PolyU establishes eight JC STEM Labs to attract outstanding R&D talent and support Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T hub

12 Nov 2024

Events Office of Institutional Advancement

PolyU held an inauguration ceremony for the eight JC STEM labs. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (6th from left), PolyU President; Prof. Wing-tak Wong (5th from left), PolyU Deputy President and Provost; and Ms Elsie Tsang (5th from right), Executive Manager of Charities (Talent and Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, along with eight lab Directors officiated at the Ceremony. The Lab Directors are Prof. Chau Lap-pui (4th from right) from the JC STEM Lab of Machine Learning and Computer Vision; Prof. Chen Qing-yan (4th from left) from the JC STEM Lab of Healthy Built Environment; Prof. He Mingguang (3rd from right) from the JC STEM Lab of Innovative Light Therapy for Eye Diseases; Prof. Liu Ai-Qun (3rd from left) from the JC STEM Lab of Quantum Technology; Prof. Loh Kian-ping (2nd from right) from the JC STEM Lab of 2D Quantum Materials; Prof. Weng Qi-hao (2nd from left) from the JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations; Prof. Janelle Yorke (1st from right) from the JC STEM Lab of Digital Oncology Care Enhancement; Prof. Zhang Weixiong (1st from left) from the JC STEM Lab of Genomics in Healthcare.

Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President (7th from left); Prof. Wing-tak Wong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost (6th from left); and Ms Elsie Tsang, Executive Manager of Charities (Talent and Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (6th from right); Dr Miranda LOU, PolyU Executive Vice President (1st from left); and Dr Laura LO, PolyU Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement (1st from right) congratulated the Directors on the inauguration of the eight JC STEM Labs.

Prof. Wing-tak Wong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost expressed the University’s immense gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their generous support in establishing the state-of-the-art JC STEM Labs.

Ms Elsie Tsang, Executive Manager of Charities (Talent and Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club stated that by investing in the research endeavours of these JC STEM Labs, the Trust aims to assist in the creation of an enabling environment that supports the development of STEM talents.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a generous donation of over HKD 74 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (the Trust) to establish eight Jockey Club (JC) STEM Labs. Spearheaded by distinguished PolyU scholars selected for the HKSAR Government-initiated Global STEM Professorship Scheme, these JC STEM Labs aspire to advance innovative research in the fields of machine learning and computer vision, healthy built environment, innovative light therapy for eye diseases, quantum technology, 2D quantum materials, earth observations, digital oncology care enhancement and genomics in healthcare.

PolyU held an inauguration ceremony for the JC STEM Labs yesterday to express its gratitude and appreciation to the Trust. The ceremony was officiated by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Deputy President and Provost; and Ms Elsie TSANG, Executive Manager, Charities (Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, together with eight JC STEM Lab Directors.

Prof. Wing-tak Wong remarked, “We would like to express our immense gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their generous support in establishing the state-of-the-art JC STEM Labs. These advanced labs will spearhead research across a range of innovative fields, reinforcing Hong Kong’s standing as an international innovation and technology hub. As PolyU commemorates its 30th anniversary of achieving university status, these new facilities not only represent a pivotal milestone in the University’s development but also underscore our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and technological advancement.”

Ms Elsie Tsang said, “By investing in the research endeavours of these JC STEM Labs, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust aims to assist in the creation of an enabling environment that supports the development of STEM talents and strengthens their capacity in applied research and knowledge transfer. Our commitment to this initiative underscores the Club’s purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society.”

The eight JC STEM Lab Directors also presented their Labs’ founding objectives, research areas, key projects and anticipated outcomes, with the aim to create a positive impact on Hong Kong and the world. A brief introduction to the JC STEM Labs is featured below:

Lab	Lab Director	Research focus
JC STEM Lab of Machine Learning and Computer Vision	Prof. CHAU Lap-pui Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, PolyU	Explore key technologies in 3D vision, general world models, spatial intelligence, trustworthy AI and robotics, as well as advancing innovations in AI perception, to empower smart manufacturing, mobility, education, entertainment and community wellness.
JC STEM Lab of Healthy Built Environment	Prof. CHEN Qing-yan Director, PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary; and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering	Develop innovative solutions to evaluate and design healthy and energy-efficient environments, with applications in airborne infectious disease control and thermal comfort in buildings, transportation and urban areas, aiming to set a precedent for sustainable urban development on a global scale.
JC STEM Lab of Innovative Light Therapy for Eye Diseases	Prof. HE Mingguang Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology; Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health; and Director, Research Centre for SHARP Vision, PolyU	Transform the treatment landscape for ocular diseases, including the enhancement of invasive Repeated Low-Level Red-Light technology by refining light intensity, duration and delivery mechanisms, and extending indications beyond myopia to other eye conditions.
JC STEM Lab of Quantum Technology	Prof. LIU Ai-Qun Chair Professor of Quantum Engineering and Science; and Director, Research Institute for Quantum Technology, PolyU	Develop the quantum computers, quantum communication networks, quantum algorithms and software, quantum machine learning, as well as metrology and quantum sensing. The quantum computing microprocessors “HK-o1”, demonstrated by PolyU, is the first quantum computer in Hong Kong that is making a significant impact on the city.
JC STEM Lab of 2D Quantum Materials	Prof. LOH Kian-ping Chair Professor of Materials Physics and Chemistry, Department of Applied Physics, PolyU	Develop new 2D quantum materials that can reduce energy consumption in spintronic devices, paving the way for faster and more efficient computers and memory storage devices. This will help underpin the rapid progress of information and communication technology.
JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations	Prof. WENG Qi-hao Associate Director, Research Institute for Land and Space; and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, PolyU	Advance Earth Observation technologies by integrating space-air-ground sensing, AI-powered image processing and urban sensor networks. The lab is pioneering geomatics solutions that revolutionise urban monitoring and environmental management.
JC STEM Lab of Digital Oncology Care Enhancement	Prof. Janelle YORKE Head, School of Nursing; Angel S. P. Chan Lau Professor in Health and Longevity; and Chair Professor of Nursing, PolyU	Develop a platform for a virtual oncology hospital to enable real-time monitoring of cancer patients’ symptoms related to treatment toxicities, including those from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to facilitate effective clinical decision-making. This can improve patient outcomes and experiences, increase treatment completion rates, enhance survival rates, and lead to significant efficiencies in healthcare.
JC STEM Lab of Genomics in Healthcare	Prof. ZHANG Weixiong Associate Director, PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research; and Chair Professor in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Department of Health Technology and Informatics	Develop innovative AI and genomic technologies, including the creation of foundational models, for studying diseases and identifying diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for disease diagnosis and management. This will help revolutionise personalised diagnosis and therapy for cancers and psychiatric disorders, advancing medical care for all.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust established the JC STEM Lab Initiative in 2021 to support the laboratory set-up for scholars selected for the Government-initiated Global STEM Professorship Scheme. The initiative aims to nurture STEM talent in Hong Kong and promote the translation of new science and technology to social impact.

The JC STEM Lab of Quantum Technology showcased Hong Kong’s first quantum computer called “HK-o1”. This groundbreaking technology is set to make a significant impact in the field of quantum computing. Besides, the JC STEM Lab is actively engaged in quantum research, including quantum communication chips and quantum sensors and more. Ms Elsie Tsang (5th from right, front row), Executive Manager of Charities (Talent and Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Laura Lo (5th from left, front row), PolyU Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement)visited the lab.

Prof. Zhang Weixiong, Director of the JC STEM Lab of Genomics in Healthcare introduced projects that combine artificial intelligence computing, genomics, and cellular and molecular biology to study the mechanisms of depression and develop treatment solutions.

Ms Elsie Tsang (right), Executive Manager of Charities (Talent and Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club visited The JC STEM Lab of Genomics in Healthcare.

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