In a display of innovation and environmental stewardship, a team of talented PolyU students recently won the championship in the "HKAES 2023-24 Pitch Competition on Grand Challenge Engineering Topics for University Students". Their project, "EcoFlight: Enhancing Aircraft Ground Operations for Reduced Carbon Emissions", impressed the judges, earning them the opportunity to represent Hong Kong on the global stage in Washington, USA.

The Ecoflight team, including Pal Ileana, Duan Mingjie Josie, Wang Zian Peter, Gamage Sashenka, Wang Youkang Albert, and Zhang Tianyi Tonax, hail from the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) and are enrolled in the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS). Guided by their dedicated department advisors Ir Professor Horace Mui, Dr Allen Wang, Dr K. H. Ng and Dr Y. Y. Ding, the team showcased their innovation, design, and business development capabilities in addressing societal and environmental issues.

Their winning project, EcoFlight, is an AI-enhanced airport ground optimisation solution designed to reduce carbon emissions and minimise the aviation industry's carbon footprint.

Supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR, the competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES) and PolyU’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology.

This achievement not only showcases the team's creativity and research prowess, but also highlights PolyU's dedication to nurturing future innovators and leaders who are driven by a strong sense of responsibility to create a better, more sustainable world.

Congratulations to the team on their outstanding accomplishment. We look forward to cheering them on as they continue to make waves abroad with their EcoFlight solution.