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Five PolyU projects awarded Research Impact Fund to deliver innovations for a sustainable community

Five research projects led by scholars at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been awarded the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2022/23 by the Research Grants Council, with a total grant value of HK$27.55 million. PolyU also topped local universities in terms of the number of funded projects. The RIF encourages academics to harness the potential of their research to deliver benefits to the wider community, spurring impactful and translational research projects. It also promotes collaboration between academia and government departments, the business sector, industry and research institutes. The RIF grants successful projects with funding of up to HK$10 million per project for a three to five-year period. In total, 13 projects were supported by the RIF in the 2022/23 exercise. Sustainability is an essential focus for translational research. The five PolyU awarded projects deliver impactful solutions to address the needs for a sustainable community. They cover research areas spanning from medical innovation, smart buildings and construction, green technology, and materials science to advanced manufacturing. In particular, the PolyU study on deconstruction and reuse technologies for steel and composite structures has been awarded HK$9.75 million for a five-year duration, which is the highest funded amount under the RIF 2022/23. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “These funding achievements are highly encouraging, affirming PolyU’s research excellence in a wide range of scientific, engineering and human health areas, in which the University delivers impactful solutions for sustainable development. The awarded research teams demonstrate PolyU’s strengths in converting academic research into real-world applications, which is crucial for supporting the innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong.” Appendix: PolyU-led projects awarded Research Impact Fund 2022/23

PolyU and The Fire Services Department collaborate on research for indoor positioning technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to put forward a study on the use of innovation and technology (I&T) to track the location of firemen at indoor fire scenes in order to further enhance the safety of frontline personnel. PolyU and the FSD will collaborate in studying the use of indoor positioning technology to track and locate fire personnel at fire scenes inside buildings and protect them against danger. With PolyU's experience in cutting-edge engineering research and the advanced simulation training facilities in the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy, the collaboration will achieve an optimum synergy effect and provide better protection of fire personnel’s lives. Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, and Mr Andy YEUNG, Director of Fire Services, the MoU was signed by Prof. Keith K.C. CHAN, Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of PolyU, and Mr KWOK Pak-chiu, Assistant Director (Corporate Strategy) of the FSD. Professor Jin-Guang Teng said, “Firefighters have always served and protected Hong Kong citizens with dedication and care, and PolyU is pleased to participate in this meaningful study by leveraging our research and innovation capabilities to strengthen the safety of fire personnel. PolyU’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has a strong foundation in the area of precision engineering research, with its researchers having participated in the Nation’s space exploration missions of the Moon and Mars. The collaboration to develop an indoor fire scene tracking system will combine PolyU’s advanced positioning and precision engineering technologies with FSD’s professional facilities and support. I am confident that the study will help provide more timely protection to fire personnel.” Professor Teng added that PolyU will continue to harness its multi-disciplinary research strengths to support FSD’s work. For instance, PolyU’s Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering is conducting a “smart firefighting” research that adopts AI to monitor buildings fire hazards. Mr Andy Yeung said, “The FSD has long been supportive to the HKSAR Government in promoting the development and application of I&T. Over the years, the FSD has proactively introduced and applied I&T in enhancing its firefighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services for better protection of the lives and property of citizens as well as the safety of frontline fire personnel.” He said that the FSD has deployed robots for firefighting tasks and also applied artificial intelligence-assisted drones during mountain rescue operations to help search for missing persons. Both devices have been proven to be effective in greatly enhancing operational efficiency and safety. He added that the FSD would also share its accomplishments on I&T research with the fire and rescue departments of the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by conducting regular technical exchanges.

PolyU’s Project on Waste Glass Transformation to Low-Carbon Construction Products Granted Green Tech Fund

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was awarded by the Green Tech Fund for a research project on the transformation of waste glass to low-carbon construction materials. This waste management and reduction project received total grant of HK$5.29 million for a period of three years.  In Hong Kong, about 7% of CO2 emission comes from wastes, mainly from landfills. Glass waste is a key component of solid wastes, with about 200 tonnes of glass waste disposed in landfills every day. However, recovery rate of waste glass has stood consistently at lower than 20% in the past.  Waste reduction and recycling are important measures to alleviate over-reliance on landfills for municipal solid waste disposal. Transformation of waste glass to useful resources and high-value added products creates a substantial waste management framework in Hong Kong. This PolyU research project supports Hong Kong Government’s policy in achieving carbon neutrality, and it also offers practical solutions to promote glass recycling.  Prof Chi Sun POON, Chair Professor of Sustainable Construction Materials, Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality and Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering at PolyU leads the project to provide a critical waste management framework with recycing of glass waste to low-carbon construction materials.  In construction industry, production of concrete is the largest contributor to CO2 emission, accounting for about 8% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The research project aims to develop novel glass-based concrete products for pilot-scale utilization in long-span structures, high-rise buildings and pavements.  Recycling of waste glass can reduce embodied carbon of construction materials and produce high performance low-carbon construction products including ultra high-performance concrete, durable self-leveling cement mortar and high strength pervious concrete. These low-carbon construction products made from waste glass are scientifically designed to optimize performance and minimize cost and environmental impacts. The completion of this project would provide a total solution to waste glass problem in Hong Kong.  Green Tech Fund (GTF) The Government set up the Green Tech Fund (GTF) in 2020 to fund research and development (R&D) projects which help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental protection. The assessment committee is chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection and comprises members from academia, industry and green groups.  

PolyU welcomes Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint directions and key strategies; Leading Hong Kong to realise its vision as an international I&T centre

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology (I&T) Development Blueprint promulgated today by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau. The Blueprint sets out four broad development directions and eight major strategies with recommendations on policies and support measures in order to enlarge the local I&T talent pool, enhance Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, promote the development of Hong Kong into a smart city and proactively integrate Hong Kong into the overall development of the Nation. PolyU has long been committed to nurturing I&T talents, fostering research and development (R&D) and transforming research outcomes into real-world solutions. The Blueprint will further leverage the leadership position of Hong Kong institutions in upstream R&D and form a complete I&T ecosystem together with the midstream and downstream sectors. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “The Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint sets out to consolidate Hong Kong’s R&D strengths and reinforce the capacity of universities to conduct breakthrough research. It also recommends a series of measures to strengthen support to universities’ basic research activities and facilities, as well as their efforts to transform and realise R&D outcomes, thereby bringing new impetus to the city’s I&T development. The Blueprint further introduces policies and measures critical for Hong Kong’s future development, including the increase of R&D expenditure, and the provision of land and research space for Hong Kong’s I&T sector at the ‘new international I&T city’ in the Northern Metropolis. As a global top-100 university, PolyU has been committed to fostering world-class research and innovation for the benefit of society and the Nation. The University welcomes and supports the directions and measures in the Blueprint. PolyU will also proactively promote an I&T culture in the city and contribute to the enhancement of the overall I&T atmosphere in the community.” Talent is the key to promoting I&T development. The Blueprint sets out strategies to enrich I&T talent resources and develop an international talent hub. Aligning with the Blueprint's strategies, PolyU will continue to refresh its I&T curriculum by introducing departmental scheme-based admissions, and adding two elements, namely Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA) and Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE), to the curriculum starting this academic year. Ranked the No.1 University in the “Best Universities for Blockchain 2022” list by CoinDesk, PolyU will launch the first BBA (Hons) in Digital Finance and Investment in the next academic year to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in nurturing fintech talents. PolyU welcomes the Blueprint strategy on nurturing and attracting I&T talent, especially the allowance and accommodation support for young scholars. The University believes that this move will help to retain local university talents. Furthermore, through the Global STEM Professorship Scheme, PolyU will attract top-notch international scholars to come to Hong Kong to participate in teaching and research work. PolyU has so far taken up 25% of successful nominations to attract international talents through this scheme. The National 14th Five-Year Plan fully supports Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world. The Blueprint proposes a series of measures to deepen I&T cooperation with the Mainland and to proactively integrate Hong Kong into the overall development of the country. PolyU has been supporting key national development goals through partnerships with the Mainland universities, research institutions, governments at various levels and enterprises in the Mainland in areas such as aviation and aerospace, biomedical technology, advanced manufacturing, new materials, artificial intelligence, communications networks and new energy, as well as fostering talent development and I&T collaboration. As the only Hong Kong institution involved in China’s space projects, PolyU will also continue to actively participate in interdisciplinary research projects in the Mainland and overseas through the InnoHK Research Clusters, State Key Laboratories and other research institutions to extend its global I&T collaboration network. PolyU is committed to fostering knowledge transfer and supporting university academics in innovation and entrepreneurship. The University welcomes the “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme” launched by the Hong Kong SAR government to help the R&D teams of local universities to commercialise their research outcomes into solutions. PolyU has nurtured more than 450 start-up enterprises, including the establishment of 230+ social/design/business innovation start-ups, the facilitation of 220+ technology start-ups, and the cultivation of four unicorns. To further drive innovation in industry development and transform PolyU’s research outcomes into real-world solutions, PolyU will encourage scholars to conduct exchange and collaborate with different provinces in the Mainland, and establish translational research institutions or centres to leverage PolyU’s research and translational capabilities for addressing local industry needs for transformation and innovation. The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), probably the largest research platform of its kind in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, will make impactful contributions to the development of new industrialisation and the digital economy in Hong Kong through interdisciplinary research and the development of applications in cutting-edge areas including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, carbon neutrality, deep-space exploration, gerontechnology, smart cities and smart energy. Looking forward, through its new I&T think tank, the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), PolyU will contribute interdisciplinary policy research in the areas of carbon-neutral cities, the Greater Bay Area’s I&T development, and the Belt and Road Initiative development in Southeast Asia, to dovetail with the National 14th Five-Year Plan in supporting Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T centre.

Two PolyU Scholars awarded inaugural BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

Two scholars from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been awarded the inaugural BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP), for their outstanding contributions in the fields of “Advanced Manufacturing” and “Life and Health”. Each will receive a HK$2million cash prize. Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is recognised in the “Advanced Manufacturing” field for his multidisciplinary research and breakthrough achievements at the interface of advanced manufacturing, surface science, fluid mechanism, thermal energy, materials science and physics. He has published over 200 papers in Nature, Science, Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences and other journals. Prof. Wang’s reseach has answered three century-old scientific questions—what the shortest contact time between solid and liquid is, how to steer directional liquid flow and how to overcome the Leidenfrost effect first discovered in 1756. He has also made an important contribution to exploring nature-inspired surfaces for a wide range of applications such as water energy harvesting, thermal cooling, fluid transport and flexible electronics. Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing, is recognized in the “Life and Health” field. He has obtained more than 50 patents and was ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in rankings compiled by Stanford University in 2021 and 2022. Prof. Zheng’s main research area includes biomedical ultrasound instrumentation, soft tissue elasticity measurement and imaging, 3D ultrasound imaging and smart aging technologies. The research team led by Prof Zheng has developed a 3D ultrasound imaging system for radiation-free scoliosis assessment, “Scolioscan Air”, which can bring accurate, safe and cost-efficient mass screening to schools anywhere in the community. His invention has been applied to clinical assessment in many countries to facilitate early diagnosis and early treatment of scoliosis, and to control the condition using non-surgical intervention, thus benefiting adolescents all over the world. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), congratulated the two awardees and said, “PolyU is honoured to have Prof. Wang and Prof. Zheng awarded the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize in recognition of their achievements in science and technology innovation. PolyU is committed to making contributions to the world’s development and human well-being.” The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, established by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, is a non-governmental merit-based award. The Award aims at facilitating the development of science and technology innovation in Hong Kong by rewarding outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to science and technology innovation in Hong Kong. The awards ceremony will be held on 22 December.

Weaving AI Into Creativity Sparks Fashion Revolution; The world’s first designer-led AI system AiDA officially launches International brand ANTEPRIMA and six fashion designer brands showcase their latest collections using AiDA

Organised by the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab) with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor *, “Fashion X AI” fashion show, the premier event of the “Fashion X AI: 2022-2023 International Salon” programme, was held today at the M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong. The officiating guests included Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government, Mr Tsang Chiu-hok, Victor, Head of CreateHK and Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Ms Rebecca Pun said, “The successful launch of AiDA has demonstrated Hong Kong’s edge as a leading force in AI and fashion, bringing together the best fashion and technology talents. I am happy to witness the strong research capabilities and originality of AiDLab, generating advanced and forward-looking research results for the benefit of the industry and the general public.” Prof. Teng explained, “Tonight’s fashion show will demonstrate how AiDLab has been translating its research outputs into real-world applications, contributing to the development of an AI ecosystem, especially in fashion and design-related technology.” Developed by Prof. Calvin Wong, CEO & Centre Director of AiDLab, and his team, the AI-based Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) is the world’s first designer-led AI design system. Designers can upload their mood boards, patterns, colour palettes and sketches onto AiDA and then, with a few clicks, their original collections will be generated in a matter of ten seconds. The fashion show also featured the collections of six international and local fashion designer brands including BESFXXK、FENGYI TAN、INJURY、KAY KWOK、MOUNTAINYAM and THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER, as well as those of eight local young design units selected from over 200 entries received via an open call for young talent under the “Fashion X AI: 2022-2023 International Salon” programme to showcase their collections, all using AiDA for the first time. The show brought together the best fashion and technology talent and helps establish Hong Kong as a leading force in AI and fashion. In addition, the AiDA development team supported renowned international fashion brand ANTEPRIMA with AI technology to design their latest collection. Ms Izumi Ogino, Creative Director of ANTEPRIMA, said, “We input all the past ANTEPRIMA iconic looks into AiDA and infusing the 2023 Spring-Summer 2023 concept as well as a seasonal colour scheme, the system generated the designs. Silhouettes which were generated by AiDA keep our fundamental philosophy of ‘smart, precious, with Love’ complemented by out-of-the-box patterns proposed by AiDLab. If we achieve an appropriate balance between the two, we believe technology and craftsmanship of fashion can co-exist, with the help of AI technology to generate design variations, while at the same time reducing work hours and providing designers with more options.” The fashion event showcased the exclusive collaboration between ANTEPRIMA and AiDLab – resulting in the one-off capsule collection developed by ANTEPRIMA's designers using AiDA, which will be presented in a touring exhibition in Hong Kong after the show. AiDA has been hailed by local and international fashion designers for streamlining the design process and providing inspiration. Prof. Calvin Wong, who leads the AiDA project said, “At AiDLab, we believe that AI should be used as a supporting tool for fashion designers. Our approach is human-centred and interdisciplinary, and we have worked with designers for over two years to develop and refine AiDA. We are invested in creating innovation with practitioners from across all disciplines for intelligent fashion solutions.” Designers can choose different combinations of colours, fabric prints and sketches based on their original inspiration and styles. Through a specific combination of advanced AI technologies, AiDA helps designers to bring inspiration into unique designs and fashion collections. Interested designers may contact AiDLab for an experience of AiDA. “Fashion X AI: 2022-2023 International Salon” aims to nurture creative capital, future-proof the industry and promote Hong Kong as a leader in intelligent fashion design, through activities including the fashion show and forum, international symposium, touring exhibitions, workshops and a massive open online course. More details are available on the project website at: https://www.fashionxai.com. *Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

PolyU Student Project Won APICTA Awards In Tertiary Technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s student project, “Mutual Cognitive Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing System,” won the  21st Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards. The team honourably received the APICTA Awards (Student-Tertiary Technology) in the event held in Islamabad, Pakistan.  The awarded project was conducted by Mr TSANG Chin Lok, Mr LI Cheng Xi, and Ms KWOK Hin Chi, PolyU students from the Research Group of AI for Industrial Digital Servitization (RAIDS), and supervised by Ir Dr ZHENG Pai, Assistant Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at PolyU. Mr TSANG Chin Lok joined the HKSAR delegation to Pakistan and shone in the competition. The project integrates virtual and realistic task planning and dynamic guidance of visual data to enhance the intelligence of robots and to facilitate information sharing with Augmented Reality. Practically, it provides human-in-the-loop control approaches in a user-friendly manner to better fuse human operators' intelligence. In the APICTA 2022, the HKSAR delegation achieved 6 Winners and 10 Merit Awards among 14 competing member economies (206 entries in total). The PolyU student project, “Mutual Cognitive Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing System,” was the grand winner of the APICTA Awards (Student-Tertiary Technology) standing out against highly competitive entries.  Dr ZHENG said, “We are delighted with the enthusiastic result at this international event. The team hopes this system could soon be practically applied to industrial use, with long-term goal of assisting manufacturing sector in Hong Kong for transformation by making use of innovation and technology, along with benefiting the world's manufacturing industries.” APICTA is the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance, an association of ICT communities nominated by 16 member economies to form a cooperative network for the promotion of technology, innovation, and development of indigenous ICT solutions for the global market. The annual event is a valuable platform for ICT talents in the Asia Pacific region to exchange ideas and forge new partnerships.

PolyU and Sinopec Sign Agreement to Award Thesis Excellence

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) signed a collaborative agreement to award student’s thesis excellence with the focus on topics related to clean energy and sustainable environment. Sinopec will donate RMB500,000 to award PolyU students for outstanding theses in the 2022-2023 year, with the theme on “Cleaner Energy Better Life.” This excellent graduation thesis award scheme calls for undergraduate and postgraduate students to submit their dissertation papers for topics on sustainable development such as clean energy, renewable energy and green city.  The award aims to encourage students’ creative thinking for innovative solutions and technology to enhance industry and environment sustainability. The winners will receive cash awards to support their research. Industry-academic partnership is crucial for impactful research and innovation in the society. PolyU and Sinopec embark on this agreement to explore further collaborative opportunities and platforms.  Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, Mr. Zhenying JIANG, Chief Representative of Hong Kong Representative Office at Sinopec and Mr. ZENG Shen Dian, Vice President of The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, the agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr. Zhijun YE, Deputy Chief of Hong Kong Representative Office at Sinopec. Prof. Teng said, “While PolyU is joining hands with Sinopec for the Best Thesis Award, we hope to build a long-term strategic partnership in future to develop in-depth collaboration in various aspects. Exploring in the areas of smart energy, advanced materials, green technology and others, PolyU would contribute to the development of Hong Kong and the country together with Sinopec on a basis of mutual benefits.” Mr. Jiang said, “The Best Thesis Award would motivate young students to further enhance national sentiments, devote to academic studies, strive to improve technical skills, and cultivate more outstanding young talents who love the country and Hong Kong. It also serves as the beginning of in-depth cooperation with PolyU, combining PolyU's strong scientific research strength with Sinopec's solid industrialisation capabilities. We will continue to expand and deepen our cooperation to jointly contribute to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

PolyU Two Projects Funded By Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received funding from Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme 2022/23 for two research projects. Dr Xiao LI, Research Assistant Professor at Department of Building and Real Estate, was funded two years for project: “Mass customization methodology for high-rise modular buildings: adaptive platform, interactive configurator and decentralized process.” Dr Junpei ZHONG, Research Assistant Professor at Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was funded one year for project: “Socio-demographic variables to embodied and emotional experiences in virtual nature: a cross country study.” The Research Grants Council (RGC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) joined together in 1996 to promote research collaboration between Hong Kong and Germany. The RGC funds granted to Hong Kong Principal Investigator can be used to support research visits of research postgraduate students to partner institutions, thus enabling them to obtain valuable training and experience from overseas practices. The grant per project per year is set at HK$45,000 for those involving travel of research postgraduate students, and HK$30,000 per year for those not involving students' travels.

PolyU Showcases Award-Winning Innovations at InnoTech Expo 2022

PolyU is delighted to participate and demonstrate its scientific research achievements at InnoTech Expo 2022, introducing its newest research excellence and showcasing award-winning technologies to the public. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, are invited to join the grand opening ceremony this morning. PolyU displays impactful innovations at three themed booths, each with a specific topic: Advanced Space Instruments and Remote Sensing Technologies Contributed to the Nation’s Lunar and Mars Exploration Missions Emerging Technologies and Innovations for Smart City Scolioscan - 3D Ultrasound Imaging System for Scoliosis Mass Screening and Frequent Monitoring During the Expo, PolyU’s scientists and experts deliver lectures and forums to share their professional insights: