Media Releases

PolyU engineering students win Gold at ASM Technology Award 2019

A team of students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won the Gold Award for its ingenious robot design at the ASM Technology Award 2019.  The annual event has been organised since 2015 to recognise excellence in technology, showcasing outstanding final year projects of undergraduates from top faculties and schools of engineering in Hong Kong. PolyU's trio - Roy CHOW Hung-ming; Ji-ho SHIN; and Rudra Ajay SOMESHWAR, under the supervision of Dr Henry CHU, Assistant Professor, and Dr Curtis NG, Technical Support Group Leader, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, presented their final year project titled "ASME Competition Robot Development & Vision Based Target Alignment" and was honoured with the Gold Award at the competition. This was the fifth time that PolyU participated in the event and the second time that a PolyU team won the championship. The project developed by the PolyU winning team was a semi-automated robot with a unique gripper design for garbage collection with the aid of vision-based alignment. The robot featured a motorised platform for navigating a compact environment, a micro-controller system for wireless communication and control, and a vision-based system for object detection and robot positioning. It was developed in two stages with design inspiration from studying real-life tools such as robotic arms, forklift and dump cart. Initially, the team planned to design a robot for the Student Design Competition organised by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), in which they were challenged to develop a fully functional prototype that can quickly and carefully pick up and return balls back to the starting area. The students then showed how their device could be transformed into an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) for garbage collection using advanced image processing techniques in the ASM Technology Award contest. "The students are eager to learn new knowledge and technology, and able to integrate them into the project to enhance the robot performance and functionality. They have developed new modules for the robot to demonstrate the potential of transforming it for use in real life," said Dr Chu. The other PolyU student project recognised this year was the "Motion Control and Positioning System for Holonomic Wheeled Mobile Robot" by Sammy SHUM Chu of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He was presented an Outstanding Award at the competition. The entries by PolyU students were among the ten final year projects that had been nominated by five universities in Hong Kong. In addition to PolyU, they included The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and The University of Hong Kong. Apart from the prizes and certificates of merit, winning teams of the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and their project supervisors will also be invited to attend an ASM Technology Tour to Europe in recognition of their outstanding performance.   *****END*****

Unique immersion programme teaches tertiary students about entrepreneurship and innovation in the Greater Bay Area

A 50-day entrepreneurship programme organised by the Greater Bay Area International Institute for Innovations (GBA I3) concluded successfully last week. In this first-of-its-kind immersion programme, 76 students from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas had the opportunity to widen their horizons in entrepreneurship and innovation, engage in cultural exchanges, share ideas and collaborate with one another. The students also participated in incubation and internship at start-ups in the region. Many felt that the knowledge they gained about the start-up ecosystem and market environment in the GBA will be helpful to them if they start a business in the region. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Start-up Internship • Immersion Programme, launched by the GBA I3, was jointly established by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Shenzhen University (SZU). Running from May to July, the programme hosted 17 PolyU students, 32 SZU students, and 27 students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

PolyU signs agreement with HKEIA to advance technology and talent development of Artificial Intelligence

The Faculty of Engineering (FENG) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a Statement of Intent today with the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) to collaborate in talent and application development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and to establish an AI Laboratory on PolyU's campus for supporting relevant research in Hong Kong. Sponsored by HKEIA, a leading AI supercomputer platform will be built and operated by PolyU to support and bridge the gap between business and research in AI as well as to provide training to PolyU students and HKEIA members. New research facility with the world's fastest AI supercomputer platform To achieve both parties' research objectives, HKEIA will support the establishment of an AI Laboratory at the FENG and donate HK$3 million for purchasing equipment, including NVIDIA® DGX-2™, which is among the fastest AI supercomputer platforms in the world. It is also the first of its kind to be installed in Hong Kong and Macau. Ir Prof. Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU, said, "PolyU strives to transfer impactful research into cutting-edge technologies and solutions for the benefit of industry and society. With the establishment of the AI Laboratory, we are confident to further contribute to the research development and application of AI in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area." At the AI Laboratory, PolyU researchers and students will work alongside members of HKEIA to conduct impactful research and help industry develop and deliver practical data-driven models and solutions.   Under the agreement, both parties will organise training in AI for HKEIA members, conduct research with industry stakeholders, encourage collaboration in AI between companies, and hold joint networking and briefing sessions during business missions. Addressing the signing ceremony, Dr NG Chi-ho, Chairman of HKEIA, said "With this collaboration between the industry and the academia, we hope to nurture more entrepreneurs, researchers and management professionals in the field of Artificial Intelligence for Hong Kong." One of the main priorities of the training programmes will be to equip industry professionals and engineers with AI-relevant skills. Joint webinars and seminars, workshops and other events will also be organised to explain AI-based technologies, products, services, and standards in the electronics industry and related sectors. The collaboration between PolyU and HKEIA will meet the fast-growing need for engineering talent and expertise in AI, a critical technology in Hong Kong's plans to promote re-industrialisation and the development of a smart city.   *****END****

PolyU garners Four Awards at Silicon Valley International Invention Festival

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) garnered four prizes with two outstanding innovations at theSilicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) 2019. Its Smart Indoor Farming System won aGrand Award and a Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury, while its Flexible Scoliotic Brace with Shape Memory Alloy Struts won a Gold Medal and a Special Merit Award, at SVIIF held in Santa Clara, California, the United States from 24 to 26 June. SVIIF attracted inventors from research institutions, academic bodies and business enterprises from about 30 countries/regions to showcase their inventions this year. It was also the first time that Hong Kong institutions participated in this global annual event. Well attended by multi-national companies, investors, entrepreneurs and financiers, SVIIF offers a platform for inventors, industries and businesses to explore opportunities for collaboration and commercialisation of innovations. The award-winning innovations of PolyU: (1) Smart Indoor Farming System Grand Award and Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury Principal Investigator: Dr LOO Ka-hong, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering Applying Artificial Intelligence-based and data-driven technologies, the system can generate photosynthetic-active-radiation lighting, watering and nutrient supply programmes which are optimised for the growth of individual plant types. The system adopts advanced sensing technologies to collect real-time data for the plant growth and environmental data from growth chambers and farms using the system. By comparing the data collected with the growth profiles of different plant types, optimal sets of growth control parameters can be constructed and fed back to the user's system. The system will then automatically supply the optimal tailor-made essentials, such as light, water, temperature, nutrients, to enhance the growth performance of individual plants.Study shows that the growth cycle of Italian lettuce has been shortened by about 50% with the support of this system. Water consumption can also be substantially reduced to only 5% of that in conventional farming. The system can be set up in urban buildings to provide sustainable and stable sources of edible plants, such as salad greens, potatoes, beets, herbs, etc. (2) Flexible Scoliotic Brace with Shape Memory Alloy Struts Gold Medal and Special Merit Award Principal Investigator: Dr Joanne YIP Yiu-wan, Institute of Textiles and Clothing The innovative brace, designed for adolescents with scoliosis, is made of shape memory alloy, artificial hinges and soft light-weight materials. The design can apply strategic corrective forces to the spine and offer adequate support to the user. Users are more willing to wear this Scoliotic Brace for a longer period because of its enhanced level of comfort and mobility, thus making it more effective in treating spinal deformity. SVIIF is hosted by International Federation of Inventors' Association (IFIA), supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Santa Clara City and the Santa Clara University, in collaboration with the US Patent and Trade Mark Office. For details, please visit the organiser's official website:https://www.sviif.com/.    (End)

PolyU stages MA in Fashion Textile Design Fashion Show 2019

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its dynamic MA Graduation Fashion Show "CHAOS" yesterday. Over 400 guests, including representatives from the fashion industry, family, friends, and supporters were in the audience. Fifteen outstanding talents from the programme of Master of Arts (MA) in Fashion and Textile Design under PolyU's Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) presented their design projects in the Show. Five awards, judged by a prestigious industry panel, and two sponsored awards were presented to the winners in the Show for their excellence in fashion design. (Please refer to the appendix for the full list of awardees.) The designcollections showcased the unusual ingenuity in today's fashion of the graduating students and disclosed their vision and foresight for the future fashion trend. Their masterpieces not only enhanced the vibrancy of the event that the audience waited with anticipation, but also served as a testament to the distinctive quality of PolyU's MA Programme in Fashion and Textile Design in nurturingtalents for the fashion industry in Hong Kong and beyond. Under the leadership of Professor of Practice Ms Basia Szkutnicka, the Programme is rapidly gaining in reputation as a flagship for innovative design training in the region. Talented and ambitious young creatives are guaranteed a year of challenging practice and coaching to produce extraordinary results. Ms Szkutnicka said, "We look to create future industry mavericks, innovators, radical practitioners, and free thinkers. Our aim is to review and shake a global fashion industry from within, collaborate, think in a new way and design for a better future, for all. We are starting by revitalising our base and fantastic city – Hong Kong, with positive energy and a dynamic vision for the future. Our graduates are the future and are now ready for the best jobs. Our manifesto is to be modern, be fearless, to look beyond and birth new ideas. We are the future."   *****END****

PolyU organises Hong Kong’s first competition on design-led technology for social good

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) organised, in collaboration with The Mills Fabrica,the Grand Finals of "Techstyle for Social Good International Competition 2019" in late June to promote a new design approach - techstyle (i.e. intersection of technology and style) - in Hong Kong. One of the winners was a graduating student of PolyU whose design targets to help enhance the quality of life of amputees. Sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the HKSAR Government, the Competition held its Grand Finals on 28 June 2019 at The Mills Fabrica. With a target to creating awareness and sparking ideas for better techstyle designs, the Competition attracted entries from students of leading institutions around the world including Central Saint Martins of the University of the Arts London, the Royal College of Arts, the Parsons School of Design, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University and PolyU, etc. Among the 12 finalists, Miss Wendy LAW, a graduating student from the School of Design of PolyU, won the Hong Kong Best Design Award in the Competition with her project titled "Aesthesis - The partial hand accessories for amputees". This finger amputee prosthetic is a 3D-printed decorative device made of both soft and hard materials. Compared with the existing products, it is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also lighter in weight and more breathable. It can help cover up the lost part while extending the residual finger to provide more finger functions, such as holding a mobile phone, to enhance users' quality of lives. Together with the other four winners, Miss Law would share prizes valued at over HK $680,000 in cash and kind sponsored by The Mills Fabrica. The other winners were: Techstyle Grand Prize – Cair Collective by Amy Yu Chen and Claudia Poh (USA) Sustainability Grand Prize – Heritage Craft Innovation by Christine Lew and Florian Wegenast (UK) Techstyle Special Prize – The Hands Free Mouse by Hunmin Koh (USA) Sustainability Special Prize – SEAM UNSEAM by Naila Al-Thani (UK)  (Please refer to the Appendix for detailed information about the winning projects.) Prof. FAN Jin-tu, Head and Chair Professor of Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC), PolyU, said, "I am proud that ITC organised such a meaningful event to nurture young designers locally and internationally by offering them a platform to exchange ideas through the Techstyle for Social Good International Competition. They and their future designs will certainly bring about positive impacts to the global community." The design journey has just begun for the award winners as they will have extensive post-competition support in terms of mentorships, residencies, as well as free work spaces and lab memberships at The Mills Fabrica. A series of networking opportunities will also be offered to the winners to exchange ideas with industry experts. "All innovations take time, and no journey of innovation is ever singular. We hope this competition marks the start of a sustainable and collaborative journey of innovation for young talents." said Vanessa Cheung, Founder of The Mills and Managing Director of Nan Fung Group. The judging panel, formed by ten distinguished industry experts and world-renowned design academics, was impressed by the participants' creative ideas and their sensitivity to social issues. The judges encouraged the finalists to continue exploring innovative techstyle designs for creating social impacts. Shortlisted design entries of the International Competition are being showcased at The Mills till 26 August 2019, along with other design exhibits from leading academics and cutting-edge designers, who are also the panel of speakers of the "Designing Future Techstyle" International Symposium. The exhibition will be staged at PolyU's Fashion Gallery from 27 August 2019 to 22 September 2019. The public is welcome to visit the exhibition for free. Details of the exhibition are available online: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/itc/dft2019/exhibition_introduction.html   *****END****

Professor Jin-Guang Teng assumes duty as the new PolyU President

The new President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, takes office today. Over the next couple of months, he aims to build connections with students, faculty, staff, and alumni through different engagement opportunities. He will also meet with different internal and external stakeholders to understand the dynamics and to communicate his thoughts and plans for the future development of the University. In his message to the staff members, students and alumni of PolyU, Prof. Teng said, "While it is a great honour that I assume the role of President of PolyU, I am also fully aware of the huge responsibilities and demanding expectations associated with the position."  He pledged to make every effort to fulfil PolyU's mission and to deliver the University's vision. Prof. Teng said, the role of education is to instill positive values in the next generation and equip them with professional competences to change the world for the better. PolyU aims to nurture professionals and leaders with a strong sense of social responsibility, innovative capability, critical thinking and effective communication skills. Over the years, PolyU's graduates have gone on to lead in a range of industries and professions, making contributions to the development of society. He pointed out that PolyU, ranked among the top 100 universities globally, is already a world leader in a significant number of disciplines; therefore, the University can further develop its other areas of strength so as to assume a world-leading position in those areas too. To make this happen, the University will proactively recruit top talents from around the globe and continue to enhance its research environment. The University will also strengthen interdisciplinary research collaborations and industry partnerships, particularly in emerging areas resulting from the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, so as to make greater contributions to the sustainable development of Hong Kong, the nation and the world.  PolyU's research outcomes will continue to create a positive impact in business, industry and the community as knowledge transfer is a core element of its mission. PolyU will seek to elevate the level of its global engagement and impact in the coming years. The University will leverage its extensive international network to not only advance academic exchanges, but also increase its students' understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and broader social issues for enhancing their international perspectives.   Closer to home, PolyU embraces the opportunities brought about by the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, serving not only the long-term interests of PolyU but also those of the GBA as a whole. Enhancing the role in the GBA will be one of the strategic focus areas of Prof. Teng in the coming few years. He will lead his team to work closely with other GBA cities to nurture talents, pursue research excellence and transfer knowledge. Prof. Teng started his long association with PolyU in 1994, the year when Hong Kong Polytechnic assumed full university status. Over the years, he has been in various capacities including educator, researcher, hall warden, and administrator."PolyU has provided me with a favorable and stimulating environment for my personal growth and career development over the past 25 years, and I hope that PolyU will provide our students and staff with an even better environment for development in the future." The PolyU Council announced in March 2019 the appointment of Prof. Teng as its new President with a five-year term of office from 1 July 2019. Prof. Teng received his BEng Degree from Zhejiang University in 1983. He then pursued further studies in Australia and the United Kingdom. He had served at James Cook University of North Queensland before joining PolyU. A well-accomplished and distinguished scholar in the field of structural engineering, Prof. Teng's publications have been widely cited by researchers around the world, and many of his research findings have been adopted by relevant design codes/guidelines in China, Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. He was elected in 2017 as Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is the highest academic title in the field of science and technology in China; Corresponding Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2015; and Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2013.   *****END****

PolyU holds Hong Kong’s first event on design-led technology for social good

The Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held today the "Designing Future Techstyle" International Symposium and "Techstyle for Social Good International Competition 2019" at The Mills. Endorsed by two world design academies, Royal College of Art in London and Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Symposium was packed with world-renowned speakers from cutting-edge international design brands, world-class luxury group and sportswear brands. This was the first-of-its-kind event to promote a new design approach - techstyle (i.e. intersection of technology and style) - in Hong Kong. In collaboration with The Mills Fabrica, the innovation arm of The Mills, and with the sponsorship of the Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Symposium aims at creating awareness of new design approaches to techstyle, and highlighting the industry's needs to work collaboratively across disciplines as technology and consumer demands evolve. The vision of the collaboration is to discover distinguished designs that integrate technology and modern style and explore "techstyle for social good" projects. Through this partnership, the hosting organisations also want to promote sustainability in techstyle industry, and to support the young entrepreneurs who aspire to develop in this area. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Hon. Felix CHUNG, Legislative Council Member; Ms Jersey YUEN, Assistant Head, CreateHK; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU; Ms Vanessa CHEUNG, Founder of The Mills and Managing Director of Nan Fung Development Ltd; and Prof. FAN Jin-tu, Head and Chair Professor, ITC, PolyU. Addressing at the ceremony, Dr Miranda LOU said, "Hong Kong, as a creative capital, strives to play a leading role in encouraging design-led technological innovations for social good. Fashion now concerns more than addressing apparels and wearables, but fostering change to fashion products and systems towards sustainability and a higher sense of social responsibility. Recognised as one of the region's best schools in textiles and clothing, PolyU will continue to be the hub for nurturing talents and cutting edge research in fashion, textiles and design in Hong Kong, and in the region." On behalf of CreateHK, Ms Jersey YUEN expressed her gratitude to the ITC for successfully organising the event to promote design-led technology for social good. Featuring keynote talks and a discussion forum with international renowned academics and experts in techstyle, the Symposium provided local creative communities, design students and the general public a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and get international, interdisciplinary design perspectives particularly for creating social impact. Prof. Naren BARFIELD, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost of Royal College of Art, stressed in his presentation the significant contribution of techstyle and talked about useful innovations that are impacting our lives. Ms Christianna WINCEK, Flyknit Innovation Material Design Director of Nike, shared her insights in the process of designing of sports shoes. Ms Francesca ROSELLA, Co-founder of CuteCircuit, discussed the synergy of design and technology, and the new dimensions for human experience. Well known for her viral colour-changing hair dye, Ms Lauren BOWKER, Founder of THEUNSEEN, presented newly-created, self-activating beauty products that change colour in response to heat, wind and UV light, and discussed their implications on natural beauty. The Project also included the "Techstyle for Social Good International Competition 2019" which awarded the winners with cash prizes, residencies at The Mills Fabrica and opportunities to further explore the potential of their projects. Prototypes of shortlisted participants were showcased at the venue to demonstrate their design-led technology innovations for social good. Further information is available on the internet (https://www.polyu.edu.hk/itc/dft2019/index.html). Group photo of the Officiating Guests, speakers of the Symposium, and adjudicators of the International Competition: (Front, from 4th from left) Ms Vanessa CHEUNG, Founder, The Mills and Managing Director, Nan Fung Development Ltd; Ms Jersey YUEN, Assistant Head, CreateHK; The Hon. Felix CHUNG, Member, the Legislative Council; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President, PolyU; Prof. Naren BARFIELD, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, Royal College of Art.   *****END****

PolyU wins two global innovation awards at TechConnect 2019

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won two "Global Innovation Awards" at TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2019 (TechConnect) staged in the United States. It is the third year in a row that PolyU research teams snatched the awards in the world's largest multi-sector event for fostering development and commercialisation of innovations.  The two PolyU winning innovations are: "New Antibiotic Drug Candidates" invented by Dr Cong MA, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, PolyU, and Dr Xiao YANG, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Using computer-aided approaches in drug discovery, the interdisciplinary research team discovered small molecules with high potential to be developed into novel antimicrobial agents fighting against the superbugs. Based on a new target, new chemical structure and new mechanism different from the existing antibiotics, these compounds demonstrated great effect of inhibiting bacterial growth, yet with no toxicity to human cells. They are now approaching the pre-clinical development stage. New antimicrobial resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally, threatening human health. These novel drug candidates could potentially be strong complements to the current antibiotics for treating infectious diseases.   "Seeded Sonochemical Coatings" by Dr Nuruzzaman NOOR, Research Assistant Professor, Institute of Textiles and Clothing, PolyU Currently known techniques for coating/incorporating inorganic metal oxide layers on fabrics require high temperature, low pressure and specialised gaseous environments. Output materials also often face leaching issues, which degrade the original function (e.g. UV protection etc.).The innovative seeded-sonochemical deposition method, however, utilises the small seeding layers to direct a more durable overcoating for inorganic metal oxide layer. Processed in room temperature environment, pure products can be developed at high quality in a cheaper, faster and more efficient manner. The research findings can be applied to different areas such as functional clothing and glazing. Ir Prof. Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU, said, "These awards not only recognise the efforts of our researchers in conducting impactful research, but also affirms PolyU's endeavours in developing and translating our technologies into practical applications with intrinsic value for the benefit of the global community." There are over 600 submissions at TechConnect each year, from global top tier universities and national laboratories such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sandia National Laboratories, Argonne National Laboratory and EPFL-LPAC etc. The Innovation Awards go to the top 15% technologies submitted. This year, 30 global awards were presented for non-US-federal-funded innovations across the world, while another 59 national awards were granted to innovations with US federal funding. The PolyU delegation showcased 21 technologies this year, two of them received global innovation awards at the event held in Boston on 17-19 June. Besides attending various exchange sessions, the delegation also explored product development and co-operation opportunities with industry end-users, multi-national companies and academic institutions for applying the innovations for the benefits of the world.      Over the years, the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo has connected top applied research and early-stage innovations from universities, laboratories, and start-ups with industry end-users and prospectors. More details are available from the official website of the event: https://www.techconnectworld.com/World2019/     *****END****

PolyU provides “Tanzania Leadership Programme” to nurture talents for Belt & Road region

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today launched a leadership programme for 100 Tanzania's young professionals from various sectors. The first batch of 30 Tanzanian young professionals will attend a one-week programme consisting of expert lectures, field visits in Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as knowledge sharing sessions, focusing on areas crucial for Tanzania's development, namely: green manufacturing, urban planning, information technology for international trade, tourism, and public health. The Tanzania Leadership Programme is organised by PolyU's Institute of Advanced Executive Education. PolyUlaunched the Belt and Road Cross-Professional Advancement Programme in January 2019, providing a platform for Hong Kong's professionals and Mainland enterprise leaders to exchange knowledge and share experience, as well as to network, explore market opportunities and develop multilateral collaborations. The University also aims to leverage its expertise to share best practices and experiences with the high-potential future leaders of other Belt and Road countries such as Tanzania. The opening ceremony of the Programme was officiated by Mr Mbelwa KAIRUKI, Ambassador of United Republic of Tanzania in People's Republic of China,and Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Lou said, "PolyU has been playing its role to nurture young talents for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since 2014. We have established a platform to leverage PolyU's expertise and international network for capacity building, and thereby fostering talent development, knowledge transfer and research development for the sustainable advancement of the Belt and Road countries. This Programme is another PolyU's initiative to offer cross-cultural youth leadership programmes to Tanzania future global leaders." She added that there were more than 700 students from the Belt and Road countries last year in PolyU, some of them were from Africa. Apart from academic programmes, PolyU also supports enterprises and professionals to embrace the opportunities arising from the BRI. Since 2014, the University has offered more than 390 consultancy services and executive training to organisations from Belt and Road countries. Tanzania, as one of Africa's fastest growing economies, has its strategic role in the BRI. Mr Kairuki, who flew in Hong Kong to attend the opening, said, "Our country needs such kind of youth with vigour and zeal to make a difference and transform it from where it is to a more prosperous nation. And that starts with learning new ideas and new ways and from new experiences. I saw a need for my country as well to invest in building the capacity of the young and upcoming leaders in various industries. I saw nowhere fit for this than Hong Kong and especially at the Institute of Advance Executive Education and the PolyU." Under the Programme, the 30 Tanzanian participants will conduct field trips related to the five focused areas of the Programme, such as visiting PolyU's innovative facilities, the City Gallery (displaying the vision for the city's planning projects), Shatin (one of the new towns in Hong Kong that exhibits a success case in town planning), textile upcycling factory (using innovative technologies to provide a solution for textile waste recycling), as well as Huawei Shenzhen Campus (showcasing the emerging tech of a smartphone giant). By the end of the Programme, the young professionals, from varied sectors ranging from telecommunications, information technology, marketing, social enterprise, manufacturing, sustainability, finance, tourism to public health, will also work on action plans for specific areas of development in Tanzania. The Programme will run in a series, each will cater for a cohort of 30 Tanzanian young professionals. PolyU's Institute of Advanced Executive Education is also planning to extend similar training to other Belt and Road countries.   *****END****