The University’s flagship event, “PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024”, was successfully held on 19 October 2024. This year’s InnoTech Open Day was themed “Vision through Innovation, Connecting Intelligence”. It showcased PolyU’s achievements in interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, which contribute to the development of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The event brought together PolyU academics, students, alumni, I&T entrepreneurs, industry partners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to explore and experience the benefits of PolyU-led innovation and technologies.
The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including the Hon. Duncan CHIU, Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Ms WU Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR.
The Open Day included innovation showcases that highlighted the power of PolyU-industry collaboration in driving cutting-edge innovations to accelerate new quality productive forces, as well as outcomes of research led by award-winning young and outstanding PolyU scholars. The showcased innovations spanned advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) and data sciences, life sciences and healthcare, new energy and materials, sustainability, and novel EV charging technologies.
PAIR and its constituent units joined hands to organise an exhibition titled “Power of Innovation: PAIR Research Impact”. The exhibits included food waste-derived 3D-printed materials, a smart companion doll, a cutting-edge foot scanner, a novel 3D model depicting the topography and landscape of the lunar south pole, and low-carbon construction materials. The Academy also organised a PAIR InnoTech Forum in which directors and associate directors of PAIR’s research units presented groundbreaking technologies in health and well-being, AI, and resilient urban infrastructure.
To further drive entrepreneurship development, PolyU penned strategic partnership agreements with companies and organisations from Hong Kong and Mainland China at the event. In addition, three collaborating incubation and investment platforms in Mainland China and 18 start-ups nurtured in the PolyVentures ecosystem were featured. Participants had the opportunity to experience advanced technologies developed by some of these start-ups. Moreover, outstanding alumnus Dr SHEN Peng, founder and CEO of Waterdrop Inc., shared his entrepreneurial journey, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.
