PolyU-supported startups and researchers win six awards at 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days
PolyU excelled in this year’s special edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva – Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event. PolyU garnered a total of six awards, including one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, one Gold Medal, three Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal.
Four of the six participating projects are operated by PolyU-supported startups and they have already commercialised their research outputs. The awards received by the PolyU teams are testament to their determination and unique capabilities in their areas of expertise, which have earned them international recognition. PolyU researchers will continue their good work by developing more innovative solutions for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.
Awards won by PolyU academics
Camera Pointing System for China’s Lunar Exploration Missions (Chang’e 3 & 4)
Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury
Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury
Principal Investigator: Professor Yung Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Installed on top of the lunar lander, the Camera Pointing System facilitates panoramic image capturing and rover movement observation on the Moon, and helps the national aerospace team construct a precision 3D model of the landscape for safe rovering. With a complex design and a weight of only 2.8 kg, it is sturdy enough to protect the camera against shock and vibration during space missions and ensure its proper functioning under the extreme lunar environment. The invention was successfully deployed on the Moon’s front surface during the Chang’e 3 mission and the Moon’s far side during the Chang’e 4 mission of China’s Lunar Exploration Programme. PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong taking part in the Nation’s space missions.
Omni-Cool-Dry™: a desert beetle inspired skin-like fabric for dynamic thermal and moisture management
Silver Medal
Principal Investigator: Dr Shou Dahua, Assistant Professor, Institute of Textiles and Clothing
Compared to normal fabrics, this fabric weighs 75% less, dissipates sweat three times faster, and is 50% less clingy during heavy perspiration. The wearer’s skin temperature is also 5°C lower. The skin-like fabric aims to keep wearers cool, dry and comfortable by dissipating sweat as water droplets, and by reflecting solar radiation and emitting body heat to the cold universe.
Awards won by PolyU-supported startups
UmiCool: an eco-friendly Smart Sub-ambient Radiative Cooling (SSRC) coating
Gold Medal
Principal Investigator: Professor Dai Jianguo, Professor and Associate Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Founder of Pro-Infra Science & Technology Limited (a PolyU academic-led startup)
This eco-friendly, long-lasting, self-cleaning, low-cost polymeric radiative cooling coating can reduce the interior temperature of buildings/infrastructure by 6°C as compared to the ambient temperature under direct sunlight without electricity consumption. UmiCool can scatter sunlight, convert absorbed UV light to fluorescence emissions and re-emit infrared radiation to the cold universe.
Carbon-negative climate-smart biochar partition block
Silver Medal
Principal Investigator: Professor Daniel Tsang Chiu-wa, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Founder of NeutralCrete Limited (a PolyU academic-led startup)
The world’s first biochar partition block for indoor use that is lightweight, climatesmart, carbon-negative, thermal-insulating, noise-reducing, moisture-regulating and air-purifying. With tailored biochar synthesis, cement formula and mixture design, this low-cost building material boasts high performance, high carbon sequestration and value-added environmental functions.
AkkMore™: a fungus and plant based supplement against obesity or prediabetes
Silver Medal
Principal Investigator: Dr Gail Chang Jinhui, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology | Co-founder of Bo InnoHealth Biotechnology Company Limited (a PolyU GBA Startup PostDoc and PolyU academic-led startup)
AkkMore™ boosts Akkermansia muciniphila in the human gut. It aims to improve users’ body conditions by building a healthy microbiome. The fungus and plant-based drink helps to reduce metabolic disorders and facilitates losing weight. The research team has completed three phases of animal testing and a phase one clinical trial in humans.
Algorithmic music composition software for popularising AI education
Bronze Medal
Principal Investigator: Dr Chen Gong, PhD alumni of the Department of Computing | Founder of RhySoul Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited (a PolyU GBA Startup PostDoc)
An interdisciplinary course that combines art and science, and teaches basic AI algorithms through experiential learning of AI-powered musical composition. It aims to popularise AI education by enabling effective teaching at schools and self-learning, allowing beginners to learn basic AI algorithms easily in an interesting way.
