Media Releases

Four PolyU scholars honoured as RGC Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows, spearheading innovations in advanced manufacturing, mathematical finance, neuroscience and IoT

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to pursuing world-leading research and innovation for societal benefits. In the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) 2026/27, four distinguished PolyU scholars have been awarded fellowships. The Schemes offer support for the awardees’ continued innovations and breakthroughs in diverse frontier fields, spanning advanced semiconductor manufacturing, mathematical finance, cognitive neuroscience and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, extended his congratulations to the awardees and said: “These prestigious fellowships are a resounding testament to PolyU scholars’ outstanding research achievements. Their projects exemplify the University’s determination to pursue research excellence and its commitment to advancing world‑leading innovation. PolyU will continue to cultivate a vibrant research environment, providing significant resources and support for our researchers to focus on frontier R&D. Through innovative solutions, we will continue to create tangible societal benefits while inspiring and nurturing the next generation of research talent to propel Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub.” The RGC SRFS and RFS schemes aim to provide sustained research support for outstanding full Professors and Associate Professors with relief from teaching and administrative duties, so enabling them to more fully focus on R&D and nurture the next generation of research talent for Hong Kong. Each of the two schemes award 10 fellowships annually, with awardees being conferred the title “RGC Senior Research Fellow” or “RGC Research Fellow” and provided a grant of around HK$8.5 million and HK$5.6 million respectively. The successful projects showcase the University’s exceptional strength in bridging theoretical breakthroughs with real-life applications, underscoring the world-class calibre of PolyU research and the University’s commitment to translating frontier knowledge into impactful solutions that address pressing global challenges. The PolyU awardees are as follows. RGC SRFS 2026/27 Awardee Project Title Abstract Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai, Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology at PolyU A multi-mode ultra-through-focus light-field-spectrometry microscopy (MULFSM) for in-situ measurement of nanostructured surfaces in semiconductor manufacturing This project aims to develop MULFSM and its AI-data processing method to enable simultaneous and in situ qualitative and quantitative measurement and inspection of nanostructured surfaces during semiconductor manufacturing and related industrial applications. This research will enhance scientific understanding of MULFSM and deliver significant impact on both research and industry in relation to nanostructured surface manufacturing for the global semiconductor sector. Prof. DAI Min, Chair Professor of Applied Statistics and Financial Mathematics of the Department of Applied Mathematics and the School of Accounting and Finance; Director of the Research Centre for Quantitative Finance at PolyU Multi-dimensional free boundary problems in finance: Theory and algorithms This project aims to address key challenges in financial decision-making that can be formulated as multi-dimensional free boundary problems. Through a comprehensive theoretical and numerical study of four interconnected themes, including deep learning and continuous-time reinforcement learning applied to portfolio selection, corporate finance and option pricing, this research promises significant advances in stochastic control theory, computational methods and financial modeling. Its outcomes will potentially benefit policymakers and investors by improving market understanding and risk management.   RGC RFS 2026/27 Awardee Project Title Abstract Prof. Bolton CHAU, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre at PolyU How distractors bias choices: Investigating mechanisms through computational modelling, neuroimaging, neurochemistry and neurostimulation This project aims to investigate how human decisions are biased by distracting information via employing advanced cognitive neuroscience techniques. Using computational modelling, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the research will examine neurocomputational mechanisms of decision-making biases. Its findings will hold key practical implications for enhancing evidence-based policy-making, promoting unbiased decision-making and developing treatments for psychiatric disorders. Prof. ZHENG Yuanqing, Professor of the Department of Computing at PolyU Software-defined edge radio access networks: System architecture and applications This project aims to design and implement a new software-defined wireless network architecture to address backhaul network pressure in traditional Cloud Radio Access Networks (CRAN). By processing signals locally through an efficient packet processing pipeline, this research will accelerate radio access network innovation to support massive IoT connectivity for smart metering, precision agriculture and the emerging low-altitude economy, facilitating large-scale concurrent communication, wireless sensing and carrier frequency shifting. ***END***

PolyU develops durable shade-stable perovskite–organic tandem solar cells, advancing thin-film solar technology application

It is common for solar panels to be shaded by trees, clouds, birds or buildings. For thin-film solar technologies, however, such shading can cause the shaded areas to develop reverse bias stress (negative voltage), which can reduce power-generation efficiency and even damage the modules of the solar cell. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed a new generation of perovskite–organic tandem solar cells (POTSCs) that not only deliver high power-generation efficiency but also effectively resist the damage caused by negative voltage. Even under an extreme reverse-bias of –40 V, the tandem devices retain more than 90% of their initial power-generation efficiency, far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies — marking a key step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. Thin-film solar technologies, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), perovskite and organic solar cells, offer the distinct advantages of their light weight, flexibility and cost-effective manufacturing. However, these materials share a common weakness: owing to their electron–ion hybrid conducting properties, once a solar cell is partially shaded and generates negative voltage, its sustained performance becomes difficult and components may even be damaged. The ability to resist reverse bias is therefore key to determining whether thin-film solar technology is durable and capable of stable, long-term operation. Organic solar cells (OSCs) have made significant strides in both efficiency and durability in recent years. Yet their behaviour under reverse-bias condition and underlying charge transport mechanisms in bulk heterojunctions (the power-generating active layer inside the cell, formed by blending two materials), remains largely unexplored by the scientific community. Filling the related knowledge gaps is an indispensable step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. Prof. LI Gang, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Renewable Energy, and Associate Director of the PolyU Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), and his research team have tackled the often-overlooked yet critical aspect of reverse-bias. Prof. Li said, “We have achieved important advances in the stability of OSCs and POTSCs under challenging reverse-bias conditions. Our research makes breakthrough contributions to the understanding of both device operation and durability in organic and perovskite solar technologies.” The reason OSCs are damaged under reverse-bias lies in defects known as deep trap states within the bulk heterojunction. These are invisible traps in the solar cell material that immobilise the charges responsible for power generation, reducing the cell’s efficiency and even causing damage. The team achieved a breakthrough through its innovative approaches and strategic interventions. By suppressing isolated acceptor clusters within the donor-acceptor intermix region (the area at the power-generating core of the cell where the two materials responsible for releasing and receiving charges are blended), the team successfully minimised the above-mentioned defects and developed high-performance OSCs with an irreversible breakdown voltage exceeding -35 V. In other words, as long as the negative voltage does not exceed -35 V, the cell will not be permanently damaged. This substantially enhances damage resistance and establishes a new benchmark for the efficiency and stability of OSCs. The study shows that, by suppressing reverse tunnelling (the phenomenon whereby, when a solar cell is shaded, current flows in reverse, generating negative voltage and damaging the cell) in n-i-p inorganic perovskite-organic tandem solar cells, the organic solar cells successfully protect the perovskite layer. Even after exposure to an extreme reverse-bias of -40 V, the tandem devices retained more than 90% of their initial efficiency. Moreover, these tandem solar cells proved highly stable: after continuous operation at -20 V for 12 hours, they retained 90% of their initial efficiency; and after continuous operation at -4.5 V for 2,000 hours, they retained as much as 97% of their initial efficiency - far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies. The research has been published in the paper “Perovskite–organic tandem solar cells with superior reverse-bias stability,” in Nature Materials. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of reverse charge transport mechanism in bulk heterojunctions organic solar cells, overcoming reverse-bias instability in perovskite-based solar cells and providing critical guidelines for developing robust POTSCs. In earlier research, Prof. Li and his team demonstrated the n–i–p inorganic POTSCs achieving an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.9% (certified 25.1%) through bottom contact modulation, with improved stability under various conditions. That study, “Inorganic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells with 25.1% certified efficiency via bottom contact modulation”, was published in Nature Energy in 2025. In the latest study, the n-i-p POTSCs also demonstrated PCE exceeding 26% along with unparalleled reverse-bias stability, advancing their progress towards practical applications. Dr HUANG Jiaming, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Mr HAN Yu, PhD student, both of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering are the first authors of the Nature Materials and Nature Energy articles, respectively. Dr REN Zhiwei, Research Assistant Professor of the same department is the co-corresponding author of both publications. Prof. Li added, “The exceptional reverse-bias stability under shadowing conditions has been vividly demonstrated in scalable perovskite-organic tandem solar cell minimodules. This marks a significant leap forward, paving the way for a sustainable and efficient future powered by renewable energy systems.” ***END***

PolyU scholar Prof. Yi-Qing NI receives 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Professor Yi-Qing NI, Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and Director of National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been honoured with the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award is a national award presented biennially and is hailed as “the highest award in China’s engineering sector”. It aims to honour Chinese engineers and scientists who have made outstanding achievements and significant contributions in engineering science and technology, and engineering management. Since its establishment in 1996, the Award has recognised 423 distinguished individuals from different engineering fields. This year,40 awardees were selected from 471 candidates, including one Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Achievement Award recipient and 39 Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award recipients, with Prof. Ni one of the three Award recipients from Hong Kong. Prof. Ni is world-renowned scholar in the fields of structural health monitoring and vibration control. He was ranked in the World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists in rankings released by Stanford University for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025 (in both the career-long and single year citation categories). He was also ranked among the world’s top 0.05% scholars on the 2025 ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars – Lifetime list and placed fourth globally in the field of “Structural Health Monitoring”. Prof. Ni was nominated by PolyU President and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG. Prof. Teng congratulated him saying, “This award carries profound significance. It not only affirms Prof. Ni’s dedication and outstanding achievements over the years, but will also inspire PolyU staff and students to continue upholding the spirit of innovation in service of the long-term development of the nation and society.” Prof. Ni expressed his gratitude, “I am deeply grateful to the President for his trust and nomination, and I would also like to thank the research team that has worked alongside me over the years. We have always upheld a spirit of continuous innovation and change, starting from real-world needs to advancing smart rail transit and structural safety monitoring technologies, and applying our research outcomes to major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and in the country more widely. Looking ahead, my team and I will continue to work hard to bring innovative PolyU technologies onto the international stage, deepen collaboration with the Chinese Mainland and overseas partners, enable more people to benefit and make greater contributions to national development and the long-term well-being of society.” Prof. Ni joined PolyU in 2001. His research expertise covers structural health monitoring, structural dynamics and control, smart materials and structures, and sensor technologies. As a core member of PolyU’s multi-disciplinary rail technology research team, he has contributed to the development of fibre Bragg grating sensors that have significantly enhanced the safety and stability of railway services. These devices can be installed on railway tracks and connected to fibre-optic cables, helping maintenance staff more effectively monitor wheel flats and rail conditions, carry out repairs in a timely manner, and safeguard passenger safety. In 2015, PolyU was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China to establish the Hong Kong Branch of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre, with Prof. Ni serving as Director. The Centre brings together professors from five departments across two PolyU faculties to study high-speed rail from an integrated and macro perspective. Leveraging the internationalisation of China’s high-speed rail, the Centre exports its monitoring systems overseas, thereby promoting Hong Kong’s innovative technologies to the world. Prof. Ni has an outstanding record of research achievements and has received numerous accolades. The monitoring systems he has helped develop have won multiple awards at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in Switzerland and at the China International Industrial Fair. In 2016, the project “Key technologies for building the Canton Tower”, in which he participated, received a second-class State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Beyond his dedication to academic and scientific research, Prof. Ni is also committed to advancing knowledge transfer. As Director of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, he leads the Institute in focusing on areas such as intelligent transportation, Grand Canal culture and tourism, and medical aesthetics, actively aligning PolyU’s research strengths with local industrial development and societal needs to accelerate the real-world application of research outcomes for the benefit of society. ***END***

PolyU startup WiseLaw advances to National top 20 in AI competition “Win in AI+”

WiseLaw Digital Technology Limited (WiseLaw), a startup nurtured by the flagship PolyVentures startup ecosystem of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), stood out from the crowd in the second season of “Win in AI+”, a large-scale documentary-style startup investment programme jointly hosted by China Central Television and the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government on 30 June. Outshining more than 1,000 other participating enterprises nationwide, including unicorns and teams led by Chinese and overseas academicians, WiseLaw successfully advanced to the National Top 20. As the only shortlisted Hong Kong enterprise in the Grand Final, it will compete for the title of one of the “Top 10 Chinese AI Startups of 2026” next month. This achievement fully validates the company’s innovation and commercialisation potential, while also showcasing PolyU’s outstanding capabilities in nurturing startups. Founded by Prof. LU Haitian, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance of the School of Accounting and Finance and Director of Mainland Development at PolyU, WiseLaw is Hong Kong’s first technology and innovation enterprise dedicated to developing cross-border legal and compliance AI agent applications. Bringing together distinguished PolyU alumni and technology experts from leading internet companies in the Chinese Mainland, WiseLaw is committed to deeply integrating AI technology with professional legal compliance expertise, providing intelligent legal compliance solutions for global enterprises, financial institutions and law firms. The company’s core product, “Lawrence”, is a customised AI digital employee for client application in cross-border legal and financial compliance scenarios. Leveraging globally leading large models, a multi-jurisdiction professional knowledge hub and proprietary engineering solutions, it delivers a range of services including legal research, compliance review, contract analysis and risk identification. It also flexibly addresses legal requirements across different jurisdictions, helps enterprises going global and efficiently manages legal risks. During the competition, Prof. Lu Haitian demonstrated the application of “Lawrence” in legal compliance scenarios and how it enhances the efficiency of cross-border legal services, garnering recognition from the judges. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, remarked, “PolyU actively aligns with the ‘AI+’ development strategy outlined in the National 15th Five-Year Plan, leveraging advanced AI technology to drive frontier research, propelling industrial innovation. The University also focuses on nurturing startups, including WiseLaw to translate research outcomes into real-world solutions for societal impact. The project has earned funding support from the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission, demonstrating its research translation excellence and significant potential for industry impact. We look forward to WiseLaw, as the only Hong Kong enterprise shortlisted as one of the National Top 20 in this season’s competition of ‘Win in AI+’, scaling even greater heights in the Grand Final to showcase Hong Kong’s strengths in research and innovation.” Over the years, PolyU has achieved remarkable success in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship development. Through the PolyVentures ecosystem, PolyU provides comprehensive support to its startups, having incubated and supported more than 600 enterprises to date. In recent years, PolyU has continuously deepened its strategic positioning in research and knowledge transfer. On one hand, it is moving towards market-oriented innovation research to ensure that research aligns closely with industry needs and societal challenges. On the other hand, it has established a robust network of Mainland Translational Research Institutes and set up incubation centres in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. In addition, through the development of overseas innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, PolyU actively supports its startups in cross-boundary and overseas expansion, promoting cross-regional collaboration and expanding PolyU’s international footprint and influence. ***END***

PolyU signs tripartite MoU with Dassault Systèmes and PAIEvo in Paris to advance cross-continental collaboration in research innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed a tripartite strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Paris with globally renowned Dassault Systèmes and PAIEvo (HK) Limited (PAIEvo), a fully owned subsidiary of XtalPi Holdings Limited (XtalPi) listed in Hong Kong, to jointly promote collaboration in research innovation and talent development. This partnership marks an important milestone in PolyU’s development and underscores the University’s active role in fostering cross-continental collaboration to advance innovation and technology in Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. It also highlights the University’s international strategy to develop overseas innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, with Paris as its first foothold in Europe. The signing ceremony was held on 19 June at Dassault Systèmes’ Paris-area headquarters. Witnessed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Mr Nicolas JEANNEE, Vice President 3DEXPERIENCE Edu of Dassault Systèmes; and Dr Kevin TSAI, Vice President of XtalPi and CEO of PAIEvo, the MoU was signed by Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) of PolyU; Ms Joanne LI, 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Sales Director of China, Dassault Systèmes; and Ms Ruyu WANG, Senior Director of External Affairs and Communications of XtalPi. Under the collaborative framework, the three parties will jointly pursue a range of initiatives, including advancing the digitalisation of smart laboratories, expanding research and development (R&D) in new materials, developing proprietary computing capabilities and molecular simulation tools, building an ecosystem for new substance discovery, and nurturing relevant professional talent.  Prof. Christopher Chao remarked, “PolyU has been strengthening its research and knowledge transfer strategy in recent years, from establishing a robust network of Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs), setting up the incubation centres, InnoHubs, across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, to progressively expanding our global footprint by building overseas innovation hubs, with Paris serving as our first stop in Europe. Meanwhile, we proactively align our research with industry demands, with market-oriented innovation at its core. This is the foundation of our close partnership with Dassault Systèmes. By bringing together the distinctive strengths of the three parties, this partnership enables us to fully leverage cross-sector and cross-border synergies among academia, research and industry. It will not only advance our respective development but also bring tangible benefits to society.” Welcoming the delegations, Mr Nicolas Jeannée described the meeting as “highly meaningful”. He said, “This partnership connects not only Hong Kong and France, but also academia and industry. From the establishment of the Center of Excellence in 2025 to Dassault Systèmes’ official presence in Hong Kong in 2026, our collaboration with PolyU has continued to reach new heights. We look forward to working closely with our partners to generate more innovative outcomes and contribute to global digital transformation.” Dr Kevin Tsai stated, “This strategic collaboration, formed through our subsidiary PAIEvo with Dassault Systèmes and PolyU, marks another important step for XtalPi’s journey toward the ‘Lab of the Future’. By integrating the strengths of the three parties in intelligent decision-making and Physical AI, virtual twin modelling, and cross-disciplinary academic research, we aim to accelerate the development of a self-learning closed loop encompassing intelligent design, physical experimentation, digital simulation and innovative applications, thereby advancing the R&D paradigm toward autonomous discovery.” As a subsidiary of XtalPi, PAIEvo leverages XtalPi’s AI for Science platform, built on quantum physics, AI, and robotic experimentation, to systematically extend its proven R&D capabilities and technology strengths into key scenarios of new materials R&D. Dassault Systèmes, meanwhile, creates virtual worlds through its 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock-Up and Product Lifecycle Management solutions, reshaping the way products are designed, manufactured and supported. The University’s collaboration with Dassault Systèmes began in 2003. What started as a software licensing relationship has gradually developed into a comprehensive and multi-layered partnership embracing research and talent development. Last year, this partnership reached a new milestone with the establishment of the Dassault Systèmes–PolyU Center of Excellence, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Combining PolyU expertise in AI, robotics and materials innovation with Dassault Systèmes leadership in virtual twin technologies, the Center has laid a solid foundation for the company’s expansion in Hong Kong and has become an important platform for driving innovation in ‘AI + materials’ and ‘AI + virtual twin’. The PolyU-Dassault Systèmes partnership also demonstrates the University’s proactive role in helping attract internationally renowned enterprises and talent to Hong Kong. Through the support of the HKSAR Government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), and with PolyU’s recommendation and support, Dassault Systèmes was selected as one of OASES’ sixth batch of 22 strategic enterprises, officially establishing its presence in Hong Kong and expanding its local operations. PolyU will continue to support Dassault Systèmes development in Hong Kong by strengthening links between the ‘AI + manufacturing’ innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong and France, while also leveraging its strong network of translational research institutes and centres in the Chinese Mainland to facilitate the company’s further expansion there. During its visit to Dassault Systèmes, the PolyU delegation toured “The Playground”, an immersive experience space showcasing innovative technologies and live demonstrations powered by the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The delegation also visited the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE Lab to learn more about the innovative products and solutions developed by startups nurtured by Dassault Systèmes. The three parties additionally held in-depth exchanges and discussions on the practical implementation of their future collaboration. The delegation visited the Paris-area headquarters of Dassault Systèmes. ***END***

Delegation from Yunnan Province visits PolyU and signs strategic cooperation framework agreement to deepen Yunnan–Hong Kong collaborative development

A delegation from Yunnan Province, led by Mr GUO Dajin, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 24 June and engaged in in-depth discussions with University representatives, including Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer); Prof. Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme); Dr Laura LO, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement); and Prof. Haitian LU, Director of Mainland Development. PolyU also signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province to establish a long-term and stable strategic partnership aimed at deepening Yunnan–Hong Kong collaboration, facilitating the translation and application of PolyU’s research outcomes in Yunnan and contributing to the development of the Province. The Yunnan delegation members included Mr XIA Junsong, Director-General of the Department of Transport of Yunnan Province; Mr MA Zuoxin, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province; Ms LI Yi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province; and Mr ZHAO Huaijun, Deputy Director-General of the Yunnan Investment Promotion Agency. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng extended a warm welcome to the delegation and introduced PolyU’s positioning as an innovative world-class university, its mission in education, as well as its achievements in interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer and industry-academia-research collaboration. Mr Guo Dajin highly commended PolyU’s innovative research and its successful application in areas such as smart cities. He noted that the resident population of Kunming, Yunnan Province, had exceeded 10 million and expressed his hope of introducing intelligent technologies to enhance the efficiency of urban governance. He also invited the PolyU team to visit Yunnan to pursue further exchanges and cooperation with local universities and research institutions. Witnessed by Mr Guo Dajin and Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Mr Ma Zuoxin and Prof. Zijian Zheng signed the strategic cooperation framework agreement on behalf of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province and PolyU respectively. Leveraging PolyU’s distinctive strengths in higher education, technological innovation, social services and internationalisation, together with Yunnan’s geographical, industrial and resource advantages, the two parties will focus on four major areas of collaboration: strengthening talent cultivation and professional capacity building; promoting industry-academia-research collaboration and the translation of research outcomes; deepening the integration of Service-Learning with rural revitalisation; and expanding Yunnan–Hong Kong youth cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity more generally. The two parties will also explore the joint establishment of a “Yunnan–Hong Kong Talent Cultivation Cooperation Base” to facilitate implementation of further PolyU research outcomes in Yunnan in areas aligned with the priority industries of the Province, including biomedicine, modern agriculture and the digital economy. During the visit, the delegation toured the PolyU Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute to learn about the University’s innovative smart city solutions and the translation of its frontier technologies into industry applications. Prof. SHI Wenzhong, Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute and Chair Professor of Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing, introduced the Institute’s self-developed smart city assessment system, integrated road inspection technology for above-ground, ground-level and underground environments, and AI-enabled road network safety inspection applications. The delegation subsequently visited the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) at PolyU. Dr Siqi DING, Research Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, introduced key research projects that included a railway foreign object intrusion detection system and an active early-warning system for preventing vessel collisions with bridges, and shared the Centre’s latest progress in collaborating with industry. The visit further strengthened the foundation for connectivity between Yunnan and Hong Kong, helping to enable the efficient alignment of resources and the harnessing of complementary strengths. Looking ahead, both parties will build on their respective advantages and work hand-in-hand to achieve targeted cooperation in key areas such as industry-academia-research integration, talent exchange and rural revitalisation. Through pragmatic initiatives, they will deepen collaboration between the two regions and jointly inject fresh momentum into the high-quality development of Yunnan and Hong Kong. ***END***

PolyU School of Optometry and HOYA Vision Care strengthen R&D collaboration: New DIMS TED spectacle lenses clinically proven on average to achieve no myopia progression over 12 months

Myopia is a global public health issue. The School of Optometry at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and HOYA Vision Care have long been committed to developing myopia control spectacle lenses to help safeguard public eye health. Building on more than a decade of collaboration, the two parties have achieved another breakthrough in advancing their patent-protected Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) technology to launch a new generation of myopia control spectacle lenses featuring the Triple Enhanced Design (DIMS TED). The three key features of DIMS TED are: (1) Defocusing segments positioned closer to the geometric centre of the spectacle lens to activate the near-peripheral retina, identified as highly responsive to the myopic defocus signal that can regulate myopia progression, thereby enhancing myopia control efficacy; (2) Higher defocus power to enable a stronger myopic defocus signal; and (3) an Extended treatment zone that covers a wider peripheral visual field. Clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this innovation. In a randomised controlled clinical trial involving 196 myopic Hong Kong children aged 4 to 12, the average results from the first 12 months of the study demonstrated that children wearing DIMS TED spectacle lenses on average showed no myopia progression, while excessive eye growth was considerably slowed. The main cause of myopia progression was effectively addressed. The study also showed that DIMS TED spectacle lenses are HOYA’s first spectacle lens with reported clinical evidence for effective control of myopia progression from the age of 4 years, as a monotherapy. The findings demonstrate significant benefits for early-onset myopia and underscore the importance of early intervention. This breakthrough sets a new benchmark for myopia control lenses and marks a milestone in the long-standing industry-research-academia collaboration between HOYA Vision Care and PolyU. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, remarked, “PolyU has always been committed to advancing knowledge transfer. Since 2012, we have worked closely with HOYA Vision Care. The development of the DIMS TED spectacle lenses and their clinical study provide strong scientific evidence for early intervention in myopia control, reaffirming PolyU’s global leadership in optometry. We sincerely thank HOYA for their trust in our research capabilities and look forward to strengthening our collaboration to drive commercialisation of further innovations for the benefit of society.” Prof. Dennis TSE, Associate Professor of the PolyU School of Optometry, added, “Our team has built up extensive expertise in myopia control research, particularly in understanding how the eye responds to myopia defocus signals. The new-generation DIMS TED spectacle lenses not only effectively stop myopia progression but also slow down excessive eye growth, with remarkable outcomes in children aged 4 to 6. Importantly, the DIMS TED design maintains the safety profile of the previous generation of lenses, giving parents full confidence to have their children wear them to control myopia and protect eye health.” Mr George KWAN, Managing Director of HOYA Lens Hong Kong Limited, said, “At HOYA Vision Care, we have always been dedicated to advancing evidence-based myopia management solutions. We are delighted to continue driving innovation and achieving breakthroughs through collaboration with PolyU. Since the launch of MiYOSMART in 2018, its patent-protected DIMS technology has earned strong market trust. It is available in over 50 countries worldwide, with more than four million parents choosing it for their children. Our mission is to improve life through vision while continually raising the standard of myopia control. The new generation MiYOSMART iQ featuring DIMS TED offers a more effective, non-invasive solution to help children manage myopia progression. It also enables parents to intervene at an earlier stage, reducing the risk of their children developing high myopia and the associated sight-threatening eye diseases in later life.” Since our collaboration started in 2012, PolyU and HOYA have jointly developed the patent-protected DIMS Technology and launched the first generation of DIMS lenses in 2018, achieving very significant success in myopia control. To further advance this non-invasive technology, the two parties incorporated the Triple-Enhanced Design, leading to the birth of the new DIMS TED lenses. Looking ahead, PolyU and HOYA Vision Care will continue to strengthen their industry-research-academia collaboration and further advance myopia control technologies. Together, we aim to create a clearer future for the next generation and empower children to enjoy better vision and brighter opportunities in life. A parent of a child participant in the clinical study was satisfied with the results, as her child experienced no myopia progression after wearing DIMS TED lenses. ***END***

PolyU scholar wins HUAWEI Spark Award, highlighting University’s strengths in research translation and industry collaboration

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has once again gained international recognition from top-tier global technology enterprise for its research and innovation excellence. Prof. Minchen Tommy WEI, Associate Head of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and Director of the PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre (QHRC), was recently honoured with the prestigious HUAWEI Spark Award in recognition of his team’s innovative solution to a major industrial technology challenge and its successful translation of cutting-edge research findings into real-world industrial applications. Prof. Wei is the second PolyU scholar to receive this honour, and notably, the only scholar from a Hong Kong tertiary institution to be awarded over the past two years. Previously in 2023, Prof. WANG Zuankai, PolyU Associate Vice President (Research) and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, received the same honour for his innovative solution on transparent and wear-resistant super-sparse surfaces. These consecutive accolades underscore PolyU’s world-class capabilities in driving research translation, as well as its achievements in knowledge transfer and industry-academia-research collaboration as recognised by a global technology leader. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended his warm congratulations to Prof. Wei. He stated, “Prof. Wei’s HUAWEI Spark Award once again demonstrates PolyU’s strategic commitment to innovative research and market application. The University remains dedicated to fostering deep integration between academic and industry, and driving innovative venture through cross-border collaboration. Through a robust knowledge transfer framework and innovation ecosystem, we will continue to accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes to create value for industry upgrading and social development.” Established by HUAWEI in 2021, the Spark Award focuses on fundamental research in areas including information and communications technology, materials science and mathematical algorithms. Under the initiative, Huawei identifies industrial challenges with significant commercial and scientific value and invites universities worldwide to develop original solutions, recognising researchers whose innovations advance both science and industry. Prof. Wei and his team have long dedicated on the underlying mechanisms of the human visual system, translating research findings into innovative solutions for full-link multimedia systems ranging from camera capture to screen display. Addressing a major bottleneck in display colour calibration for this year’s HUAWEI challenge, the team leveraged visual science research to deliver a breakthrough engineering solution. This innovation significantly enhances the colour calibration accuracy and user experience of product displays. The technology has already been deployed, making a tangible contribution to the advancement of display technology worldwide. To further accelerate research translation, Prof. Wei co-founded the start-up Guardian Glow Limited, which specialised in developing artificial intelligence-powered personal health-monitoring devices, as well as key technologies for extended reality (XR) devices. The start-up has now established its presence at the QHRC. Prof. Christopher Chao added, “The successful transformation of Prof. Wei’s pioneering research into high-end technology products demonstrates the pivotal bridging role played by QHRC. The Centre serves not only as an important gateway for connecting PolyU’s research with Mainland industrial chains, but also stands as a core platform for our commercialisation strategy, helping laboratory innovations seamlessly enter the market.” This achievement also highlights PolyU’s broader commitment to enhancing research impact and expanding its comprehensive knowledge transfer network. To date, the University has established 12 Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) in cities across the Chinese Mainland, precisely aligning PolyU’s research strengths with local industrial development and societal needs. Prof. Christopher Chao stated, “PolyU has established a nationwide network for research translation, anchored by five major innovative platforms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area — Qianhai, Futian, Nanshan, Huizhou and Zhongshan — alongside other innovation platforms across the country. These initiatives consistently provide scientific backing for local economic growth and industrial upgrade, levering the power of innovation to serve national development.” While continuing strengthening its footprint in the Chinese Mainland, PolyU is also actively expanding its global innovation network. The University will continue to strengthen its knowledge transfer strategy by establishing innovation and entrepreneurship hubs both locally and overseas. By leveraging the distinct advantages of academia, research and industry, the University aims to drive market-oriented innovation, foster cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration, and contribute to global technological advancement and long-term sustainable societal development. ***END***

PolyU launches global alliance to help universities navigate the AI paradigm shift

While AI advancements are rapidly reshaping the learning landscape, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is taking the lead by initiating the International Consortium for Higher Education Transformation and Innovation with AI (ICHETI). Officially launched on 3 July, the strategic alliance of world-leading universities at the forefront of educational transformation and innovation is dedicated to jointly drive this unparalleled paradigm shift towards an AI-empowered, student-centred, and personalised model of learning and teaching. Founding members of the Consortium include 16 leading universities from around the globe, including Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Fudan University, PolyU, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Tongji University, Université Grenoble Alpes, University of Auckland, University of Pisa, University of Science and Technology of China, Vienna University of Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yonsei University, and Zhejiang University. PolyU’s Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) serves as ICHETI’s secretariat. The chairman and secretary-general will be elected in accordance with the charter, with the President and Vice President (Education) of PolyU serving as the inaugural Chairperson and Secretary-General. As the first organisation of its kind in the world, PolyU expects the ICHETI network to expand even further and play an active role in shaping the future of education. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, said, “At PolyU, we believe that integrating AI into higher education is not just about adopting new tools, but about fundamentally redefining the learning and teaching experience to cultivate future-ready leaders. The launch of PolyU Education 4.0 (E4.0) initiative last year marked a definitive step in education transformation through AI. By leading the establishment of the ICHETI, we are now extending the impact of this educational transformation initiative to the global stage. By sharing AI-driven pedagogies and cutting-edge tools, this global academic community will redefine the student experience and actively shape the future of higher education.” By combining the practices and experience of member universities, the Consortium intends to explore new ways of teaching, learning and assessment – such as co-developing AI-powered learning and assessment tools and platforms, adaptive learning systems, and evidence-based models for transforming the role of educators, from teachers into mentors and facilitators. PolyU has a history of pioneering AI education, having introduced mandatory AI courses for all undergraduates in 2022—well before generative AI tools captured global attention. Building on this foundation, the University launched its visionary E4.0 initiative to revolutionise learning and teaching through the integration of AI and smart technologies, placing students firmly at the core of their educational journey. By leveraging these advanced technologies, PolyU aims to deliver a highly personalised, interactive, and flexible education that caters to individual learning needs, ultimately ensuring that graduates are equipped with essential, future-ready skills to thrive in an AI-driven world. Held concurrently on the same day was the International Forum for Higher Education Transformation and Innovation hosted by IHERD, featuring a series of presidential roundtable discussions and keynote speeches. Presidents and senior leadership from member institutions gathered to share strategic visions on the evolving future of higher education. The discussions focused heavily on the transformative impact of integrating smart technologies into academic frameworks, while providing a platform for leaders to exchange institutional best practices and innovative educational models. ***END***

PolyU develops Hong Kong’s first AI agent and risk prediction model for precision diabetes management, with patient recruitment in New Territories West starting in early July

A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed Hong Kong’s first “AI Agent for Precision Diabetes Management – PIPE-AI” (AI Agent), designed specifically for Asian populations, together with a related disease risk prediction model. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and large-scale local electronic health data, the system can more accurately predict the risk of deterioration of complications such as chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years, enabling healthcare professionals and patients to intervene early and improve disease management. The research findings have been published in the leading international journal npj Digital Medicine. To promote the technology’s wider application in the community, the PolyU research team has partnered with the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare of the Hospital Authority’s New Territories West Cluster, as well as the Yuen Long District Health Centre, to recruit patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in New Territories West from early July to participate in a clinical study of the AI Agent system. Participants will experience personalised risk assessment and health management recommendations firsthand. The study is funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund. Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common and serious complications of type 2 diabetes. As its early symptoms are often not obvious, it is commonly referred to as a “silent killer”. Without early detection and treatment, the condition may progress to uraemia, requiring long-term dialysis or even kidney transplantation. According to local data, the prevalence of diabetes among people aged 65 to 84 is as high as 19%. Diabetes and its complications not only affect patients’ quality of life but also place a heavy burden on families and the public healthcare system. At present, many chronic kidney disease risk prediction models have been developed primarily based on Western population data and may not be fully applicable to Asian populations. A multidisciplinary team led by Prof. YANG Lin, Professor of the School of Nursing at PolyU, used 17 years of electronic health records from the Hospital Authority Data Collaboration Laboratory, covering more than 560,000 diabetes patients, to develop an AI prediction model that is more suitable for Asian populations and which achieves an accuracy rate of 87.1%. The model can analyse patients’ health data and estimate their future risk of developing diabetic complications such as kidney disease, helping healthcare professionals make earlier clinical judgements and arrange follow-up care. In addition to the risk prediction model, the research team has also developed an AI Agent as a “clinical interface” to address the challenge of translating data into concrete action. Focusing on diabetes and complication management, the AI Agent can convert complex medical information into language that is easier for patients to understand, helping them better grasp their health conditions while improving communication between patients and healthcare professionals. The system can be applied in four major scenarios: supporting family medicine and primary healthcare in preliminary screening and risk stratification; assisting specialist outpatient clinics in making more precise referrals for high-risk or complex cases; supporting district health centres in providing 24-hour health consultation services; and helping patients manage their own health, including through diet control, exercise, timely medication adherence and recording of health indicators. To ensure the safety of the system in clinical use, the research team has incorporated a nurse oversight mechanism. When the AI detects abnormal risk levels or important health alerts, the system will automatically notify a registered nurse for further review and follow-up, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of the system’s application. Prof. David SHUM, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Yeung Tsang Wing Yee and Tsang Wing Hing Professor in Neuropsychology, Chair Professor of Neuropsychology at PolyU, said, “Diabetes management is not only about treating a single disease, but is also closely related to the long-term allocation of healthcare resources and public health strategy. By translating advanced AI technology into a tool for clinical application, the PolyU research team has extended risk prediction capabilities, which were previously largely confined to hospitals, to primary healthcare and community services. This will help allocate healthcare resources more precisely and drive a shift in the healthcare model from ‘passive treatment’ to ‘proactive prevention’, which in the long run is expected to alleviate the healthcare burden posed by chronic diseases in Hong Kong.” Prof. Yang Lin said, “The patient recruitment programme in New Territories West, launched in early July, marks an important step in bringing smart healthcare into the community in a tangible way. Looking ahead, the team will further integrate imaging and wearable device data to enhance predictive accuracy and will promote the integration of the model into electronic health record systems and district health centre platforms. The initiative will also be expanded to cover other related chronic disease areas, such as the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, so that more members of the public can benefit.” ***END***