With a long history of excellence, PolyU offers expertise across a wide spectrum of health technology disciplines, including rehabilitation science, medical laboratory science, radiography, nursing, optometry, and more. The University aims to fully leverage its strengths in “medical and engineering integration” and build on this solid foundation to advance the integrated development of medicine and health sciences. In light of this, PolyU has recently collaborated with Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH) and Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, signing various memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

Strategic partnerships in physiotherapy and medical engineering

In partnership with PUTH, the MoU aims to establish a strategic partnership focused on developing physiotherapy research, cultivating talent and building research platforms to enhance industry development and meet the growing global demand for healthcare. Both institutions will leverage their strengths to advance physiotherapy treatment technologies, achieving mutual benefits and translating cutting-edge research into practical applications with a positive global impact. The collaboration will enhance regional medical technology capabilities and benefit more patients in need. PolyU and PUTH will deepen their cooperation in clinical treatment, technological innovation, and talent cultivation, striving to set new benchmarks in physiotherapy services across the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

Additionally, PolyU and the Department of General Surgery at PUTH have signed another MoU to explore interdisciplinary collaborations in medical engineering. This partnership will focus on developing cooperative research or establishing joint research laboratories in areas such as radiomics, scientific research, and the translation of medical engineering.

Another MoU, exploring interdisciplinary collaborations in medical engineering, was signed between PolyU and the Department of General Surgery of PUTH. The signatories were Ir Prof. H.C. Man, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor in Manufacturing Engineering and Chair Professor of Materials Engineering at PolyU (right); and Prof. Yuan Chunhui, Director of the Department of General Surgery at PUTH (left).

Accelerating advancement in medical engineering and artificial intelligence

PolyU and Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Kowloon Group, have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly establish the “Suzhou Kowloon Hospital – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Innovation Incubation Platform”, PolyU’s first clinical incubation platform. Under this agreement, PolyU and Suzhou Kowloon Hospital will strengthen their collaboration in accelerating research and clinical application in medical engineering and artificial intelligence. A biomedical technology innovation incubator will be established, with Suzhou Kowloon Hospital consolidating its extensive clinical resources to support PolyU research teams and startups in developing novel medical products. The partnership will also initiate clinical application research projects, provide internships and exchange opportunities for PolyU students, and offer tailored study programmes and industry training for medical practitioners.

Witnessed by Dr Lawrence Li, Deputy Council Chairman of PolyU (left, back row), and Mr Hei Sun, Chairman of the Hong Kong Kowloon Group (right, back row), the agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher Chao , Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU (left, seated), and Mr Qiang Chen, Vice President of the Hong Kong Kowloon Group (right, seated), aiming to develop the “Suzhou Kowloon Hospital – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Innovation Incubation Platform”.

Following the signing ceremony, the “PolyU Forum”, moderated by Professor Christopher Chao, was held with the participation of PolyU academics, experts from Suzhou Kowloon Hospital and representatives from Mainland medical technology companies at the Hong Kong International Biotech Expo, BIOHK2024. Themed “Building Collaborative Ecosystems: How Universities, Hospitals and the Healthcare Industry Can Collaborate to Spur Innovation”, the panellists explored the challenges faced by the healthcare industry and how to drive industry development by strengthening inter-institutional cooperation.

Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU (left), moderated the “PolyU Forum” at BIOHK2024.