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PolyU Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai (3rd from left, front); President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (2nd from right, front); Vice President (Research and Innovation) Prof. Christopher Chao (2nd from left, front); Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) Prof. WANG Zuankai (1st from right, front); Prof. Chen Qingyan, Director of PAIR (1st from left, front) and Prof. Yan Nieng, Founding President of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (3rd from right, front) attended the opening ceremony of the PAIR Conference. They are joined by PAIR’s International Advisory Committee members Prof. Mathias FINK (5th from left, rear); Dr LIN Chao-Hsin (3rd from left, rear); Prof. SHU Gequn (centre, rear); Prof. SO Kwok-fai (4th from left, rear); Associate Director Prof. Lilly LI (5th from right, rear); members of Management Committee Prof. CHEN Changwen (4th from right, rear); Prof. DING Xiaoli (1st from right, rear); Prof. Hector TSANG (3rd from right, rear); Prof. WANG Shengwei (2nd from left, rear); and Dr WONG Ka-hing (2nd from right, rear).
Prof. Teng said tackling pressing societal issues requires game-changing interdisciplinary solutions.
Prof. Chao said PAIR Conference marked a new chapter for academia in Hong Kong and around the world to establish, renew and deepen interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of society.
Prof. Yan delivered an insightful presentation on the frontier research of proteins that may play a key role in the pharmaceutical development of pain relief solutions.
Prof. Chen said the 4-day Conference would forge closer interinstitutional and cross-sectoral collaboration to embrace the challenges ahead.
The first and largest interdisciplinary research and development conference in Hong Kong commenced at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today, with some 100 internationally renowned experts as distinguished speakers to share their knowledge and insights during the 4-day conference.
The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders from industry, academia, and governments worldwide to engage in closer exchange and collaboration, enriching and expanding interdisciplinary knowledge to foster a brighter and more sustainable future.
Under the theme of “Research Excellence for Societal Impacts”, the Conference has 15 streams focused on three core areas: advanced technologies and manufacturing, good health and well-being, and smart and sustainable cities. Besides insightful keynote and discussion sessions, the programme also comprises laboratory visits and presentations of select research papers.
At the Conference opening session, Prof. YAN Nieng, Founding President of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and a world-leading structural biologist, delivered an insightful presentation on the frontier research of proteins that may play a key role in the pharmaceutical development of pain relief solutions.
Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “This academic conference is specifically dedicated to interdisciplinary research and emerging technologies, which are especially relevant in today's complex world. Tackling pressing societal issues, such as climate change, an ageing population, poverty, energy shortages and so forth requires game-changing interdisciplinary solutions that transcend the boundaries of individual disciplines.”
Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Chairman of the Conference’s Scientific Committee, said, “As we finally emerge from the pandemic and return to normality, this year's Conference marks a new chapter for academia in Hong Kong and around the world to establish, renew and deepen interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of society.”
Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of PolyU, said, “The Conference is important for us to understand what it means to be innovative, interdisciplinary, and agile. It is a major step towards closer interinstitutional and cross-sectoral collaboration to embrace the challenges ahead.”
Officially inaugurated in July 2022, PAIR is PolyU’s interdisciplinary research hub with 16 research institutes and centres and over 400 senior researchers, making it the largest research platform of its kind in the Greater Bay Area.
