PolyU shines at 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong, winning the Grand Prize

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) received a total of 18 accolades at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII), including the Grand Prize, one Special Prize, seven Gold Medals, eight Silver Medals and one Bronze Medals. The winning entries include a research project from Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) in collaboration with the University of Waterloo. AEII is a prestigious annual exhibition and competition dedicated to innovations and inventions in Asia. It brings together scholars, experts, and inventors from around the world to showcase a diverse range of groundbreaking inventions and solutions.

Among these, the project “Highly integrated wireless ultrasonic motor system for fully enclosed environments”, led by Prof. CHAU Kwok-tong, Chair Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at PolyU, was awarded the Grand Prize and a Gold Medal. The wireless ultrasonic motor system designed by the team features a single integrated magnetic coupler connected to the motor, which can control motor systems in fully enclosed environments without power cables, batteries and controllers. The system is adaptable to various applications, facilitating seamless integration. Its streamlines are designed by operating without additional controllers or sensors, which is ideal for environments where traditional cabling is impractical, such as in robotic arms, enhancing mobility and flexibility. In enclosed environments like underground pipelines or underwater propellers, it avoids complications from perforated installation cables, preventing gas or liquid leaks. This innovation brings new solutions for advanced applications in robotics and industrial automation.

Among the PolyU award-winning innovations, ten were developed by PolyU-nurtured startups, some of which were founded by the University’s scholars. This highlights the important role of the University’s signature startup ecosystem, PolyVentures, which has supported more than 500 startups over the years. The ecosystem has offered comprehensive support to help numerous PolyU academics, researchers, alumni, and students realise their entrepreneurial dreams.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), congratulated the winning PolyU teams, stating: “The remarkable achievements of PolyU academics, students and alumni vividly reflect the University’s strong research capabilities. They embody a spirit of daring to pursue breakthroughs and continuously strive for excellence, benefiting society through cutting-edge research and innovative solutions, while also helping address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. We will continue to uphold the PolyImpact philosophy. Through education, research, knowledge transfer, and innovative inventions, the University is dedicated to bringing positive impact to society and mankind for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.”

Organised by The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association in partnership with Palexpo, the organiser of the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, this year’s AEII attracted about 140 inventions from Hong Kong, mainland China and other Asian countries and regions. PolyU’s award-winning projects are listed below. To learn more about PolyU’s impactful innovations showcased at the Exhibition, please refer to the Appendix and the website of the PolyU Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office.

PolyU startup wins gold award in GBA entrepreneurship competition

A PolyU startup has also achieved remarkable success in another competition held in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). NovelTec Limited, led by Dr WANG Heshou and Dr SUN Jinhong, Postdoctoral Fellows from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at PolyU, won the Gold Award in the Start-up Track at the “Qianhai Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2024”.

The team has developed their flagship product, the General Intelligent Chassis (GIC), which enables devices to charge without physical contact and achieve L4 autonomy. These advanced features provide the GIC a competitive edge across multiple sectors. The startup has also received funding support from the PolyU Micro Fund to aid its development.

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