Dr Tenny Lam, a PolyU DBA graduate and co-founder of the PolyU academic-led startup Grand Rise Technology, has won the Excellence in Research Application Award of the inaugural Hong Kong Innopreneur Awards organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.

Dr Lam co-established Grand Rise with Professor Li Pei from PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, translating the University’s patented coreshell nanoparticle technology invented by Professor Li into impactful products and innovative solutions.

Efforts by the pair have enabled a new class of amphiphilic core-shell particles with wide-ranging applications including:

• a bio-based anti-microbial coating, non-toxic and eco-friendly, offering a prolonged effect of protection against viruses and bacteria

• an edible coating for extending the shelf life of fruit, reducing food waste and lowering the risk of crossinfection of viruses during transportation.

The Awards, launched in 2022 with HSBC as the title sponsor, aim to honour forward-looking and promising startup founders who have attained breakthrough innovation in their businesses, out of a commitment to bring positive impacts on society.

To foster a sustainable future, Grand Rise focuses on developing green and safe biomaterials-based coatings and related applications. In 2022, it won the Environmental Impact Award in the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund/HSBC JUMPSTARTER 2022 Global Pitch Competition, in addition to being included in the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch List.