Tripartite collaboration between MTR Corporation, MTR Academy and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to focus on exploring railway technology application and solutions for intelligent maintenance

The MTR Corporation and MTR Academy (MTRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) today with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“PolyU”) on a three-year collaboration to establish a partnership to focus on exploring advanced and innovative railway technologies and facilitating smart railway asset and operations management, as well as intelligent maintenance.

Leveraging on the railway expertise of the Corporation and MTRA, together with the research competence of smart railway technologies of PolyU, the MoU sets out a framework for the parties to explore innovative solutions and technology applications with the goal to further enhance the performance of railway operations and smart maintenance with smart sensing technology. The collaboration areas include exploring smart solutions for monitoring and condition assessment on railway assets, exploring the establishment of a joint laboratory for rail-technology application, as well as research related to improving the operating environment, for example, passenger flow management in stations.

Witnessed by Dr Rex AUYEUNG, Chairman of MTR Corporation and Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, the MoU was signed by Dr Jacob KAM, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation, Ms Margaret CHENG, Acting President of MTR Academy, Professor Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Professor Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU.

“The MTR Corporation will adopt technology in all of its services and operations to actively promote the MTR’s corporate strategy `Transforming the Future’. The Corporation is determined to allocate substantial resources in the application of innovative technology. We hope by collaborating with academia, we can promote the development of smart railway and keep Hong Kong moving,” said Dr Rex Auyeung, Chairman of MTR Corporation.

“MTR endeavours to provide a high level of service in various aspects. We look forward to working together with PolyU, an institution with outstanding academic and research achievements in railway technologies, to co-develop smart solutions and application-oriented innovation to further enhance our service quality,” said Dr Jacob Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation. “We also expect the partnership can create opportunity for young talents and encourage them to utilise their creativity and innovation capability.”

The MTR Corporation and MTR Academy have been working with PolyU in the field of railway technology and the development of railway engineering expertise, including a project for setting up optical fibre sensing on MTR track sections.

Dr Lam Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, said, “We are pleased to deepen collaboration with MTR Corporation. PolyU places great importance on scientific research and is devoted to translating research excellence into real-world applications. We establish close partnerships with industry partners to create breakthroughs in research in different fields to respond to societal needs.’”

PolyU’s President, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, said, “I believe PolyU’s substantial research competence in smart railways and smart cities will gain more opportunities to be transformed into real-world industry solutions through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with MTR Corporation and the MTR Academy today, hence promoting technological innovation in smart railways for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.”

MTR Corporation has already allocated over HK$300 million for investment in start-ups in the next few years, and more funding will be reserved for similar projects in the future.

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