Dr Tenny Lam, co-founder of PolyU academic-led start-up Grand Rise Technology Limited (Grand Rise), recently won the Excellence in Research Application Award of the Hong Kong Innopreneur Awards. The Awards are organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, with HSBC as the title sponsor.

Co-founded by Dr Lam, a PolyU DBA graduate and Prof. Li Pei from PolyU, Grand Rise translates PolyU’s core-shell nanoparticle technology invented by Prof. Li into impactful products and innovative solutions. To foster a sustainable future, Grand Rise focuses on developing green and safe biomaterials-based coatings and related applications.

Grand Rise has created a novel technology based on PolyU’s patented core-shell particle technology platform, enabling a new class of amphiphilic core-shell nanoparticles for a wide range of applications such as anti-microbial coating solutions. This anti-microbial material is safe for humans and the environment, as it does not release toxic chemicals that can harm the human body and contaminate natural resources including water. It also offers a prolonged effect of protection against viruses and bacteria.

Prof. Li and Dr Lam have worked closely together since the establishment of Grand Rise, winning numerous awards at various competitions. Recently, the team has developed an edible coating material which can extend the shelf life of fruit, reduce food waste and lower the risk of cross-infection of viruses during transportation.

The Hong Kong Innopreneur Awards aim to endorse and honour forward-looking and promising start-up founders who have attained breakthrough innovation in their businesses and commit themselves to positively impacting the community and society. It also serves as a significant motivation for industry players, driving the entrepreneurial spirit and encouraging quality talents to be future industrial leaders and supporters of Hong Kong’s I&T development.