Media Releases

PolyU joint hands with Xi'an Jiaotong University to develop students’ service leadership skills

Chinese version only

PolyU young scholar awarded Asian Young Scientist Fellowship 2024 for breakthroughs in materials physics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has always been committed to nurturing young researchers to drive new quality productive forces in science and technology. Dr Kathy LENG Kai, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, has been awarded a prestigious 2024 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF), in recognition of her outstanding achievements in physical science. The AYSF aims to encourage and support talented young scientists in Asia to carry out creative and transformative research in three fields: “Life Science,” “Physical Science,” and “Mathematics and Computer Science.” The Fellowship is awarded annually to 12 recipients selected from Asia after a rigorous selection process. A total grant of USD100,000 is disbursed to each Fellow’s home institution over two consecutive years to support their research endeavors. This new Fellowship, specifically targeting young Asian scientists, has been established by the founders of the Future Science Prize. Dr Leng stood out from a large pool of talented and highly-qualified candidates from across Asia. The AYSF Committee acknowledged her groundbreaking work in molecularly thin two-dimensional hybrid perovskites and have shown they are willing to support her further exploration in this cutting-edge field. She said, “I am honoured and encouraged to have been awarded this fellowship following an intensive selection process. I look forward to engaging with forward-thinking young scientists from across Asia and expanding opportunities for collaboration. My team and I will continue to strive for breakthroughs and explore innovations that pave the way to versatile applications in flexible microelectronics and spintronics.” Dr Leng is the first scholar to isolate the 2D hybrid perovskite monolayers and uncover their novel physical properties. She is also dedicated to establishing accurate atomic structure-property relationships and pushing the boundaries of their novel device applications, particularly in the field of opto-microelectronics and spintronics. Currently, her team is focused on the scalable growth of hybrid perovskite single-crystalline thin films and their large-scale device integration. Dr Leng has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award, the Asia Pacific TR35 Award from MIT Technology Review, the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award, the Early Career Research Gold Award from the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry and the China Excellent Young Scientist award.   ***END***

PolyU researchers invent intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic thermal adaptation in extreme heat

As global warming intensifies, people increasingly suffer from extreme heat. For those working in a high-temperature environment indoors or outdoors, keeping thermally comfortable becomes particularly crucial. A team led by Dr Dahua SHOU, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Associate Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed first-of-its-kind thermally-insulated and breathable soft robotic clothing that can automatically adapt to changing ambient temperatures, thereby helping to ensure worker safety in hot environments. Their research findings have been published in the international interdisciplinary journal Advanced Science. Maintaining a constant body temperature is one of the most critical requirements for living and working. High-temperature environments elevate energy consumption, leading to increased heat stress, thus exacerbating chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health issues and asthma, while also increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission. According to the World Health Organisation, globally, there were approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, with 45% occurring in Asia and 36% in Europe. Thermal protective clothing is essential to safeguard individuals in extreme high-temperature environments, such as firefighters who need to be present at fires scenes and construction workers who work outdoors for extended periods. However, traditional gear has been limited by statically fixed thermal resistance, which can lead to overheating and discomfort in moderate conditions, while its heat insulation may not offer sufficient protection in extreme fire events and other high-temperature environments. To address this issue, Dr Shou and his team have developed intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic temperature adaptation and thermal insulation in hot environments, offering superior personal protection and thermal comfort across a range of temperatures. Their research was inspired by biomimicry in nature, like the adaptive thermal regulation mechanism in pigeons, which is mainly based on structural changes. Pigeons use their feathers to trap a layer of air surrounding their skin to reduce heat loss to the environment. When the temperature drops, they fluff up their feathers to trap a significant amount of still air, thereby increasing thermal resistance and retaining warmth. The protective clothing developed by the team uses soft robotic textile for dynamic adaptive thermal management. Soft actuators, designed like a human network-patterned exoskeleton and encapsulating a non-toxic, non-flammable, low-boiling-point fluid, were strategically embedded within the clothing. This thermo-stimulated system turns the fluid from a liquid into a gas when the ambient temperature rises, causing expansion of soft actuators and thickening the textile matrix, thereby enhancing the gap of still air and doubling the thermal resistance from 0.23 to 0.48 Km²/W. The protective clothing can also keep the inner surface temperatures at least 10°C cooler than conventional heat-resistant clothing, even when the outer surface reaches 120°C. This unique soft robotic textile, made by thermoplastic polyurethane, is soft, resilient and durable. Notably, it is far more skin-friendly and conformable than temperature-responsive clothing embedded with shape-memory alloys and is adjustable for a wide range of protective clothing. The soft actuators have exhibited no signs of leakage after undergoing rigorous standard washing tests. The porous, spaced knitting structure of the material can also significantly reduce convective heat transfer while maintaining high moisture breathability. Not relying on thermoelectric chips or circulatory liquid cooling systems for cooling or heat conduction, the light-weighted, soft robotic clothing can effectively regulate temperature itself without any energy consumption. Dr Shou said, “Wearing heavy firefighting gear can feel extremely stifling. When firefighters exit a fire scene and remove their gear, they are sometimes drained nearly a pound of sweat from their boots. This has motivated me to develop a novel suit capable of adapting to various environmental temperatures while maintaining excellent breathability. Our soft robotic clothing can seamlessly adapt to different seasons and climates, multiple working and living conditions, and transitions between indoor and outdoor environments to help users experience constant thermal comfort under intense heat.” Looking forward, Dr Shou finds the innovation to have a wide range of potential applications, from activewear, winter jackets, healthcare apparel and outdoor gear, to sustainable textile-based insulation for construction and buildings, contributing to energy-saving efforts. Supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, Dr Shou and his team have also extended the thermo-adaptive concept to develop inflatable, breathable jackets and warm clothing. This soft robotic clothing is suitable for low-temperature environments or sudden temperature drops to aid those who are stranded in the wilderness to maintain normal body temperature.   ***END***

PolyU provides policy research and training support to District Care Teams (Sai Kung)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) and the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) have partnered to conduct policy research and provide a professional training programme for District Care Teams (Sai Kung). This aims to equip the Teams with further knowledge and skills to better serve the community. PolyU signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with the District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd to put forward public policy proposals that support Hong Kong’s development. The partnership is also assisting in the professional growth of District Care Teams (Sai Kung). In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research & Innovation) and Director of PReCIT said PolyU is committed to community service and development through capacity building. The training provided by the University serves to equip Care Team members with the skills to more effectively foster a more inclusive and supportive society. Mr SO Ching Tung, President of District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd, highlighted their dedication to quality community services with the support of the Central Government and the HKSAR Government, contributing to Hong Kong’s social harmony and stability. A representative of the participants, the Team Leader of Kwong Ming Care Team, Mr CHONG Yuen-tung, expressed his gratitude and said that he and his fellow participants will enhance their skills to better serve the community, support the Government’s regional governance work and ultimately promote prosperity in Hong Kong. Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS and Co-director of PReCIT, provided a brief introduction to the policy research and outlined the key objectives and features of the training programme. He encouraged participants to embrace innovation and technology, more fully understand diverse community needs and better prepare themselves to contribute to the community. Through the combined expertise of PReCIT and APSS, the University aims to help the District Care Teams to enhance their service skills and create positive social impact by fostering innovation, inclusion and well-being.   **END**

Over 110 PolyU students and staff participate in service-learning programme in Rwanda; Installing solar power systems for families in mountainous areas and for the first time collaborating with rural citizens to design fashionable clothing

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has always been committed to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. This summer, over 110 PolyU students and staff travelled to eight villages in the Rwamagana district of Rwanda as part of a PolyU service-learning programme. They successfully installed over 400 solar power systems for impoverished families in the mountainous areas and, for the first time, collaborated with rural citizens to design fashionable clothing integrating modern techniques and local ethnic styles. This not only enriched the students’ learning experience beyond the classroom, but also brought positive impact to the local communities. The two-week Rwanda service-learning project was part of the “Wong Tit Shing Sustainability Education Project: Habitat Green in East Africa,” now in its 11th year, and organised by the Service-Learning and Leadership Office at PolyU. Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU, also participated in the project for the first time. As the first Hong Kong university to incorporate service-learning as a core part of the undergraduate curriculum, PolyU aims to inspire students to be more socially conscious, apply their classroom learning and respond to societal needs. Students and staff participating in the service-learning programme in Rwanda this year were involved in two projects offered by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computing, as well as the School of Fashion and Textiles. Some villages in Rwanda are still plagued by a power shortage. The PolyU service-learning project addresses real needs for a basic electricity supply among local impoverished households by installing solar power systems. By collaborating with local partners, the project aims to provide reliable and a stable basic electricity supply, thereby improving the quality of life for these communities. To further promote exchange between Hong Kong and Rwanda, PolyU students and staff collaborated with rural citizens for the first time through the University’s world-leading fashion and textile arts to create unique clothing that blends traditional elements with modern design. The successful completion of the project was marked with a community celebration, which included a fashion show showcasing the unique designs from the collaboration. This joyful event was attended by local dignitaries, as well as Prof. Kwok Yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, and Mr WANG Xuekun, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda. Prof. Kwok-yin Wong, PolyU Vice President (Education) (4th from right), Mr Wang Xuekun, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda (6th from left) and other local dignitaries attended the community celebration and fashion show. Dr Lam Tai-fai stated, “I am pleased to see PolyU students and staff fully engaged in the service-learning process, applying their knowledge and experience to the project. This has enabled rural citizens to acquire skills, to improve their livelihoods, and help contribute to the development of Rwanda.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “PolyU is dedicated to nurturing students with talent and integrity. Service-learning enhances students’ sense of social responsibility, deepens their understanding of social needs, improves their professional skills, and helps foster a sense of national pride and global vision. I hope we can attract more Rwanda students to study and exchange at PolyU, thereby cultivating more talent for the development of their community.” During the trip, the PolyU senior management delegation visited the Rwandan Ministry of Education and the University of Rwanda to explore potential collaborations. They also paid a courtesy visit to the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda for in-depth exchanges on educational topics. The delegation also toured local high school and education institution, aiming to continue providing more educational opportunities for students from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.   Dr Lam Tai-fai (2nd from left), Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (2nd from right) and Prof. Ben Young (1st from left), met with Mr Gasoard Twagirayezu (centre), Rwanda’s Minister of Education.     Dr Lam Tai-fai (front row, centre), Prof. Jin-Guang Teng (front row, 2nd from right) and Prof. Ben Young (front row, 3rd from left), met with Associate Prof. Kayihura Muganga Didas (front row, centre), Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, and the University’s senior management team. ***END***   

PolyU holds the signing ceremony of the collaboration projects of PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute and the Technology Matchmaking Conference

The signing ceremony of the collaboration projects of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) - Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute (Research Institute) and the Technology Matchmaking Conference were successfully held in Jinjiang on 9 August. The event was attended by Dr LAM Tai-fai, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Council Chairman of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President, Prof Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), Mr ZHANG Wenxian, Member of the Standing Committee of Quanzhou Municipal Committee and Communist Party Secretary of Jinjiang, Mr CHEN Junwei, Deputy Director of Quanzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Mr LIU Jianjun, Member of the Standing Committee of Jinjiang Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor candidate, Mr WU Jingyu, Vice Mayor of Jinjiang and Secretary of Chen Dai Town Party Committee, along with nearly 160 officials and enterprise representatives from Quanzhou and Jinjiang, witnessing the achievements of the Research Institute since its establishment and looking forward to its future development. In his opening speech, Dr Lam Tai-fai remarked that since the official launch of the Research Institute in September 2023, PolyU’s research resources have been effectively consolidated and integrated with the local industry of Jinjiang. Through talent nurturing and technology transfer, the collaboration with various sectors in Jinjiang has grown stronger. With the opening of PolyU InnoHub@Jinjiang, the transformation of technology into productivity in Jinjiang will be reinforced. He emphasised that PolyU will continue to work closely with Jinjiang to inject momentum into local technological innovation, promote the industrialisation of technology, and to contribute to the Nation’s technological advancement. Mr Zhang Wenxian commended the substantial progress of the Research Institute over the past year. He stated that deepening cooperation between the university and the local industry is crucial for integrating technological and industrial innovation and developing new productive forces, aligning with the principles of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party. The Jinjiang municipal government will consolidate resources and provide comprehensive service guarantees to ensure the smooth implementation of collaboration projects. The launching ceremony of the PolyU InnoHub@Jinjiang commenced, showcasing the official move-in of the first five outstanding start-ups. This marks a significant step forward in promoting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jinjiang. The PolyU InnoHub@Jinjiang will provide a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment and resources support to help entrepreneurs achieve greater success in technological innovation and market expansion. During the signing ceremony, the Research Institute signed a series of agreement with several enterprises, covering areas including technology transfer and the establishment of joint laboratories. These agreements symbolise a strong commitment to future cooperation and an unwavering pursuit of innovation, representing an important step towards the transformation of technological achievements. A plaque unveiling ceremony was also held for the Joint Laboratory of The PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute & Jinjiang Topone Anti-mold Material Company. Its establishment will further advance research and collaboration in food technology policies and other related fields, paving new paths for technological progress and industry development in Jinjiang. Prof Yu Changyuan, Director of the PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and Mr He Shuidong, Chairman of Jinjiang Topone Anti-mold Material Company, unveiled the plaque for the establishment of the Joint Laboratory. Prof Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, introduced the latest developments and plans of PolyU; Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office, shared PolyU’s cases of knowledge transfer achievements and its entrepreneurial ecosystem; and Prof YU Changyuan, Director of the Research Institute, reported on its development progress and future plans. The event was also joined by Prof Xiaoming TAO, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems of PolyU; Prof WONG Ka-hing and Dr Chili WU, Associate Directors of the Research Institute; Prof Eric CHUI, Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences; Prof LU Haitian, Director of Mainland Development Office; Prof Horace MUI, Associate Head of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering; Prof Calvin WONG, Centre Director of Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design; Dr Amber CHIOU, Associate Director of Research Institute for Future Food; Dr FUNG Siyuan, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies; Dr Oscar CHAN, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering; and Ms Amylia CHAN, Assistant Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office. The event not only marked a milestone in the deepening of the cooperation between PolyU and Jinjiang but also opened a new chapter full of hope and opportunities. On the same day, both parties visited the Research Institute to inspect the research progress, as well as the newly established PolyU InnoHub@Jinjiang, engaging in friendly exchanges with the first batch of five moved-in startups. A friendly football match between the PolyU United Football Team and the Jinjiang Municipal Football Team was held at the Jinjiang Football Training Centre. Dr Lam Tai-fai and Mr Xu Zizhu, Director of the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau, also participated in the match. The match not only highlighted the athleticism of the participants but also further strengthened the friendship between PolyU and Jinjiang, making the event even more meaningful.   ***END***

PolyU develops versatile fluidic platform for programmable liquid processing

Society relies heavily on diverse fluidic technologies. The ability to precisely capture and release various chemical and biological fluids plays a fundamental role in many fields. A long-standing challenge is to design a platform that enables the switchable capture and release of liquids with precise spatial and temporal control and accurate volumes of the fluid. Recently, researchers at The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (PolyU) have invented a new method to effectively overcome this challenge. Led by Prof. WANG Liqiu, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Smart and Sustainable Energy, Chair Professor of Thermal-Fluid and Energy Engineering, of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, the research team has developed a unique fluidic processor, “Connected Polyhedral Frames” (CPFs). With CPFs, switching between liquid capture and release becomes reversible, programmable and independent of used polyhedral frames and processed liquids, making the processor a meta-metamaterial. This research has recently been published in Nature Chemical Engineering, with Dr ZHANG Yiyuan, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as the first author. Unlike in the highly developed area of solids manipulation, convenient handling of fluids remains a cumbersome task despite the ubiquity of fluids in, for example, the healthcare, pharmaceutical, biological and chemical industries. As fluids interact with tools, they frequently wet and spread on the solids, preventing complete liquid transfer, impairing volumetric accuracy and causing inter-sample cross contamination. To preserve the purity of fluids, disposable plastics such as pipettes and microtubes are widely used, adding to the global problem of plastic waste. Reversible switching between capture and release is the key to CPFs’ capability to precisely process liquids, enabling the liquid in the network to be retained or drained locally, dynamically and reversibly as desired. In the CPFs, frames above the single-rod connection without a pathway for liquid drainage between frames, capture and retain liquids, thus functioning as capturers. While the frames above the double-rod connection imbibe but release liquids, serving as releasers. This is because when the CPFs are lifted from the liquid, a liquid film forms between the double-rod connections, creating channels between frames that facilitate liquid release. Reversible switching between capture and release can be achieved, using available tools, by constructing or breaking the liquid continuity between frames. CPFs offer a versatile platform that enables many unique functions including 3D programmable patterning of liquids, 3D spatiotemporal control of concentrations of multiple materials, packaging of 3D liquid arrays and large-scale manipulation of multiple liquids. It is compatible with a broad range of liquids, including but not limited to aqueous solutions, biofluids, hydrogels, organic solvents, polymer solutions and oils. Therefore, a variety of biomaterials and chemicals can be incorporated into CPFs for various applications. To demonstrate the practical utility of CPFs in controlled multidrug release, Prof. Wang’s team designed a CPF network for the 3D binary liquid patterning of vitamins B2 and B12. The two vitamins, representing two different types of drug molecules, were encapsulated in sodium alginate hydrogel and gellan gum, respectively, and released in aqueous solution. By altering the thickness of the gel membrane, the relative release rates of the two “drugs” can be precisely controlled. Traditional cotton swabs and flocking swabs suffer from severe sample residues during their sample release. CPFs can effectively overcome this challenge because their frame structure renders free liquid-liquid interfaces for high release efficiency. Using the influenza virus as an example, the research team demonstrated the superiority of CPFs as sampling tools with much better release performance. When the virus concentration was low, the CPFs detected the virus, while both the flocking swab and cotton swab failed to do so. The team has also demonstrated the application of CPFs in biomaterial encapsulation. Taking Acetobacterium encapsulation as an example, the CPFs show many advantages over traditional devices, including by facilitating the separation of bacteria and reaction products, simplifying the microbial reaction process and enhancing the utilisation rate of bacteria. It is conceivable that CPF could also be applied to encapsulate other biological materials for efficient production of other valuable products. In addition to medical and microbial applications, Prof. Wang’s team has further demonstrated the practicability of CPFs for air conditioning. They prepared a commercial-scale humidifier prototype, which has a higher water storage capacity and requires less water flow, making them potentially more energy efficient. The CPFs also allow large-scale 3D liquid dispersion to form a larger surface area, making them very useful for gas absorption. An ideal CO2 cycle process is successfully generated with CPFs, which includes carbon capture and storage and CO2 reutilisation. Importantly, each frame in CPFs captures or releases liquids independent of its base materials, structures and handled liquids, being thus an innovative meta-metamaterial that makes the dream of “precisely scooping water with a bamboo basket” come true. The availability of such a fluidic processor sets a new standard for handling liquids with controllability, versatility and high performance, inspires a new field of meta-metamaterials, and facilitates new scientific and technological breakthroughs in various fields.     ***END***

PolyU develops ultra-stable, record high brightness perovskite LEDs with promising applications

Perovskite materials are significant for enhancing the development and performance of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, there are certain technological limitations in advancing overall device efficiency, brightness and lifetime, with the operational stability of Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) remaining a major challenge. Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have made a breakthrough by developing a 3DFAPbI3 perovskite material system that enables high brightness, efficiency and long device lifetime simultaneously. Prof. LI Gang, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of PolyU, together with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Zhiqi LI, Research Assistant Professor Dr Zhiwei REN, and the rest of the research team, have engineered a novel technology using an alkyl-chain-length-dependent ammonium salt molecule modulation strategy. They elucidated the roles of alkylammonium salts in managing crystal orientation, controlling grain size, suppressing non-radiative recombination, and thereby enhancing device performance. This represents a critical leap towards future applications and commercialisation of efficient and ultra-stable PeLEDs with record brightness. The research team have achieved efficient, ultra-bright, and stable PeLEDs simultaneously, with high  Electroluminescence External Quantum Efficiency of 23.2%, a record radiance of 1,593 W sr−1 m−2 and a much improved record lifetime of 227 h (at a high current density of 100 mA cm−2). This demonstrates the best performance for DC-drive near-infrared PeLEDs at high-brightness and stability levels. Their research “Grain orientation management and recombination suppression for ultra-stable PeLEDs with record brightness”, has been recently published in the energy journal Joule. Prof. Li Gang said, “This strategy suggests that PeLEDs are not only high-efficiency devices in the laboratory but also promising candidates for commercial high-brightness lighting and display applications, competing with commercially available quantum-dot-based and organic LEDs.” The research team revealed that the performance of PeLEDs is strongly affected by the balance among oriented crystallisation, grain size control and suppression of non-radiative recombination. The key to resolving this dilemma lies in adjusting the molecular interaction between the long-chain alkylammonium salts and perovskite nuclei. Alkylammoniums promote oriented crystallization of perovskite film for lighting, while the molecular interaction between alkylammonium and perovskite affects PeLEDs performance. Notably, the team has successfully utilised molecular engineering of long-chain alkylammonium salts to modulate crystallisation kinetics. This breakthrough strategy enables the production of high-efficiency and ultra-brightness near-infrared PeLEDs with ultralong stability, even under large current excitation. In the development of LEDs, PeLEDs possess substantial advantages, including pure colour, a wider display colour gamut range, cost effectiveness and solution processiblity offering greater flexibility in production. The team’s discovery contributes significantly to the advancement of PeLEDs and their technological impact.    ***END***

The 9th executive committee of PolyU CEO Club inaugurated

Chinese version only.

ZEISS Adopts PolyU's Patented Technology to Develop ZEISS MyoCare Myopia Control Lenses for Children; Professional ophthalmic products feature patented myopia control technology, effectively slowing down myopia progression in nearly 90% of child wearers

The School of Optometry of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and ZEISS Vision Care (ZEISS) announced their latest collaborative initiative, ZEISS MyoCare Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses (ZEISS MyoCare Lenses). The lenses utilise PolyU's patented Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) technology for myopia management. Through this collaboration, the two parties joined forces to drive better control and management of myopia in children globally. This collaboration has enabled ZEISS to adopt PolyU’s patented DISC technology in its specialist optical products, integrating authoritative academic ophthalmic research with cutting-edge ophthalmological technology to provide the public with new effective professional vision care solutions. The ZEISS MyoCare Lenses uses PolyU’s DISC technology, its patented design adds a set of specialised optical microstructures to the general refractive myopia correction optical structure. The two sets of optical structures are arranged alternately on the lens surface. The corrective area projects the image onto the retina, allowing the wearer to see a clear image, while the optical microstructures project another set of images in front of the retina, i.e., the "forward optical defocus" signal, utilising the eye's natural emmetropisation feedback mechanism to guide the eye and slow down the growth of the eyeball axis of myopic patients. The technology is completely non-invasive and has undergone multiple basic experiments and clinical verifications, proven to be safe, effective and without significant side effects. ZEISS MyoCare Lenses also incorporate patented ZEISS C.A.R.E.® technology. It can effectively decelerate the rate of myopia progression by 48% to 63% and diminish axial length increase by 41% to 77%. Furthermore, these lenses provide wearers with clear vision regardless of viewing distance and direction, and are easy to adapt to, with over 95% of child wearers able to adapt to the lenses within three days. A recent 12-month research report shows that nearly 90% of children wearing ZEISS MyoCare Lenses experienced slow annual myopia progression, compared to 51% of children wearing single vision lenses experiencing fast progression. Moreover, ZEISS MyoCare lenses slowed eye growth from that of a myopic eye to approach that of an emmetropic eye by nearly 70%. Mitigating the Risk of Myopia Progression in Children with Parental Myopia Research confirmed that genetic factors, such as having parents with myopia, increases a child's risk of developing myopia. However, a 12-month clinical study has shown that compared to wearing regular single vision lenses, using ZEISS MyoCare Lenses can effectively slow down myopia progression, even for children with myopic parents, who are especially at risk of developing myopia. This indicates that these lenses can help parents with myopia reduce the increased risk of myopia development in their children, essentially breaking the cycle of worsening myopia each generation. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, "PolyU has always been committed to promoting technology transfer. The DISC technology for myopia management is an excellent example to demonstrate how academic research can be transformed into effective industry solutions, offering an additional option in the market for those in need. It is a great pleasure to collaborate with ZEISS, a leading optical brand, to jointly strive for excellence in the development of myopia control for the benefit of community." Mr David Ferran, Vice president, Latin America, Iberia & Asia -C, Vision Care Business Group, ZEISS, added, "ZEISS has been working closely with PolyU for many years. Through this collaboration, we will jointly develop more innovative technologies, aiming to bring the best ophthalmological technology into vision correction solutions, collectively addressing the threat posed by myopia and promoting the well-being of children worldwide.” Mr Calvin Kwan, President of The Hong Kong Optometric Association, said: "Myopia is a serious issue among Hong Kong children, and age 6 to 12 years old is the ‘golden period’ for myopia control. Parents should seize the opportunity to provide the best and most effective myopia control measures for their children, safeguarding their eye health and preventing the development of high myopia and other long-term eye health problems.”   ***END***