culture among the PolyU community and the general public. Continuing the success of previous events and taking traditional Chinese silk printing techniques as its theme, PolyU presents the exhibition “Indigo Dyeing from the Blue — The Silk Road Textile Dyeing Enters Hong Kong”. From today until 12 June, the exhibition, together with a seminar, workshops and guided tours, will unveil an aspect of the rich cultural heritage of China and its ancient textile artistry. A kick-off ceremony co-organised by PolyU, Beijing Union University and Lanzhou Jiaotong University was held today on campus with officiating guests including Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Acting President; Prof. Qi ZHANG, Dean of College of Art at Beijing Union University; Prof. GUAN Lansheng, an Inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage “Ranxie Tie-dye Technique” and Professor of Beijing Union University, together with PolyU senior management and faculty/school deans. Addressing the ceremony, Prof. LI Ping, Committee Member of PolyU Chinese Culture Festival and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at PolyU, said, “PolyU places great emphasis on traditional Chinese culture education and it is hoped that the Chinese Cultural Festival can deepen the younger generation’s understanding of Chinese culture and foster their pride and sense of belonging to the Nation. The title of this exhibition, ‘Indigo Dyeing from the Blue’, refers to the indigo dye extracted from the indigo plant to produce a dark blue colour. However, it is not just an echo of the theme, dyeing, but also reference to a Chinese idiom suggesting that the young can have achievements through diligence over the previous generations. As such, we hope our youngsters will excel in the future contributing to the overall development of Hong Kong and the Nation.” Prof. Qi Zhang, Dean of College of Art at Beijing Union University, stated, “Prof. Guan Lansheng is a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage ‘Tie-dyeing Technique’. Most of the works exhibited are his representative artworks accumulated over decades, some were specially created for this exhibition. Building upon tradition yet innovative, the exhibits showcase both traditional and modern art styles, highlighting the value and charm of Chinese cultural heritage. We hope that through this exhibition, Beijing Union University and PolyU can continue laying a solid foundation for collaboration going forward.” Ranxie, the ancient Chinese art of dyeing silk fabrics decorated with figures, originating from China, India and Egypt, and includes the exquisite “Four Techniques”: twist-dyeing, wax-resist dyeing, clamp-dyeing and ash-dyeing. These techniques thrived along the Silk Road during the Han and Tang dynasties, contributing to the formation of a vast network of cultural exchange. Now, with the shared intangible cultural heritage of the Belt and Road countries and regions, Ranxie not only holds significant cultural value, but also symbolises a strong people-to-people bond. The Exhibition proudly showcases a diverse collection of Ranxie artworks across the PolyU campus and in Hotel ICON, the teaching and research hotel built for the University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management. In addition to the Exhibition, Prof. Guan Lansheng, together with Prof. WONG Man-kin, Professor and Associate Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Science and Prof. KAN Chi Wai, Professor and Associate Dean of the PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles will deliver a lecture on the unique attraction of Ranxie techniques and their connection with Chinese traditional colours. Prof. Guan will also provide on-site explanations of the featured artworks during the guided tours, and host workshops to teach the dyeing techniques to participants so that they can create their own works while experiencing the spirit of craftsmanship underlying the techniques, all of which will be open to PolyU students, staff, alumni and the public free of charge. To learn more about the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, please visit the website or click here to obtain details and photos of featured exhibits.   ***END***  

PolyU research projects in advanced manufacturing, new materials and new energy receive funding from RAISe+ Scheme

The Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government yesterday held the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme Signing Ceremony and announced the results of the Scheme’s first round of review. Two research projects from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been awarded RAISe+ funding, showcasing the University’s commitment to promoting excellence in research and innovation, and to creating impact in the community by translating its world-class scientific research into real-world applications. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), congratulated the PolyU research teams, stating, “We are pleased with the results of the RAISe+ Scheme and are thrilled to receive this recognition and support. The funding will expedite the commercialisation of these projects, enabling our researchers to develop innovative solutions, forge stronger industry partnerships and ultimately translate their research outcomes into real-world impact. The University will continue to make impactful contributions for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. Leveraging our research strengths and expertise, PolyU will play a pivotal role in developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub.” The two funded projects are: Energy-Efficient Liquid Cooling System for Data Centres (Advanced Manufacturing) The project is led by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering, and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The success and progress of our society’s businesses and innovations hinge on data and data centres. These centres, serving as crucial foundations for Artificial intelligence (AI), big data and other technologies, contribute to 3% of global energy consumption. Notably, cooling systems alone consume a significant 40% of this. Existing cooling methods are inefficient, expensive, harmful to the environment and contribute to substantial carbon emissions. Hence, the pivotal step towards achieving energy-saving and emission-reduction objectives in data centres lies in effectively reducing the energy consumption of cooling systems. This project aims to commercialise the team’s Energy-Efficient Liquid Cooling System (ELCS) to address the very significant energy consumption by data centres for more sustainable cooling. ELCS resolves the centuries-old Leidenfrost challenge using innovative nano-engineered surfaces, i.e., structured thermal armour. The first innovative aspect of ELCS is to utilise phase change cooling principles, whereby liquid coolant is transported to the hot area through heat pipes. The coolant undergoes vaporisation, carrying away the heat, which is then condensed back into liquid for reuse, achieving nearly zero-energy cooling. The System is expected to achieve high heat fluxes of ~1,000 W/cm², even at high temperatures of up to 1,000 ℃, which outperforms traditional methods. Another innovative aspect of ELCS is the integration of AI and the Intelligence of Things, enabling real-time monitoring and optimisation of the System’s thermal performance. Pilot and Mass Production of Next-Generation Composite Current Collectors for Mobility and Energy Storage Batteries (New Materials and New Energy) The project is led by Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. This project aims to develop an ultrathin, ultralight, flexible and durable composite film to serve as a current collector (CC) for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and future solid-state Li batteries, aiming at boosting their energy density. The CC is an essential component for the conduction of electrons during the charge/discharge process in LIBs. However, CCs do not contribute to the energy storage in batteries. Therefore, reducing their thickness and weight is an efficient approach to improving the energy density of batteries, a consistent goal in the battery industry over the past decades. Currently, commercial LIBs use copper and aluminum foils as CCs in the anode and the cathode, respectively, the densities of which are thus high. Further reduction of the thickness or weight of metal foils has encountered a bottleneck due to mechanical reliability and processibility. The composite CC developed by the group is 80%~85% lighter and 65%~80% thinner than the current metal foils, with a cost reduction of 40%~60%. Importantly, compared to metal foils, the composite CC better maintains electron and thermal conductivity, chemical and electrochemical stability, and compatibility with various electrode materials. It increases the gravimetric energy density of LIBs by 20%~25% and the volumetric energy density by 9%~12%. Inaugurated in 2023, the RAISe+ Scheme aims to provide funding, on a matching basis, for at least 100 research teams from universities funded by the University Grants Committee which demonstrate strong potential to evolve into successful startups. Each approved project will receive funding support ranging from HK$10 million to HK$100 million.   ***END***

PolyU forum empowers HK SMEs on aligning ESG disclosure with international standards

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted a forum on “Charting the Path: ESG Policies and SMEs in Hong Kong's Green Finance Journey”, in collaboration with The ESG Consortium and with the support of Sing Tao News Corporation Limited, to address the policy support needed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in response to the phased alignment of local sustainability disclosures with the international standards promogulated by the HKSAR Government. In his welcome remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and PReCIT Director, highlighted the significance of the Government's vision to make Hong Kong the first jurisdiction to comply with the international sustainability disclosure benchmarks in order to foster Hong Kong’s position as an international green finance hub. He urged policymakers to conduct more consultation with industry practitioners and incorporate their views into the road map being planned for a transparent and actionable sustainability reporting pathway for businesses in Hong Kong. Prof. Chao said, “As the engine of economic development, SMEs have a critical role to play in Hong Kong's green finance journey, however, the unique challenges and constraints they face in integrating an environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework into corporate risk management and disclosure have not been well addressed. Discussion on best practices is essential to turn ESG obligations into opportunities for our local businesses.” At the forum, Mr Jonathan WONG, Chief of Innovation, Enterprise and Investment at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Mr Hugh CHOW, Executive Director of The ESG Consortium; Ms Clara CHAN, Executive Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the ESG Committee at the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; and Ms Serena MAK, Executive Director of Sustainable Finance at the Institutional Banking Group of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) explored how Hong Kong can leverage green finance and ESG policies to support SMEs in the transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as how to comply with ESG reporting requirements. Ms Clara Chan emphasised the urgency of adopting ESG principles for manufacturing SMEs. She highlighted, “As the EU will be implementing the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) and CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) within the next two to three years, enterprises, regardless of their sizes, that proactively embrace these regulations will gain a competitive edge in securing business partnerships with EU clients. SMEs should seize this opportunity to accelerate their ESG journey.” Ms Serena Mak said, “Development of taxonomy and robust disclosure standards foster transparency for stakeholders will play a vital part in increased adoption of sustainable finance. SMEs face resource constraints in their ESG journeys. Funding, government support, digital tools and access to information would all be helpful to encourage SMEs to integrate sustainability in their businesses.” Mr Jonathan Wong introduced some innovative laws, policies, strategies and initiatives that governments in Asia and the Pacific have implemented to achieve sustainability reporting. He urged policymakers to continue to innovate in policymaking on what is still a relatively new policy agenda. Mr Hugh Chow advocated streamlining ESG Implementation for SME Competitiveness. He added, "As we witness the irreversible trend towards ESG implementation, it is imperative for SMEs to take action now and embrace sustainable practices. By advocating the streamlining of ESG implementation, we empower SMEs to enhance their competitiveness in the market. We understand the challenges they face, such as resource constraints and limited capacity. Therefore, we provide strategies to help SMEs overcome these obstacles and embark on their ESG journey." Founded in 2022, PReCIT is a University-level interdisciplinary policy research centre. Led by Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, and Prof. Eric CHUI, Co-Director of PReCIT and Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, the Centre’s primary areas of research include carbon-neutral cities, Greater Bay Area I&T development and Belt and Road Initiative development in Southeast Asia. For more information about PReCIT, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/.   ***END***  

PolyU research finds improving AI large language models helps better align with human brain activity

With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) transforming the social interaction landscape in recent years, large language models (LLMs), which use deep-learning algorithms to train GenAI platforms to process language, have been put in the spotlight. A recent study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) found that LLMs perform more like the human brain when being trained in more similar ways as humans process language, which has brought important insights to brain studies and the development of AI models. Current large language models (LLMs) mostly rely on a single type of pretraining - contextual word prediction. This simple learning strategy has achieved surprising success when combined with massive training data and model parameters, as shown by popular LLMs such as ChatGPT. Recent studies also suggest that word prediction in LLMs can serve as a plausible model for how humans process language. However, humans do not simply predict the next word but also integrate high-level information in natural language comprehension. A research team led by Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology at PolyU, has investigated the next sentence prediction (NSP) task, which simulates one central process of discourse-level comprehension in the human brain to evaluate if a pair of sentences is coherent, into model pretraining and examined the correlation between the model’s data and brain activation. The study has been recently published in the academic journal Sciences Advances. The research team trained two models, one with NSP enhancement and the other without, both also learned word prediction. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from people reading connected sentences or disconnected sentences. The research team examined how closely the patterns from each model matched up with the brain patterns from the fMRI brain data. It was clear that training with NSP provided benefits. The model with NSP matched human brain activity in multiple areas much better than the model trained only on word prediction. Its mechanism also nicely maps onto established neural models of human discourse comprehension. The results gave new insights into how our brains process full discourse such as conversations. For example, parts of the right side of the brain, not just the left, helped understand longer discourse. The model trained with NSP could also better predict how fast someone read - showing that simulating discourse comprehension through NSP helped AI understand humans better. Recent LLMs, including ChatGPT, have relied on vastly increasing the training data and model size to achieve better performance. Prof. Li Ping said, “There are limitations in just relying on such scaling. Advances should also be aimed at making the models more efficient, relying on less rather than more data. Our findings suggest that diverse learning tasks such as NSP can improve LLMs to be more human-like and potentially closer to human intelligence.” He added, “More importantly, the findings show how neurocognitive researchers can leverage LLMs to study higher-level language mechanisms of our brain. They also promote interaction and collaboration between researchers in the fields of AI and neurocognition, which will lead to future studies on AI-informed brain studies as well as brain-inspired AI.”   ***END***

PolyU wins ZPRIZE 2023 for blockchain innovation again demonstrating groundbreaking research in zero-knowledge proofs

The research team led by Prof. Allen AU Man Ho, Professor of the Department of Computing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Dr Lu Xingye, Research Assistant Professor, have won an award in the international ZPRIZE competition for the second consecutive year for their pioneering work in zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Their groundbreaking work in this field has profound implications for enhancing privacy and scalability in blockchain and Web3 applications. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “We take great pride that PolyU academics continue to gain worldwide acclaim for driving innovation in cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography. This award underscores the exceptional capabilities of our research team and their pioneering work in accelerating the development and real-world adoption of zero-knowledge encryption.” The annual ZPRIZE competition, spearheaded by the blockchain industry in 2022, promotes the advancement of ZKPs by open-sourcing winning submissions for the reference of the general public. ZKPs allows a “prover” to convince a person of the validity of a computation without leaking any information; it is hence referred to as zero-knowledge cryptography. This year, the PolyU team have triumphed in the “High Throughput Signature Verification” open division category, winning a cash prize of US$250,000. They were tasked with verifying the greatest number of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) signatures in a given time using ZKPs. ECDSA signatures are used to prove the authenticity and integrity of digital messages over the internet, as well as of blockchain transactions on networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Making it more efficient to cryptographically verify those signatures inside a ZKP is important for creating a better user experience and enables numerous real-world applications. The PolyU team’s innovative approach can generate ZKPs for the digital signatures of 50 1KB messages on a regular laptop computer within ten minutes, laying a solid foundation for future applications of ZKPs in ECDSA verification. It also reduces the complexity of generating proofs for a 5MB message’s digital signature to a maximum of 6.2 million constraints compared to over 50 million constraints previously - a minimum eight-fold reduction. As a pioneer in blockchain education and research in Hong Kong, PolyU has introduced Hong Kong’s first Master of Science in Blockchain Technology programme. It has also initiated doctoral programmes relating to financial technology, as well as bachelor’s degree programmes relating to FinTech and Artificial Intelligence (AI). On the research front, the University has established the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology, the first research centre in Hong Kong whose research studies full-stack blockchain technology. According to the “Best Universities for Blockchain 2022” rankings by CoinDesk, PolyU has been ranked the No. 1 university for blockchain in the world. ***END***  

PolyU researchers develop novel fungus-based fat replacer AkkMore™ to prevent obesity and enhance gut health; collaborates with Hotel ICON to launch reduced-fat desserts to promote environmental innovation in food industry

In recent years, scientists have been actively exploring the potential of future foods, including using boundless microorganisms as substitutes for limited animal and plant resources. Among these microorganisms, the replacer of animal-derived fats is a research topic currently of very great interest. A research team from the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed AkkMore™, a novel fungus-based fat replacer which is effective in preventing obesity and metabolic diseases, enhancing gut health, modulating immune response and relieving anxiety. This replacer not only helps lower the calorific content of food, but also extends the shelf life of cream products. In the long term, it can reduce dairy consumption and food waste, providing innovative ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) solutions in the food industry. A PolyU research team led by Dr Gail CHANG, Core Member of RiFood and Research Assistant Professor of FSN together with Dr Amber CHIOU, Associate Director and Associate Professor of RiFood, and Associate Head of FSN has extracted the functional component of AkkMore™ from natural fungus to develop the replacer and has conducted three phases of animal experiments. The study has found that mice which had been administered the AkkMore™ formula had a healthier gut microbiota with higher density of Akkermansia, lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, lighter adipose tissue and suppressed neuroinflammation when compared to the control group. This indicates the effectiveness of the formula in managing weight, enhancing gut health, modulating immune and metabolic diseases and relieving anxiety. This research won a Silver Medal at the 2022 International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva and its application for health benefits has entered patent substantive examination stage. Making use of the thickening, emulsifying and stabilising properties of AkkMore™, the team has developed Cream Mate, an AkkMore™-based cream substitute. Cream Mate can be used in conjunction with traditional cream to reduce the amount of cream used in dessert. Not only does it decrease the fat and calorific content of food while maintaining the quality of taste and texture, but it also significantly extends the shelf life of cream-based products. In the long run, this could lead to reduced consumption of dairy products and food waste, reducing carbon emissions and profitability of production. Dr Chang stated, “This collaboration is testament to the successful translation of a research outcome. Moving forward, we will further explore the application of AkkMore™ formula in innovative health foods and put greater efforts into identification of mushroom strains with better functions and standardisation of the cultivation process.” PolyU is committed to the translation of research outcomes. Dr Chang was admitted to the PolyU GBA Startup Postdoc Programme in 2019 and has been granted support from the PolyU Micro Fund. As well as being selected for the Incu-Tech Programme of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Chang has received a number of awards in entrepreneurial competitions. In 2020, she partnered with Dr Amber Chiou and Dr Jimmy JIN, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business to establish Bo InnoHealth Biotechnology Company Limited, a start-up focusing on research into the growth mechanism of fungus and has received generous support from the PolyU Tech Launchpad Fund and multiple angel funds. Following the launch of supplement containing the AkkMore™ formula, the research team has collaborated with GREEN of Hotel ICON, the PolyU teaching and research hotel, whereby the hotel restaurant infuses Cream Mate in reduced-fat soft serve and desserts, and launch its new limited time “ForestFit Afternoon Tea With Japanese Fruit And Akkmore™”. Hotel ICON has commissioned a laboratory to test the nutritional components of soft serve in two formulae. The test showed that the total fat content of soft serve with AkkMore™ Cream Mate was less than 3% and was reduced by more than 80% when comparing with regular soft serve, and the total energy was also reduced by more than half. For more details, please visit the Hotel ICON website: https://www.hotel-icon.com/offers/akkmore-japanesefruits-afternoon-tea   ***END***  

PolyU research reveals major healthcare and communication challenges for migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong

Migrant domestic workers support many Hong Kong working families in childcare and household duties but their own personal needs seldom receive significant attention. The Department of English and Communication at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted research into the health and other structural issues faced by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal that health literacy and access to information and facilities are crucial to their well-being. The researchers have interviewed more than 700 Filipino and Indonesian migrant domestic workers and surveyed more than 400 to investigate their life stories and well-being in Hong Kong, covering topics from narratives about their (traumatic) experiences, health literacy and healthcare needs to their communication networks. In view of the increasing number of workers driven by growing demand for domestic elderly care in Hong Kong, these studies aimed to highlight the significance of cultivating favourable conditions for workers. Prof. Hans LADEGAARD, Professor of the Department of English and Communication at PolyU, said, “Our research shows that Indonesian workers, in particular, face marginalisation and isolation due to language and communication problems and a lack of awareness of their rights. Many took only a three-week Cantonese course before arrival, which clearly does not guarantee their Cantonese proficiency, while most of them are also unable to speak English. Many workers even do not know it is illegal to be paid under the minimum wage or that they are entitled to have 24 hours off once a week. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritise efforts to provide language learning support and to educate these workers about their rights.” Inadequate access to health facilities and information is one major challenge facing these workers. According to Prof. Ladegaard’s research, when the COVID-19 pandemic-induced loneliness, isolation and homesickness put them at higher risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, they only had limited access to support. To address the issue, the team advised that health campaigns be conducted in a language that the workers can understand and that accessible channels such as social media are mobilised for promotion. The research also indicated utilising cartoons and storytelling to be more effective in communicating with migrant populations. Another research study, led by Dr Jeffry OKTAVIANUS, Assistant Professor of the Department of English and Communication, found that community storytelling networks, including interpersonal relationships, community organisations and media outlets, played an essential role in supporting the migrant domestic workers in coping during the pandemic. His research has been published in the journal Health Communication. The study revealed that many workers could not obtain knowledge about effective preventive measures during the pandemic, due to the absence of reliable and accurate information in their native language. Interaction with workers’ communities on social media thus became their major source of informational and emotional support. However, workers were also exposed to fake news through interpersonal networks, which led to adverse effects, such as having a negative psychological impact. Dr Oktavianus remarked, “These networks provide crucial support, but also spread misinformation, creating both opportunities and challenges for empowering marginalised communities.” The research further highlighted the potential of community organisations in debunking hoaxes by disseminating credible news, thereby eliminating uncertainty, refuting misinformation and aiding in understanding the chaotic situation. In this regard, health campaigns are encouraged to utilise community-based storytellers, such as Indonesian organisations or ethnic media, to communicate public health information. Meanwhile, improving digital literacy is also important for helping foreign workers distinguish fake news from real. While the Philippines now has one of the highest breast cancer diagnosis rates in Asia, there is also an increasing number of Filipino workers diagnosed with breast cancer in Hong Kong. Dr Margo TURNBULL, Assistant Professor of the Department of English and Communication, led a research team focusing on the health literacy needs of migrant domestic workers. Published in the journal Quality Health Research, the research study provides a critical examination of how breast cancer and migration impact the lives of these workers. This study again emphasised the importance of health campaigns in workers’ native language and of their access to health facilities, particularly on Sundays, enabling them to receive timely diagnoses and assistance. Dr Turnbull added, “Improving language and communication skills can also increase workers’ effective utilisation of medical resources, alleviate the psychological impacts of having cancer and enhance their confidence in advocating for their healthcare needs.” Currently, Dr Turnbull is working with a cancer support group to co-develop multilingual communication resources that can be used by migrant domestic workers to share information about their diagnosis and care needs with their employers, families and doctors. In light of the structural issues uncovered by the studies, a symposium, “Migrant Worker Lives Matter”, organised by the Department of English and Communication in collaboration with two local migrant worker NGOs, PathFinders and Mission for Migrant Workers, will be held at the PolyU campus on 24 May. The event aims to address the challenges faced by migrant domestic workers and explore ways for Hong Kong to become a more inclusive society.   ***END***  

PolyU and Huizhou Daya Bay sign a cooperation agreement to establish joint technology and innovation research institute

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Huizhou Municipal Government, together with the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone (Daya Bay Development Zone), have entered into a cooperation agreement for the joint establishment of the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute with a signing ceremony held on campus on 13 May. Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, introduced the University’s latest developments and its strategic goals for future expansion in mainland China to the visiting Huizhou delegation. He added that PolyU is committed to promoting technology and innovation, and nurturing research talents. Its unique strengths in fundamental and applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship have enabled it to make a significant contribution to the high-quality development of the country. Leveraging PolyU and Huizhou’s advantages and coordinated development, the two parties will jointly establish the Research Institute to deepen their cooperation and further the translation of research outcomes, providing core technology for local industry. The Research Institute will serve as a driving force for the development of the technology industry in Huizhou, thus achieving mutual benefits for all parties. Mr LIU Ji, Secretary of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal People’s Congress, stated that PolyU possesses first-class innovative talents and strong research capabilities, while Huizhou has a solid modern industrial foundation and broad scenarios for innovation application. The joint establishment of the Research Institute will definitely promote complementary advantages. With a focus on Huizhou’s industrial development, the Research Institute will fully capitalise on PolyU’s talent and research strengths to encourage further incubation and commercialisation of research outcomes in Huizhou, so as to accelerate its contribution to the further growth of Guangdong’s development. The Research Institute will also integrate high-end science and technology innovation resources from the region and abroad to cultivate high-calibre engineers, and innovative and entrepreneurial talents with mastery of key future technologies, to develop the Research Institute into a world-class technology and innovation platform. Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Mr LIU Ji, Secretary of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal People’s Congress; Mr LAI Jianhua, Member of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department; and Mr LI Ming, Member of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Head of the Organisation Department, the cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Ms LI Junling, Vice Mayor of the Huizhou Municipal Government; and Mr GUO Wupiao, Chairman of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Daya Bay Development Zone. Other guests included representatives from PolyU and the Huizhou Municipal Government and enterprises. Technological innovation has become a key driver of social development. At the event, Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of PolyU, introduced the Research Institute’s development plan. The Research Institute will focus on the fields of petrochemicals, new energy materials, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing. Through cooperation with Huizhou and the Daya Bay Development Zone, it will fully leverage the advantages of all parties and implement an innovation-driven development strategy to actively promote industry-university-research collaboration, making contributions to the technological innovation of Hong Kong, Huizhou and the Nation, and creating a new model of government-university collaboration. ***END***