PolyU and Accel Group Holdings Limited (Accel Group) have established the “PolyU-Accel Group Metaverse+ Joint Laboratory” (Joint Lab) to foster research and application of metaverse technology in various sectors, accelerate the ongoing development of Hong Kong as a green and smart city, strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration, and cultivate professional talents. The Accel Group plans to donate HK$10 million to PolyU in the next five years to support the project development and operation of the Joint Lab.

In the presence of other guests, the kick-off ceremony was officiated by Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU; Mr Ko Lai-hung, Chairman and CEO of Accel Group; Ms Iris Ping-fan Wong, Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress; Mr Chan Han-pan, LegCo Member; Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of PolyU; and Prof. Li Qing, Chair Professor of Data Science and Head of the Department of Computing of PolyU.

The Joint Lab will conduct diversified research, including into the metaverse’s role in enterprise cooperation, industrial applications, green and smart city initiatives, energy management, and sustainable supply chain systems. It is expected that the establishment of the Joint Lab will improve production efficiency and quality while at the same time reducing risk and cost, accelerating the ongoing development of Hong Kong as a green and smart city, and cultivating professional talents. Weaving together the knowledge and research capability of academia with the experience and resources of industry, this collaboration between PolyU and Accel Group will further strengthen cross-disciplinary cooperation and explore the potential and value of metaverse technology in industrial applications and environmental protection.