News

Prof. Christopher Chao Hopes Participants of “Shining GBA” Inspire Each Other to Contribute to the GBA

The 2nd Shining GBA Short Video Competition, co-organised by the Administrative Service Bureau of China's National Radio and Television Administration, Radio and Television Administration of Guangdong Province, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Phoenix TV, kicked off yesterday. Themed "A new era for the GBA: United towards the future", the competition encourages participants to create short videos that offer thoughtful insights into the GBA and employ captivating narrative techniques. Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, said that the competition enables participants to contribute to the GBA’s culture and diversity through their videos.    Online Coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/3Cepg16 China Daily - https://polyu.me/3YGvLTu Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4hjKzhX Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/48x2iPa Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/4dYVcny Sina HK - https://polyu.me/4eaPkYh NetEase - https://polyu.me/3BWKZus

Prof. Eric Chui, a Mentor, and Mentees shared the Benefits Gained from joining the Strive and Rise Programme

The Government produced a microfilm to showcase the achievements of the Strive and Rise Programme under the collaborative efforts of the Government, the business sector, and the community. The premiere was hosted by Mr Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration, on 27 October (Sunday). Two sharing sessions were held at the premiere, one of which was a dialogue among Prof. Eric Chui, Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU and Co-Director of PReCIT, and a mentor and mentees discussing the benefits gained from participating in the Programme.   Online Coverage: i-Cable - https://polyu.me/3YqbY9g Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3CakUbj Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/48sJ115 Line Today - https://polyu.me/4fgZh7A Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3UrUCrr Sina HK - https://polyu.me/4e2d6Ga  

PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024 Showcased How PolyU Gives Impetus to the Development of the I&T Industry

Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office of PolyU, and Mr Wu Liangqun, PolyU alumnus, were interviewed by Guangdong Television during the InnoTech Open Day × Alumni Homecoming 2024. Prof. Chao said, through establishing technology and innovation research institutes in over ten cities in mainland China, PolyU applies patented research and development outcomes in various scenarios, giving impetus to the I&T industry.   Online Coverage: Guangdong Television - https://polyu.me/3C2GVZQ  

PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024 Showcased Research and Innovations

Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office of PolyU, and Mr Wu Liangqun, PolyU alumnus, were interviewed by Tencent. They discussed the PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024 and shared about PolyU's efforts in promoting the innovation and technology industry. Prof. Chao mentioned that PolyU established the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) several years ago to facilitate interdisciplinary research and address contemporary societal challenges, such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation, through technology and research. The event showcased various research projects including sports technology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence pipe structure inspection.   Online Coverage: Online Coverage: https://polyu.me/3NAtCSR  

PolyU Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology Hosts Forum to Envision Future of New Energy Vehicles in Hong Kong

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with the PolyU Research Centre for Electric Vehicles (RCEV) and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), hosted the forum “The Future of New Energy Vehicles in Hong Kong” on 22 October 2024. The event brought together leading experts and representatives from the Government and industry to provide insights into the latest developments in new energy vehicles, covering governmental policies, technological advancement, and industry perspectives crucial for shaping the future of transportation in a sustainable city. Over 130 PolyU faculty members, students, alumni and industry partners attended.   In his welcoming speech, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, highlighted a statistic from the Hong Kong Transport Department: from the beginning of 2024 to October, the first registration rate of new energy vehicles in the commercial sector is relatively low at 7.6%, suggesting there is significant room for I&T development and policy refinement for more effective promotion of heavy new energy vehicles. He welcomed the Government’s efforts to further accelerate the development of new energy, as well as the launch of the Subsidy Scheme for Trials of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Heavy Vehicles as outlined in the recent Policy Address.   Dr Hon CHAN Han-pan, Member of the Legislative Council, delivered opening remarks on the topic “Future Development of New Energy Vehicles in Hong Kong”. He pointed out some of the challenges of adopting new energy vehicles in Hong Kong and called for the establishment of electric vehicles charging facilities on rural land and the introduction of Chinese new energy vehicles in the City. He emphasised that promoting new energy vehicles is a pressing matter in the context of a response to the Government’s plan to cease new registration of fuel-propelled and hybrid private cars in 2035 or earlier.   Mr Eric WONG Lui, Assistant Director of the Gas and General Legislation Branch of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), introduced the latest developments related to hydrogen energy in Hong Kong, including the practice of green transportation by adopting clean hydrogen and related legislative amendments. Mr Wong mentioned workforce training for new energy vehicles. With facilitation of EMSD, a local leading provider of vocational and professional education and training will launch three training courses - hydrogen fuel awareness, registered hydrogen vehicle mechanics and competent persons trainings next year. He also highlighted that the Master of Science in Electric Vehicles offered by PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering contributes to nurturing specialised professionals for Hong Kong.   Dr Kenneth LEUNG Kai-ming, Ex-Principal Assistant Secretary for the Environment and Ecology Bureau, explained the environmental benefits of implementing zero-emission operations. He detailed the Government’s efforts over the past two decades to foster sustainable transportation development in Hong Kong, including the establishment of the New Energy Transport Fund, introduction of the first registration tax concessions, the One-for-One Replacement Scheme for electric vehicles and EV-charging at Home Subsidy Scheme. Following implementation of these schemes, the overall air quality in Hong Kong has shown a discernible improvement, with significant reductions in roadside air pollutants.   Prof. C.C. CHAN, Distinguished Chair Professor of Electric Vehicles and Smart Energy and Director of PolyU RCEV, explained the new journey of electric vehicle revolution is from electrification to intelligence and connectivity of electric vehicles. He analysed two major challenges within this transition, including the harmonious interaction between electric vehicles and power grids, as well as the integration of people, vehicles, roads and the cloud,  along with the development of related standards. Referencing the success of the Chinese automotive industry in replacing traditional production methods characterised by high inputs, high consumption and high emissions with three green new productivity factors of high technology, high efficiency and high quality. Through innovations and policies, new energy vehicles are being adopted, thereby gradually progressing towards smart cities.   Mr Aaron BOK Kwok-ming, Past President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and former Head of the Civil Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, believes that targeted subsidies can attract the public to adopt new energy and hydrogen vehicles. He encouraged collaboration between sectors, including the Government, real estate and tech firms, to advance the technology and streamline various regulatory process for electric vehicle charging installations and, in turn, help scale the necessary infrastructure.   Mr ZHANG Qi, Head of the Hong Kong R&D Center of NETA, examined the collaborative forces within the industry chain, promoting productivity excellence for Hong Kong. He envisioned that in the next three to five years, new energy vehicle technology will be rapidly mature, with innovative technologies leading industry development. Notably, intelligent driving technology will be transformative, altering car attributes and driving a complete restructuring of the automotive industry.   Dr Oscar CHAN, Research Assistant Professor of PReCIT and of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering of PolyU, shared outcomes of the project “Assessing the Adaptation of New Energy Vehicles in Hong Kong: The Future of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles and Electric Vehicles”, which is funded by the Government’s Public Policy Research Funding Scheme. He stated that accelerating innovations in the production, transportation, and storage of hydrogen energy, and the achievement of larger coverage of “green” and “blue” hydrogen, will help promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and help meet the long-term environmental goals of the city.   The panel discussion session, moderated by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU and Co-Director of PReCIT, invited keynote speakers to exchange insights on best practices and future trends of new energy vehicles in relation to various topics. He also added that the development of new energy vehicles contributes to promoting sustainability, benefiting future generations, and enhancing people’s happiness. The exchange of insights would set the stage for PReCIT to recommend forward-thinking, long-term and strategic policies.   ***END***   Press Release: Click Here (English Version); Click Here (Chinese Version) Online Coverage: 香港商報: 理大舉辦論壇探討香港新能源汽車的未來 香港中通社: 香江觀察：新能源汽車潮流勢不可擋 香港該如何應對？

Prof. Lu Haitian and Dr Shan Huang Shares their Insights on Soft Connectivity between Hong Kong-Shenzhen Collaboration

Prof. Lu Haitian, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor of AF, Core Member of PReCIT and Director of Mainland Development Office, and Dr Shan Huang, postdoctoral fellow at PolyU Shenzhen Research Institute and PReCIT, shared their insights into the advantages and challenges of soft connectivity between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in a bylined article in The Standard.   Online Coverage: The Standard - https://polyu.me/4eqLriC  

Auditing in Hong Kong and the Development of Low-altitude Economy

Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, and Prof. Eric Chui, Head of APSS and Co-Director of PReCIT, were interviewed by Bastille Post on PReCIT’s recommendations for the 2024 Policy Address about achieving carbon neutrality and carbon auditing, as well as the proposed research centre for low-altitude economy. Online Coverage: https://polyu.me/47yVjVf Full Recommendation Report: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/research/publications/  

PolyU Launches District Care Teams (Sai Kung) Training Programme to Enhance Service Skills and Quality

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) and Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), in collaboration with the District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd, have organised a professional training programme for the District Care Teams (Sai Kung). Officially commencing last Saturday, the programme employs diverse and flexible teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, case studies, group activities and visits. It aims to help participants systematically ground their theoretical knowledge and translate it into practical applications to enhance quality of life, happiness, and sense of security among the community. The programme also contributes to policy research at PReCIT. On the first day, the programme comprised two sessions covering the themes of "Social Welfare, Technology and Innovation, as well as Care Teams" and "Basic Administrative Skills." The sessions were led by Prof. Eric CHUI, PolyU Head of APSS and Co-Director of PReCIT, and Prof. Horace MUI, Associate Head (Research) of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering. Future courses will cover topics including diverse communities, communication skills, law, mental management, effective community development skills, leadership, and strategic planning and execution. Prof. Eric CHUI introduced the roles of Care Teams in Hong Kong communities and their importance to residents, "Care Teams can serve as a communication bridge between residents and the government, as well as fill service gaps. Developing from three aspects, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusivity, the Teams can explore the application of technology and innovative methods in a sustainable society, maintain professionalism through reflection and explore best practices, as well as create a rich and encouraging environment to enhance resilience and embrace diversity." Prof. Horace MUI hoped that this programme can guide Care Teams to provide more comprehensive and effective management, "We expect each participant to possess professional knowledge and the latest skills to address social issues, thus enable them to provide necessary assistance and care to those in need, and be more adept in serving the community." Ms Sandy CHAN, a participant in the programme, shared that the lecture on the first day equipped her to better serve the community, "I have learnt how to effectively identify those in need and consider their feelings and dignity. I can therefore assist them in integrating into society with empathy." APSS is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and practice for more effective and compassionate human services through the integration of education, research and service, thus promoting social inclusion and community betterment locally, nationally, and internationally. PReCIT brings together scholars from different disciplines and professions with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and policy research. The District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd consolidates community resources and forces from all sectors and strengthens district networks. This tripartite collaboration provides a systematic and practical professional training programme for the Sai Kung District Care Teams. The programme, designed by world-renowned scholars and experienced professionals from various fields, equips them to offer high-quality care services to the community.   Online Coverage: Sing Tao - https://std.stheadline.com/realtime/article/2023797/

PReCIT Submits 2024 Policy Address Recommendations Focusing on Four Key Themes for Hong Kong’s Sustainable Development

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has submitted its recommendations to the HKSAR government for the 2024 Policy Address. The recommendations cover four major themes: Carbon Neutral Cities, Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Innovation and Technology (I&T) Development, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and Life and Health Technology. PolyU held an event today to introduce the recommendations and invited Legislative Council members Hon Duncan CHIU and Hon TANG Fei to share their insights. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, said, “This is the third year that PolyU has submitted policy recommendations to the HKSAR government. Over the past two years, our suggestions have been highly valued and adopted by the government. This is not only an affirmation of our work but also encourages us to continue tomake positive and proactive contributions to society.” Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, gave an overview of the recommendations and said, “Our recommendations are structured around four key themes. Each theme is carefully chosen to address both current challenges and future opportunities, ensuring that Hong Kong continues to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.” Prof. Eric CHUI, Co-Director of PReCIT and Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences, moderated the discussion session. He said, “By focusing on these critical areas, we aim to support the government’s efforts in fostering innovation, enhancing connectivity, and improving the quality of life for all residents.”                Mr Kar-kan LING, Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) (left) and Prof. Daniel T. L. Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) (right) are PReCIT’s core members.        Prof. C.C. CHAN, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Distinguished Chair Professor of Electric Vehicles and Smart Energy, and Director of Research Centre for Electric Vehicles at PolyU, also contributed to the recommendations. Key recommendations include: 1. Implementing Comprehensive Carbon Auditing and Building Carbon Neutral Cities Hong Kong’s carbon emissions mainly come from the electricity generation sector, transportation, and waste. To achieve carbon neutrality, PReCIT recommends that the government implement comprehensive carbon auditing measures to accurately track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all sectors of the economy and establish similar emissions reporting requirements for companies and organisations above a certain size threshold, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Hong Kong’s carbon footprint. The government can develop a centralised, publicly accessible platform to report and track Hong Kong’s GHG emissions data over time, to address the need for improved transparency. In addition, PReCIT encourages the government to support the development of new technologies, such as green hydrogen energy and waste-based biomass power generation, and to promote the construction of related infrastructure. The government can promote the development of green hydrogen energy by enterprises and research institutions through incentives such as tax incentives, research and development grants, and low-interest loans. 2. Strengthening I&T Collaboration in GBA; Developing a Smart Northern Metropolis The HKSAR government can formulate strategies to facilitate the integration of transitional housing residents into the community and provide community-oriented social services. The Northern Metropolis can take reference from Shenzhen’s experience in the low-altitude economy (LAE), establishing the San Tin Technopole as a central innovation hub to foster collaborations with the Shenzhen I&T Park and advance the construction of a GBA Smart City Cluster. Furthermore, Hong Kong needs to continue to refine its laws and regulations related to the LAE, establish an inter-departmental working unit for the efficient supervision of LAE development, and build R&D centres focusing on low-altitude transportation technologies to advance research in this area. At the same time, Hong Kong is recommended to establish a unified financial standards system, promote the application of a Global Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), and enhance the security and international competitiveness of financial transactions. 3. Promoting Belt and Road (B&R) Collaboration and Retaining Talent PReCIT recommends that the government considers allocating funds and/or creates platforms that are conducive to knowledge exchange, cooperative research, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) between B&R partners and experts from Hong Kong and the GBA. In addition, the government should assume a leading role in establishing a BRI government-industry-academia-research consortium. Other specific recommendations include: increasing the number of Belt and Road scholarships and encouraging graduates to work in Hong Kong; supporting Hong Kong institutions to set up joint student training centres overseas; striving to include Hong Kong in the China Scholarship Council Scholarship Programmes; deepening cooperation among universities in Hong Kong and the Mainland and encouraging joint training programmes; and expanding the “Strive and Rise Programme” from Hong Kong to Belt and Road countries to help address intergenerational poverty. 4. Enhancing Healthcare to Address an Ageing Population and Chronic Diseases Facing the challenges of an ageing population and chronic diseases, Hong Kong needs to strengthen primary healthcare. PReCIT suggests establishing a nutritionist registration system and subsidising community nutrition services. At the same time, it is recommended to establish a “Greater Bay Area Future Food Research Institute” to promote the sustainable development of the food industry. To incorporate traditional Chinese medicine into mainstream healthcare, it is necessary to strengthen its basic research and clinical applications and formulate relevant norms. It is recommended to leverage the advantages of local universities in research and education across various healthcare disciplines to accelerate the cultivation of high-quality talent in the healthcare field and expand Hong Kong’s medical talent pool. Additionally, it is recommended to strengthen exchanges and cooperation of clinical medical talent and medical industry technology innovation talent with the Mainland (especially the GBA) at multiple levels, including health departments, hospitals, and social organisations. In addition, in order to leverage new technologies to empower the “Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Institute”, PReCIT suggests combining big data and artificial intelligence technologies in the medical field, and developing telemedicine platforms to provide remote diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and patient monitoring. It is also recommended to integrate and anonymise relevant data to establish a medical research database, which is open for further analysis by universities and research institutions. Simultaneously, it is recommended to discuss with various stakeholders the establishment of a scientifically comprehensive full-process drug regulatory mechanism, and further improve the adequacy and efficiency of the drug approval and regulatory system. Promoting the cooperation of trial sites with the GBA and nationwide to build a regional clinical trial coordination platform is also suggested. These measures will also accelerate the clinical application of new drugs and devices, driving the development of Hong Kong as a regional pharmaceutical research and production base. Composed of academics from different disciplines and professions, PReCIT promotes interdisciplinary policy research and strives to become a leading I&T think tank in Hong Kong and the region. For the full text of the recommendation report, please visit: www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/research/publications/.   For more information about PReCIT, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/.   ***END***   Photo album of the event: Click here Press Releases: English Version; Chinese Version Online Coverage: Headline Daily - 施政報告2024︱理大科技及創新政策研究中心提交建議書  四大策略構建可持續未來 Sing Tao Daily - 施政報告2024︱理大科技及創新政策研究中心提交建議書  四大策略構建可持續未來 Headline Daily - 理大籲港府拓氫能發電 可自訂碳審計標準 不必追隨歐美 Sing Tao Daily - 理大籲港府拓氫能發電 可自訂碳審計標準 不必追隨歐美 Ming Pao - 理大提施政報告建議倡政府開發綠氫 推「共創明『Teen』」至一帶一路 Ming Pao - 理大提施政報告建議 倡開發綠氫及低空經濟 Oriental Daily News - 理大提交施政建議書 助力香港可持續發展 Oriental Daily News - 理大獻策施政 支持發展綠氫 Hong Kong Commercial Daily - 理大科技及創新政策研究中心就施政報告提交建議 助力香港構建可持續未來 RTHK -  PolyU calls for more support for BnR students Mirage News - PolyU PReCIT Submits 2024 Policy Address Proposals Hong Kong Economic Journal - EJ Insight - 理大科技及創新政策研究中心 施政報告建議書四項主題覆蓋面廣 Master Insight - 2024年《施政報告》理大提交建議書：四大核心主題，共繪香港可持續發展藍圖

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.   Press Release: Click here (English Version) Click here (Chinese Version) Online Coverage (Chinese only): 大公網: https://www.takungpao.com/association/text/2024/0813/1000600.html  Kinliu: https://n.kinliu.hk/governance/%E7%90%86%E5%A4%A7%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E6%94%BF%E7%AD%96%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E5%8F%8A%E5%9F%B9%E8%A8%93%E6%94%AF%E6%8F%B4%E3%80%80%E5%8A%A9%E5%8A%9B%E8%A5%BF%E8%B2%A2%E5%8D%80%E9%97%9C%E6%84%9B%E9%9A%8A/