PolyU triumphs with nine awards at Silicon Valley Inventions Festival
PolyU recently dazzled at the 2024 Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival (SVIIF) and garnered nine prestigious awards, including a semi-grand prize, two special prizes, five gold medals, and a silver medal. This annual event, held from 26 to 28 July in Santa Clara, California, is the largest of its kind in the United States, attracting innovators from around 30 countries.
PolyU’s teams showcased cutting-edge projects across diverse fields including healthcare, advanced materials, artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), and sensing technology. Their innovations impressed the judges and highlighted PolyU’s role as an innovative world-class university striving for education and research excellence.
Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) (4th from left); Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, Santa Clara (5th from left), and the award-winning teams.
Innovative brilliance unveiled
A standout achievement was the “ICU-grade Wireless Breathable Cardiac Electronic Skin” by Professor Zheng Zijian, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. This novel device, which won a Semi-grand Prize and a gold medal, offers a seamless, continuous, comfortable, non-invasive and inflammation-free electrocardiogram monitoring solution with ICU-grade accuracy without traditional wired and bulky clinical devices.
Another remarkable project, “Development of Intelligent Nighttime Brace with Smart Padding to Treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis” by Professor Joanne Yip, Associate Dean (Industrial Partnership) and Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles, and her team garnered a gold medal and the Prize of the Korea Invention Promotion Association. This innovation promises to revolutionise the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with its smart, adaptive design.
Developed by Professor Zhao Xin, Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Founder of PolyU academic-led start-up ReNew Biotechnology Limited, the “3D Printed Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) Bone Scaffolds” also garnered attention, receiving the Prize of the Croatian Union Innovators and a silver medal. This project holds great promise for advances in bone regeneration therapies.
A platform for global recognition
Professor Chao expressed pride in the team’s achievements, highlighting the “increasing international recognition of its research and innovations”. He affirmed, “The University will continue to uphold its motto ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind’, advancing the development of science and technology and translation of research outcomes into real-world solutions to address future societal challenges and improve the standard of living globally.”
SVIIF provided an invaluable platform for PolyU to connect with investors and business partners, further solidifying its international standing. Supported and attended by multinational corporations, investors and entrepreneurs, the event is a crucial platform for inventors and the business community to explore commercialisation opportunities and seek partnerships.
To learn more about these award-winning projects, please refer to the appendix or visit the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office website .
Media coverage:
A group photo of Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) (5th from left), and the award-winning research team members, including Prof. Cao Jiannong, Dean of the Graduate School, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science and Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing of the Department of Computing (3rd from left); Prof. Joanne Yip, Associate Dean (Industrial Partnership) and Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles (4th from left); Prof. Zheng Zijian, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (5th from right); Dr Chua Song Lin, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (4th from right); Mr Yang Yi, PhD Student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Founder of PolyU startup Discarbonery Technology Limited (3rd from right).
