Media Releases

PolyU hosts Forum of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the Forum of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions on 7 July 2023 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the theme of “Jointly Building the Belt and Road”, the Forum was organised by PolyU’s Global Engagement Office, which brought together 18 scholars from the founding institutions of seven Belt and Road academic alliances to share insights on fostering talent development, knowledge transfer and research development for sustainable advancement of the Belt and Road countries. The alliances include the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR), Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities (ASRTU), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Consortium of Universities, University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (UCMSR), Alliance of International Science Organisations in the Belt and Road Region (ANSO), ASEAN-China Network for Cooperation and Exchanges among Engineering and Technology Universities (ACNET-EngTech), and BRICS Universities League (BUL). In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU, said, “By leveraging our strong presence in the Mainland, and our expertise and strengths in education, research and knowledge transfer, PolyU has been playing an instrumental role in supporting the country’s Belt and Road Initiative to bring about positive changes in the region. Through this forum, we aim to exchange ideas and experiences with representatives from those academic alliances, in order to unlock opportunities for academic and research collaborations with Belt and Road universities.” Prof. Geoffrey Q.P. SHEN, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Chairman of PolyU’s Sub-Committee on Belt and Road Development, said, “PolyU is dedicated to advancing student exchange and academic collaboration with Belt and Road countries. We have co-founded and joined various Belt and Road alliances and are working closely with our partners on initiatives such as cultural exchange, mobility for students and faculty, professional training, and related services. We aim to further strengthen our collaboration with the Belt and Road alliances and their member institutions and contribute to the prosperous development of the Belt and Road.” The speakers included: Prof. XI Guang, Member of the University Council and Vice President at Xi’an Jiaotong University (Founding Institution and President of UASR); Prof. ZHEN Liang, Member of the University Council and Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology (Founding Institution and President of ASRTU); Prof. FANG Ying, Vice President at Xiamen University (Founding Institution and President of UCMSR); Prof. CAO Jinghua, Executive Director of the Secretariat Office of ANSO; Associate Prof. ZHANG Jiegen, Director of the Pakistan Study Centre at Fudan University (Founding Institution and President of CPEC Consortium of Universities); Prof. SHEN Yi, Director of Centre for BRICS Studies at Fudan University (Founding Institution and President of BUL); and Prof. SU Rongxin, Deputy Dean of School of Marine Science and Technology at Tianjin University (Founding Institution and President of ACNET-EngTech). During the Forum, participants shared their experience and best practice on regional academic exchanges and research collaboration to advance the Belt and Road development. Additionally, discussions were held on the future development of alliances, industry-academia-research collaboration, and cooperation between universities and alliances. The participating institutions have released the “Joint Consensus of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions Forum,” committing to collectively work towards the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. The full text of the Consensus is available here (Chinese version only). PolyU has built robust partnerships with tertiary and research institutions worldwide to advance its education, research and knowledge transfer impact around the globe. Actively strengthening its international networks to support the Belt and Road Initiative, PolyU is not only the Co-founder and Vice-President of UASR, but also a member of ASRTU, CPEC Consortium of Universities, UCMSR, and ACNET-EngTech.   ***END***

PolyU’s latest publication, Comprehensive Exercise Guide for All, promotes the right way of exercising

Established recently by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the PolyU Press has published a new title entitled Comprehensive Exercise Guide for All with the aim of promoting basic knowledge about exercising and providing appropriate exercise suggestions for people of different health needs The publication of the book was sponsored by Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund, and was co-edited by Prof. Amy FU, Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management, Associate Head and Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, and Prof. Gabriel NG, former Chair Professor and Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU. Many experts from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences also contributed articles to the book. The book launch was attended by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU; Dr Katherine NGAN, Court Chairman of PolyU; Ms Jasmie MONG, Senior Manager of Shun Hing Group; Mr Justin MONG, Executive Assistant of Shun Hing Group; together with PolyU’s Council and Court members, Foundation members, elite student-athletes, as well as other guests. At the book launch, Prof. Amy Fu and one of the contributors of the book, Dr Shirley NGAI, Associate Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, along with YIP Tak-long, an elite student-athlete of PolyU, exchanged ideas with attendees, sharing common knowledge about exercising and “why” and “how” to exercise for chronic low back pain and enhancements on cardiopulmonary functions. In her address, Dr Miranda Lou said, “The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has been designing exercise solutions with targeted curative effects based on their professional knowledge in the fields of both medical and sports science. For many years, PolyU has been highly supportive of sports development, encouraging students to unleash their talents in sports while supporting sports science. The Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) was founded under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of sports, with the goal of strengthening our research capacity in sports.” Prof. Amy Fu said, “We sincerely hope this book can help readers understand how to improve personal health and raise exercise performance through appropriate exercise training and changes in personal habits. We also hope to transfer and popularise the research efforts of the University, promoting ‘target-oriented’ exercises to improve public health.” The main aim of establishing the PolyU Press is to motivate more PolyU scholars to share their teaching and research efforts, thereby contributing to wider society.   ***END***

Global Competition PolyHack 2023 Concludes with Outstanding Innovations and Collaboration

PolyHack 2023, a global student-led hackathon and ideathon competition jointly organised by PolyHack, Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), successfully concluded on 24 June. The 2-week competition brought together more than 700 talented individuals from over 80 regions, fostering innovation, collaboration, and technological advancements on an international scale. The competition served as a platform for talented individuals to harness their creativity and technical prowess, focusing on the domains of artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (FinTech), smart city, and Internet of things (IoT). PolyHack is a competition initiated and organised by a group of PolyU students in 2022. Organised as a hybrid event, participants can choose to join online or physically in Hong Kong. PolyHack invites all students, regardless of major and discipline, to join the event individually or form a team with complementary skills to create a well-rounded project. The event features an inspiring series of talks by industry leaders, where esteemed professionals shared their insights on emerging tech trends and opportunities. Workshops and mentorship sessions further enriched the participants' knowledge and skillsets, equipping them with the necessary tools to tackle complex challenges and refine their project concepts. Mr JaeYoun KIM, Lead, PolyHack 2023, said, “PolyHack is made for the students by the students. With the experience of joining different competitions, we wanted to create a rewarding and playful journey for our global student community, fostering true collaboration, networking, and inclusivity. This will not be possible without the support of PolyU KTEO and HKSTP. Not to mention the generous sponsorship from our diamond sponsors Chinachem Group and Huawei, platinum sponsors Deloitte Digital and ServiceNow, and silver sponsor RS Grassroots. We are excited for all the innovation seen in this competition, and we look forward to being back with a bigger and better PolyHack 2024 with the support from our sponsors and partners next year.” Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), PolyU, said, “PolyU takes great pride in fostering an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship, innovation, and research from students to graduates, alumni, teachers, researchers, and our staff members. PolyHack is a very good example. It has brought together bright minds from high schools and universities worldwide, focusing on three vital domains this year – artificial intelligence, financial technology, and smart city. These themes embody the important elements of our rapidly evolving world, where innovation is the key to addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As we witness the remarkable ideas and projects that have emerged from PolyHack 2023, I am filled with hope and excitement to the future. Our young innovators embraced the spirit of enquiry, collaboration, and critical thinking. They have harnessed their diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives to propose solutions that have potential to shape the world we live in, to make an impact on our world and society.” Mr Raymond CHU, Associate Director of University Collaborations, HKSTP, said, “HKSTP endeavours to catalyse the growth of local technology start-ups and support universities at the upper stream of the innovation and technology ecosystem value chain to transfer technology and translate academic research into commercialised products. We congratulate all the winners and participants of PolyHack 2023, which aims to foster a new generation of talents with cross-disciplinary expertise, and from over 80 regions. These young and aspiring innovators hold the future in their hands and we're excited to see how they will chart society's progress and power new growth for Hong Kong and other cities worldwide.” The competition follows a three-phase competition structure, namely Qualifiers, Ideation & Implementation, and Final Pitching. To qualify, participants must complete at least one of the Capture The Flags-like puzzles and challenges. In the main competition, individuals or teams are asked to submit their project proposals that tackle the problem statement of the chosen domain. Through a rigorous evaluation process, a select group of participants are then advanced to the Implementation Phase, where a technical prototype is submitted. For finalists, they are required to pitch and showcase the solutions developed during the competition. The judging panel, comprised of experts from industry and academia, evaluated the projects according to the triple-line judging system, encompassing technical excellence, business viability, and innovation. The winners of PolyHack 2023 were selected based on their exceptional performance and groundbreaking solutions. The distinguished winners of PolyHack 2023 are as follows: First Place: ALGA Second Place: Birru Third Place: GoPark Special recognition was also given to outstanding teams and individuals in specific categories: Best AI Award: ALGA Best Fintech Award: FlexiChange Best IoT Award: Birru Entrepreneurship Award: Aquila Best Deloitte Digital Award: ALGA Best ServiceNow Award: Tech Dragon Best Chinachem Group Award: Visionerse Best Huawei Award: The Great Wave in Kanagawa Best GIS Award: GoPark, Eastern Spice, JoePickTeam, hellowhat Top Qualifiers Phase Award: Yijun Gu The Merit Awards were presented to the following teams for their commendable contributions, in alphabetical order: Banh Giò BreathEZ Crusaders Curltai CyberHealthy DeezNuclearLamas Demiurges Dev Beans FUN Lone warrior MKPA nameless RiseUpSquad SEntralians Sleepless Unhackable Utshob PolyHack, PolyU, and HKSTP extend their appreciation to all participants for their remarkable efforts and contributions. The organisers would also like to acknowledge the support of various stakeholders who played a crucial role in making PolyHack 2023 a resounding success. For more information, please visit the PolyHack website (PolyHack2023.com). About PolyHack Driven by a shared passion for innovation and a commitment to fostering a dynamic learning environment, the PolyHack committee stands at the forefront of organizing the remarkable PolyHack event. Led by JaeYoun Kim (Lead), Romeo Ng (External Vice-Lead), Sollal Fouilland (Internal Vice-Lead), and Matthew Kong (Technical Vice-Lead), the committee is comprised of a diverse group of talented students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University with majors in computer science, mechanical engineering, business, and design. With a collective vision to inspire creativity, collaboration, diversity, and technological advancement, we work tirelessly to curate an unparalleled experience for participants. As avid problem solvers and forward-thinkers ourselves, we understand the aspirations and challenges faced by fellow students, ensuring that every aspect of PolyHack is meticulously crafted to provide an empowering platform for innovation, networking, and personal growth. Together, we strive to create an atmosphere where budding talents can unleash their full potential and shape the future of technology. About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU’s technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for over 20 years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that supported over 10 unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with nearly 13,000 research professionals and over 1,300 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies. Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth in Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry. Through our infrastructure, services, expertise and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s international I&T hub status as a launchpad for global growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.   ***END***

PolyU, Tsinghua University and the University of Macau organise tripartite exchange programme to promote Chinese culture

The Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), established on 17 January this year, successfully held its inaugural event from 26 to 30 June. The Research Centre jointly organised an academic and cultural exchange programme with Tsinghua University and the University of Macau, enabling students from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau to engage in Chinese historical and cultural exchange. The exchange programme provided an important platform for students to explore modern Chinese history, new perspectives on traditional Chinese culture, and deepen professional learning in the context of national development. PolyU was honoured to receive strong support from Tsinghua University’s Rixin College and Faculty of Humanities, and the University of Macau’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Approximately 70 teachers and students from the three universities gathered in Hong Kong to participate in the five-day exchange programme. In addition to lectures, participating students were tasked with writing a 3,000- to 5,000-word paper on one of three topics: 1) Modern China and the World; 2) Modern China: Thought, Culture and History; or 3) New Interpretations of Traditional China. Students then presented their papers for discussion with instructors and peers. The Research Centre arranged excursions for teachers and students to cultural sites including the Sheung Wan Heritage Trail, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong Palace Museum, Tai Kwun and The Peak. These visits provided first-hand experience of Hong Kong’s modern historical and cultural developments.   Dr Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (4th from left) and Mr Kenneth Ng King-tsun, General Manager, Communications and Public Affairs of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (1st from left) introduced the Hong Kong Palace Museum and cultural facilities of the West Kowloon Cultural District to participants.   Dr LAM Tai-fai, Chairman of PolyU’s Council and Advisory Committee Chairman of The Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture, said, “The Research Centre is committed to enhancing young people’s interest in Chinese culture and their awareness of national identity. Through this exchange programme and other upcoming activities, we hope participating students will gain a deeper understanding of China, build national pride, and contribute to the Nation’s development.” He added, “Moving forward, the Research Centre will continue establishing close partnerships with Tsinghua University and the University of Macau for cooperation in education, research, and innovation. This includes co-hosting high-level academic symposia, developing Chinese history learning materials, and providing teacher training - all with the aim of promoting Chinese culture together.”   PolyU held the Opening Ceremony of the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture on 17 January 2023. The ceremony was officiated by Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (3rd from left), and Mr Zhang Guoyi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (3rd from right). They were joined by Dr Lam Tai-fai (2nd from left), Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (2nd from right), Prof. Wing-tak Wong (1st from left), and Prof. Li Ping (1st from right).   The Research Centre signed an MoU with the Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University on 17 January 2023. Mr Kevin Yeung (rear, 3rd from left), Mr Zhang Guoyi (rear, 4th from left), and leaders of PolyU and Tsinghua University witnessed the signing by Prof. Li Ping (left, seated) and Prof. Zhong Weimin, Chairman of the Department of History, Tsinghua University (right, seated). PolyU witnesses (rear): Dr Lam Tai-fai (2nd from left), Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (5th from left), Prof. Wing-tak Wong (1st from left), Executive Vice President Dr Miranda Lou (6th from left). Tsinghua University witnesses (rear): Prof. Peng Gang, Vice President (3rd from right); Prof. NI Yuping, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities (4th from right), and the Department of History’s Prof. A Feng (2nd from right), Dr Gu Tao (5th from right), Dr Sun Zhengjun (1st from right), and Dr Huang Zhengping (6th from right). *** END ***

PolyU organises the Asian Universities Water Polo Invitational Tournament with six participating teams from the Mainland, Japan and South Korea

The Asian Universities Water Polo Invitational Tournament, organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and sponsored by the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund, kicked off today. Six participating teams from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan and South Korea will compete for the championship in the four-day competition, strengthening the bonds between universities in Asia as well as promoting water polo and sportsmanship in the region. The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU and Mr Justin MONG of the Shun Hing Group and the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund. At the opening ceremony, Prof. Ben Young expressed his gratitude to all parties for their staunch support for the tournament, “It is our privilege to host the Asian Universities Water Polo Invitational Tournament, which provides a wonderful opportunity to foster the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship among our young people. PolyU has been promoting a vibrant sporting culture on our campus for many years. The Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme which was established in 1998 has admitted over 1,500 elite athletes to various full-time undergraduate programmes. In addition, we offer the Elite Athletes Study Programme in partnership with the Hong Kong Sports Institute and participate in the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme to further support young athletes in achieving both academic and sporting excellence.” In addition to the PolyU Water Polo Team, other teams in the tournament include Juntendo University and Niigata Sangyo University from Japan, Korea National Sport University from South Korea, South China Agricultural University from Mainland China, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The six teams will play a preliminary round-robin in two groups from today to 6 July. The Gold Medal Match will be played between the top team of each group at PolyU’s Michael Clinton Swimming Pool on 8 July. Individual awards for Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player will be presented to players with outstanding performance, while scholarships will be awarded to all participating teams. The public is welcome to attend the Gold Medal Match. Please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/counselling-and-wellness-section/polyu-asian-universities-water-polo-invitational-tournament/ for further information.   ***END***

PolyU Innovation and Technology Forum addresses barriers for Hong Kong start-ups and investment

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) concluded its fourth Innovation and Technology Forum Series with the theme of “Breaking Barriers for Hong Kong’s Start-ups and Investment”, gathering leaders and stakeholders from the I&T ecosystem, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to contribute ideas in-person and online about how to support the growth of start-ups and research commercialisation. Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU, said, “To propel the growth of start-ups in Hong Kong, a supportive environment, facilitating policies and strong incentives are essential for attracting talents to commercialise their research and innovations. Through different initiatives, PolyU has nurtured more than 480 startups, including more than 50 academic-led initiatives, 4 unicorns and quite a number of ponies. Our first-in-Asia ‘GBA Start-up Postdoc Programme’ is progressing well in nurturing technopreneurs.” At the Forum, Mr Hendrick SIN, Co-founder and the Vice Chairman of CMGE and Founding and Managing Partner of China Prosperity Fund; Mr Chris SHUM, Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Asiabots Limited; Dr Abraham LAM, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MEGA Automation Limited; and Mr Hugh CHOW, Executive Director of The ESG Consortium delivered keynote presentations covering topics on how start-ups secure early-stage funding, the significance of incorporating environment, social, governance (ESG) elements into business development strategies, leveraging opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to scale up businesses and how policies can boost entrepreneurial spirit. They also exchanged ideas with participants during the panel discussion. Policy recommendations proposed at the Forum include: shortening funding application time, expanding the scope of funding support, increasing funding flexibility, establishing a quality assessment mechanism for investors and increasing adoption of new local technologies. Start-ups are advised not to solely focus on funding, but to also identify the right investors and industry, and understand that business development prospects and market situation can help with financing. Seeking partnerships and strategic alliances to gain resources and knowledge, and to build a sustainable business model from the start are essential to long-term success. For start-ups looking to tap into the GBA market, seeking support from the Qianhai government for affordable incubation space and resources is also recommended. The Forum was co-organised by PolyU’s Department of Applied Social Sciences and the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office, and supported by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited. 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 Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, PReCIT’s primary areas of research include carbon-neutral cities, Greater Bay Area I&T development and the Belt and Road Initiative development in Southeast Asia. For more information about PReCIT, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/.   ***END***

PolyU holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony on campus to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR). PolyU’s Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai, President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence LI Kwok-chang, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, President Emeritus Prof. POON Chung-kwong, Honorary Court Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG Chi-ping, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, University Fellows, and around 600 distinguished guests, staff, students and alumni attended the ceremony, wishing the Nation and Hong Kong prosperity and stability. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai remarked, “Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong possesses the distinctive advantages of strong support from the Motherland and close connection to the world for the past 26 years. With the staunch support of the central government and the leadership of the HKSAR government, Hong Kong has achieved the transition from chaos to order and embarked on a new journey from stability to prosperity. By leveraging its research excellence and edge in nurturing talents, PolyU will fully support Hong Kong’s integration into national development while aligning with our country’s key national development strategies and seizing the corresponding opportunities. PolyU shall also spare no effort in cultivating leading professionals with a strong affection for Hong Kong, who will capitalise on their strengths for the betterment of the Nation and Hong Kong” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “This year marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, Hong Kong has been proactively participating in the high-quality development of the Nation, leading us to a promising future. PolyU aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, and provides the best holistic education to nurture ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who possess a strong sense of national identity. We will continute to forge partnerships with universities, research institutions, governments at various levels and enterprises in the Mainland, and connect our research capability to the needs of local industries to support the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub while contributing to the Nation’s technological advancement.”   ***END***

Rising Hong Kong Fashion Talent Wows Audience at PolyU Fashion Show 2023; Uniting Top Industry Players to Bring Revitalizing New Force to the Fashion Industry

Hong Kong fashion is in full bloom again! At the highly anticipated PolyU Fashion Show held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 28 June 2023, 30 talented students wowed the audience during the catwalk show and dazzled the judges, industry experts and local fashionistas with their innovative and unique concepts of contemporary fashion and creative designs. Organised by the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Show clearly demonstrated the emerging new power of local fashion. From casual outfits to evening wear, activewear and lingerie, the graduating students from the University’s flagship programme, the BA (Hons) Scheme in Fashion and Textiles, displayed masterpieces of design on the runway. Hosted by Ms Rabeea Yeung, the Show attracted an audience of over 1,400 with many distinguished guests including renowned local designers Ms Vivienne Tam and Mr Manix Wong, as well as Ms Lilian Kan and Ms Mary Yu, who are also alumni of the School; while a global audience of nearly 40,000 also watched the show online through YouTube, Wechat and Weibo live stream. As a world-class fashion and textiles education institution, SFT is dedicated to providing a vibrant creative community to foster students’ development as independent designers, thinkers, leaders and entrepreneurs. Supported by a variety of industry partners and sponsors, the Show engaged students with key industry players from across the fashion and technology sectors, helping them stay abreast of current industry trends and further their careers. Eight awards and scholarships were presented at the Show in recognition of outstanding work and to encourage the talented students to pursue their dreams in fashion while embracing their fruitful academic journey at SFT. The judging panel for the Overall Grand Award, sponsored by the Nameson Group, comprised leading fashion designers and industry professionals, including Mr Benny Wong, Chairman of Nameson Group and Ms Janet Cheung, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association. Three outstanding alumni, fashion practitioners with remarkable achievements in their respective fields, were also invited to join the panel for the selection of the overall winner. They included Mr Derek Chan (M.Phil / 2016), who was a finalist in the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designer’s Competition 2012 (YDC) and is currently the Design Director and Co-founder of DEMO, a fashion label that reimagines traditional masculinity in contemporary and gender-neutral designs. In addition to nominated as one of the nine emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) designers by HYPEBEAST, Derek was also being selected by Hong Kong Fashion Council as Designer of the Year (Menswear) in 2016 as well as bagged the Collection of the Year award in 2019, and one of the 10 Asian Designers to Watch Awards from Fashion Asia in 2019 and 2020. Mr Daniel Cheung (BA / 2016) is now a celebrity stylist and Fashion Director of Madame Figaro Hong Kong, a reputed French fashion magazine. With his creativity, knowledge and great eye for recognising trends, Daniel has been invited to style numerous magazine covers and frequently works as a consultant with various fashion brands. Last but not least, Mr Wilson Yip (BA / 2015) is a local designer and founder of Wilsonkaki, a fashion brand that draws inspiration from daily life experiences for its innovative concepts. Wilson’s accolades include being chosen as one of the 10 Asian Designers to Watch 2021, being awarded the Champion and Best Footwear Design Award at YDC 2019, as well as the Manish Arora Award at the 14th International Arts of Fashion Competition in San Francisco, CA. Other members of the judging panel for the various awards and scholarships were (in alphabetical order): Ms Janet Cheung, Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association Ms Ale Lau, Chief Designer, Yintak Intex Company Limited Mr Hanks Lee, Director, Corporate Communications & Watsons Brand Marketing, A.S. Watson Group Ms Karen Ng, Secretary, Hong Kong Intimate Apparel Industries' Association Ms Cintia Nunes, General Manager - Head of The Mills Fabrica Asia Ms Brenda Yang, Technical Manager, Flinders Merino Group & The Woolmark Company Ms Dilys Yiu, Director, Fenix Group Holdings Limited The winner of the Overall Grand Award sponsored by Nameson Group was Hana Li with her outstanding work themed “Gentle Transitions: Impressions of Nature ‘s Fleeting Embrace”. She created the collection with a patchwork of different fabrics. The HKIAIA Overall Grand Award winner, sponsored by the Hong Kong Intimate Apparel Industries' Association, was Wingo Chong, with her work created under the theme “Art Tour”. Inspired by how historical European artworks portrayed female bodies with full and round figures, Wingo adds elements of traditional European paintings and exhibition halls to her designs compared to how female bodies are criticised in contemporary society. Through her lingerie collection, she hopes to express the idea of embracing the body and that everyone should appreciate and respect different body shapes. Prof. Erin Cho, Dean of SFT said, “The annual PolyU fashion show is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of our wonderfully gifted students. It also provides an interactive platform for them to present their ideas to the world, be seen by industry professionals and gain inspiration for their careers. This year, we were particularly proud to see so many amazing designs on stage and the way the work defined new aesthetics and pushed the boundaries of what fashion is and what fashion can contribute to society beyond being just apparel.” Appendix: List of Awardees   ***END***

PolyU signs MoUs with leading Jinjiang-based enterprises to drive cooperation between Hong Kong and Fujian

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with several leading enterprises in Jinjiang city to strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation between the two cities. During a three-day visit to Hong Kong, a delegation led by Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, visited PolyU to have an in-depth exchange with the University’s senior management and researchers. The delegation included representatives from the Communist Party, and the Jinjiang Municipal Government including the Office of the Municipal Party Committee, United Front Work Department, Science and Technology Bureau and Commerce Bureau, as well as representatives from leading Jinjiang-based enterprises in the industries of textiles and clothing, sportswear and footwear, new materials, and microelectronics. On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the delegation paid a visit to the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centres are co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative. On 27 June, PolyU participated in the Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference-cum-Signing Ceremony. Witnessed by local and Mainland government officials including Mr ZHOU Zuyi, Fujian Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Fujian Province; Mr CHAN Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang City, inked a cooperation framework agreement to establish the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute in Jinjiang outlining the future development plan of the research institute. On June 28, during the last day of their visit, the delegation toured the PolyU campus and visited laboratories and research centres related to the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute. To take forward in-depth industry-academia-research collaboration, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, signed MoUs with representatives from three Jinjiang-based corporates, namely Mr YANG Jianxiang, Director of Research and Innovation of ANTA Group; Mr XU Jintai, Executive Director of SinceTech Group; and Mr SHI Junqiao, Executive President of Fujian Huaqing Electronic Material Technology Co., Ltd. The signing ceremony was 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 ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Communist Party Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang, Mr HUANG Tiankai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jinjiang Communist Party Committee and Head of the Jinjiang United Front Work Department; and Mr ZHANG Qingchang, Director of the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau. In his speech, Dr Lam Tai-fai stated, “With the staunch support of the Jinjiang Municipal Government, PolyU has signed MoUs with leading enterprises. We will collaborate deeply and effectively in various fields, such as new textile materials, fashion design, intelligent wearable systems and microelectronics. Through this collaboration, we hope to leverage the research strengths of Hong Kong and PolyU, further connect with enterprises in Mainland China, promote complementary advantages between Fujian and Hong Kong, and contribute to Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development." Mr Zhang Wenxian said, “The visit to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was an exciting experience. Jinjiang, the birthplace of the 'Jinjiang Experience', is a vibrant city that nurtures entrepreneurs. The city's shoe and apparel industry is valued at over 300 billion yuan, while its textile industry is worth over 100 billion yuan. Additionally, there are thriving building material and food industries worth over 50 billion yuan, alongside cutting-edge sectors such as new generation information technology, advanced equipment manufacturing, and medical and healthcare industries that are worth over 10 billion yuan. PolyU's strengths can be effectively integrated with Jinjiang's industrial development, and there is enormous potential for cooperation between the two parties. We aim to take this opportunity to expand the scope and level of cooperation between PolyU and Jinjiang. Jinjiang will provide full and sincere support for collaboration between the two parties, ensuring that our joint projects thrive and prosper, creating a new model of cooperation between the universities of Hong Kong and Mainland cities.” In the first half of 2023, PolyU and Jinjiang have engaged in various collaborations and exchanges. In February, PolyU and the Jinjiang Municipal People’s Government reached initial agreement and signed a cooperation framework agreement to drive the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute with the aim to strengthen research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations and foster development along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Meanwhile, PolyU’s PReCIT signed an agreement with the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to carry out research projects that leverage Hong Kong’s resources and strengths in innovation and technology in response to Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation needs. In April, PolyU was invited by the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to participate in the 24th Jinjiang Footwear and the 7th Sports Industry International Exhibition where the University showcased its latest research achievements, including bionic robotic hands, high-precision flexible pressure sensors and 3D printed insoles for diabetic patients. Lined up by Jinjiang City government, a PolyU delegation also paid visits to the major industries and institutions in Jinjiang to explore and discuss the potential collaborations. In mid-May, a PolyU delegation visited Jinjiang to discuss the implementation plan of the “PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute”. Subsequently, the relevant agreement was signed at an event held in the Quanzhou Nanyi National High-tech Zone in early June. The research institute will leverage PolyU’s research strengths and achievements to meet Jinjiang’s industrial needs and facilitate the city’s industrial transformation. Through such collaboration, PolyU expects to unleash the strengths of its researchers and innovative technologies. The University also aims to draw more quality Hong Kong-based innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and talents to engage in research exchanges in Jinjiang, so as to promote complementary advantages and synergistic development between Fujian and Hong Kong in order to establish a leading I&T base and achieve mutual benefits. Looking forward, PolyU will continue to strengthen collaboration with enterprises and maintain close connections with Mainland China to conduct impactful research and accelerate the commercialisation of research outputs. The University will strive to integrate into the country’s overall development and make contributions to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub.   On 26 June, Mr Zhang Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of Quanzhou Municipal Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang Committee (middle), led a delegation to visit the Centre for Eye and Vision Research at the Hong Kong Science Park. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.   On the first day of the visit on 26 June, the Jinjiang delegation visited the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design at the Hong Kong Science Park, gaining insights into PolyU’s interdisciplinary research, achievements in industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as its future development plans. The research centre is co-founded by the University and world-leading institutions under the InnoHK initiative.   *** END ***

PolyU welcomes the launch of the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education (FITE) launched by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and supported by the Quality Assurance Council (QAC). With a funding allocation of $100 million, FITE aims to provide an impetus for universities to promote innovation in teaching and learning. PolyU believes the Fund will help strengthen the overall experience and quality of teaching and learning, unleashing students’ potential and enhancing their digital competency. Technological development accelerates digital transformation in various industries. PolyU continues to reform its curriculum to promote innovation and technology development and the nurturing of interdisciplinary talents. Two programme elements, namely “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis” (AIDA) and “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” (IE), have been incorporated into the General University Requirements accordingly. Furthermore, PolyU has introduced new Master’s degree programmes, including blockchain technology, metaverse technology, artificial intelligence and big data computing etc., to better equip students for societal needs. Ranked the No.1 University in the “Best Universities for Blockchain 2022” list by CoinDesk, PolyU established the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology, the first research centre in Hong Kong that studies full-stack blockchain technology. PolyU has also partnered with Cybaverse to set up Hong Kong’s first research laboratory on law and Web3 to promote the development of the digital economy. To nurture the next generation of researchers and innovators, PolyU launched the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) and College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI). Under these initiatives, undergraduate students are given opportunities and funding to conduct individual or group scientific research projects under the guidance of University professors, further enhancing research competency among students and contributing to the advancement of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the Nation. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, said, “The UGC and QAC support the experimental and exploratory endeavours of universities in enhancing their teaching and learning. With FITE, PolyU hopes to advance the use of technology in teaching and learning. PolyU aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility and will continue its pursuit of excellence and impact through its education and research endeavours, while nurturing the next generation of leading talents.”   ***END***