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PAIR researchers shine at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won a total of 36 accolades at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention. This remarkable achievement highlights the University’s strong research capabilities and commitment to innovation on the global stage. Thirty-three PolyU innovations seized 36 accolades, including 2 Special Prizes, 10 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 8 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals, 4 Bronze Medals and 1 Special Merit Award. The project titled “Surface Sampling and Packing System for Chang’e-5 and -6 Lunar Sample Return Missions”, developed by the research team led by Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering and Chair Professor of Precision Engineering, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology, garnered the Saudi Arabia Award for Excellence in Innovation – Ministry of Education Prize and a Gold Medal with Jury Commendation. This is the first space-qualified robotic Sampling and automatic packaging system of its kind, and had successfully collected over 1.5kg of surface samples on the lunar front side and 1.6kg on the far side. On the Chang’e-6 mission, this system also marked the first-ever lunar far-side surface sampling. Another project titled “Hearing Hope: A Smart Sensor for Enhanced Safety and Precision in Hearing Restoration Procedures”, developed by the research team led by Prof. TAM Hwa-yaw, Associate Director of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Chair Professor of Photonics, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, won the Thailand Award for Best International Invention and Innovation as well as a Gold Medal with Jury Commendation. This medical device enhances surgical precision and reduces trauma in cochlear implantation by incorporating an optical fibre sensor within the electrode array.  Projects led by PAIR researchers: *In order of prize level and alphabetical order of project names Project Principal Investigator(s) Saudi Innovation Excellence Prize – Ministry of Education Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Surface Sampling and Packing System for Chang’e-5 and -6 Lunar Sample Return Missions Prof. YUNG Kai-leung Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations; Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering; Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Thailand Award for the Best International Invention & Innovation Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Hearing Hope: A Smart Sensor for Enhanced Safety and Precision in Hearing Restoration Procedures Prof. TAM Hwa-yaw Associate Director of Photonics Research Institute; Chair Professor of Photonics, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Special Merit Award from French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Seeing the Invisible: Generating Non-invasive Angiography as an Alternative to Invasive Retinal Examinations Dr SHI Danli Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry   Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury A Customisable Wearable Saliva Sensing Platform Prof. YAN Feng Associate Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems; Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Chair Professor of Organic Electronics, Department of Applied Physics Smart Fire Extinguisher for Spacecraft Prof. HUANG Xinyan Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Associate Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering; Co-founder, Widemount Dynamics Tech Limited (a PolyU startup) CO2-driven Superhydrophobic Carbon-sink Concrete Prof. POON Chi-sun Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality; Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering; Chair Professor of Sustainable Construction Material and Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering SweatMD: Health-monitoring Wearable Sweat Sensor Prof. SHOU Dahua Associate Director of Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion; Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Member of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality; Associate Director of PolyU–Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute; Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies; Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles Gold Medal A Multi-objective Yaw-control System for Wind Farm Optimisation Based on Novel 3D Wake Model   Prof. YANG Hongxing Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering AI-empowered Digital Twin for Smart Building Management Prof. XIAO Fu Associate Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Management Committee Member of Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism; Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Associate Dean, Faculty of Construction and Environment; Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Multi-mode Optical Characterisation Interferometer (MOCI) Prof. CHEUNG Chi-fai Benny Associate Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Management Committee Member of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality; Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing; Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Director, State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology   Smart Structural Integrity Monitoring Syste Prof. WONG Man-sing Charles Associate Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Associate Dean, Faculty of Construction and Environment; Professor, Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Mr CHAN Pak Kwan Managing Director & Co-founder, LeafIoT Technology Limited (a PolyU startup) Behaviour Recognition Method, Device and Wearable Device Prof.HE Mingguang Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health; Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry Dr TO Yuen-ying Elaine Postdoctoral Fellow in Ophthalmology, School of Optometry Eye-on-a-chip Device Dr ZHOU Liping Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup) Dr PHAN Chau-Minh Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Director, Eyenova Biotech Limited (a PolyU startup) Silver Medal Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments   Prof. HUANG Hailong Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute; Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering IHAC Film: Intelligent Humidity Control and Atmospheric Water Collection Film Prof. YAN Jinyue Jerry Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy; Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering AI-based Railway Obstacle Intrusion Detection System with Multimodal Transformers Prof. NI Yiqing Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures; Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit; Director of National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch); Director of PolyU–Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute LungRT Pro: Advanced Radiotherapy Support System     Prof. CAI Jing Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Research Institute for Smart Ageing; Head and Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics; Technical Advisor, InsightRT Limited (a PolyU startup)   EmoFriends Prof. WANG Jia Stephen Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things, Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute; Professor, School of Design The EyeFatigue Tracker: Exploring Visual Health through Wearable Devices and Deep-Learning Technology Dr CHEN Yanxian Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Research Assistant Professor, School of Optometry   STARS: Smartphone AI Refraction System Prof. DO Chi-wai Member of Research Institute for Future Food, Research Institute for Smart Ageing, Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation and Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Associate Professor, School of Optometry Prof. Grace NGAI Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Associate Professor, Department of Computing Biomimetics Nanoplatform for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases     Prof. DO Chi-wai Member of Research Institute for Future Food, Research Institute for Smart Ageing, Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation and Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Associate Professor, School of Optometry Prof. Emmanuel HO Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo; Principal Investigator, InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research Wellsees Orthokeratology Contact Lens Dr Jason Ki-Kit LAU Technical Director, Wellsees Technologies Co Ltd Mr Roger Jing ZHANG Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. Prof. KEEChea-su Associate Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things Head, School of Optometry; Co-Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. Dr Andy WANG Associate Professor, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University; Co-Founder, Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. (a PolyU startup) BronzeMedal Advanced Self-cleaning Oil Fume Purification System for Commercial Kitchens Prof. LEE Shun-cheng Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development; Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Technical Advisor, AeroGreen Technology Company Limited (a PolyU startup) Dr LI Xinwei Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Founder, AeroGreen Technology Company Limited (a PolyU startup) Dr HAN Shuwen Alumnus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Chief Technology Officer, AeroGreen Technology Company Limited (a PolyU startup) Next-generation Sportswear with Polylactic Acid, Auxetic Knitting Structure and Ergonomic Design Prof. Erin CHO Member of Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion; Dean of School of Fashion and Textiles; Limin Professor in Integrated Strategies and Leadership in Fashion; Advisor, Leopitorca Global Limited (a PolyU startup)   3D-printed Superior Light and Breathable Wearable Textiles Prof. JIANG Shou-xiang Kinor Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion; Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles   Press release: https://polyu.me/4ii7Sb7   Online coverage: The Standard - https://polyu.me/4ijMEKe Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/44s3T8L Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3Re2Fq3 Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4lJ7ndo Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/42HIWW1 Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/44s3e7h; https://polyu.me/3RL0hHo Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3EjtdTP Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4j6SVKe Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3G7yWwy (subscription required) HK01 - https://polyu.me/4jkux8b      

Ir Dr ZHENG Pai honoured with “HKIE Young Engineer of the Year Award 2025”

Congratulations to Ir Dr ZHENG Pai, Member of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics and Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, on being conferred the Young Engineer of the Year Award 2025 by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).  The award presentation took place at the HKIE Grand 50th Annual Dinner on 3 April 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.  The Award is organised to recognise local outstanding young engineers who have made valuable contributions to the continuous development of Hong Kong through their engineering achievements.  It stands as a prestigious accolade within the engineering profession, honouring the dedication and innovation of emerging leaders in the field.  

MHRC promotes mental health and resilience on PolyU campus through ReST Hub

The Resilient Students Training Hub (ReST Hub), launched this academic year by the School of Nursing and the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), is a five-year research-driven service and education initiative aimed at enhancing the mental health and resilience of PolyU students. To celebrate this year’s project achievements, the organisers held a celebratory event on 3 April 2025. The occasion was officiated by Dr the Hon. LAM Ching-choi, SBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council of the Government of the HKSAR, and was joined by PolyU representatives including Prof. Horace MUI, Interim Dean of Students, Prof. David SHUM, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Prof. Sylvia CHEN, Interim Director of MHRC, Prof. Justina LIU, Associate Head of School of Nursing, and Dr Florence WU, Section Head of Counselling and Wellness of the Student Affair Office.  The event featured interactive games, inspirational talks by local music artist Mr Alfred HUI and Olympic badminton player Mr LEE Cheuk-yiu, and a music performance by the PolyU Music Society, bringing together over 200 participants from PolyU and the local community. The project will introduce further initiatives in the coming years, with a goal to foster ecosystems that actively promote mental health and resilience on university campus.  

Prof. HE Mingguang featured in Wen Wei Po on pioneering ophthalmology technologies

Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology and Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, was interviewed by Wen Wei Po to discuss two ground-breaking studies he leads. Both projects, recognised as world-leading innovations, have secured multiple patents.  Among his innovations is the AI-powered, portable retinal fundus camera designed for self-testing screening for diabetic eye. This device enables efficient, comprehensive and accurate screening without requiring trained technicians. It automatically targets the subject’s eyes to capture fundus images within one minute without pupil-dilation or fluorescein injection. After this, the device transmits the image to an AI system, which assesses the optic nerve, fundus in both eyes, and detects signs of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or cataract, without requiring interpretation from medical professionals. The research team has collaborated with OPTICAL 88 to install these devices in designated stores for public use.  For myopia management, Prof. He’s team developed a non-invasive repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy to reduce the progression of childhood myopia. The team has recently improved the treatment by reducing light intensity, shortening treatment duration and optimising the illumination system. The therapy can halt myopia progression and even reduce the degree of myopia. Research showed that individuals with high myopia have their prescription reduced from 500 to 450 degrees after the treatment. This advancement offers a breakthrough solution to manage the global rise of myopia among children. The two innovations underscore Prof. He’s commitment to transforming eye care through accessible, cutting-edge technologies. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4l5I8kX; https://polyu.me/4j89lSl; https://polyu.me/3XxeNpy  

Prof. YANG Guang develops high-performance WBG perovskite solar cells, opening new path for scalable fabrication

A joint research team led by Prof. YANG Guang, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and Prof. HUANG Jinsong of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, innovatively incorporated a reductive methylhydrazinium cation (Mhy+) into wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite materials, opening a new path for the scalable fabrication of solar cells in ambient conditions.  The ground-breaking research, titled “Reductive cation for scalable wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells in ambient air”, has been published in Nature Sustainability. The team has achieved major progress in terms of material improvement, performance breakthrough and stability enhancement.  The researchers found that Mhy+ additive significantly reduces defect density while suppressing iodide oxidation and halide demixing, enabling scalable fabrication of efficient and stable WBG solar cells and modules in ambient air.  The WBG solar cells developed by the team achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23%, an open-circuit voltage of 1.28V, and a voltage loss of just 0.37V, setting new benchmarks for the field.  The researchers also successfully fabricated 25 cm² mini-modules with a stabilised efficiency of 19.8%.  These mini-modules, under accelerated aging conditions at 55±5°C, retained 94% of their initial efficiency after 700 hours of continuous light exposure, demonstrating exceptional long-term stability. This research addresses the technical challenges of scalable fabrication of solar cells in ambient conditions, making a significant step forward in the advancement of solar energy harvesting. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01529-5  

Prof. ZHANG Weixiong identifies “cancer keeper genes”

A research team led by Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Systems Biology and Artificial Intelligence, has identified “cancer-keeper genes” (CKGs), genes that maintain cancerous cell states and are critical for cellular homeostasis and survival. CKGs can be used as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for diagnosing and treating cancer. Interventions targeting CKGs may terminate or prevent abnormal cell differentiation and proliferation. The research, titled “Cancer-keeper genes as therapeutic targets”, has been published in iScience. Read the full paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37520717/ Online coverage: Medical Xpress - https://polyu.me/4c41YsN

DoRiFood featured in “Carbon Revolution in China” on food waste-derived 3D printing material

Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), was featured in the short film “Carbon Revolution in China” produced by the Hong Kong Coalition, introducing the food waste-derived 3D printing material developed by his team. The material is made by combining spent coffee grounds with polylactic acid (PLA). This innovation not only helps reduce carbon footprint but also demonstrates the vast potential for upcycling food waste. Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4iqRjei (06:00 - 07:22) Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4bJX0Bs (06:00 - 07:22) Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4bLYBXm (06:00 - 07:22)

PolyU and Amway (China) establish Joint Laboratory for Phytonutrients and Aging Research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Amway (China) signed a strategic cooperation memorandum for the establishment of the Joint Laboratory for Phytonutrients and Ageing Research on 17 March 2025. Over the next three years, both parties will allocate dedicated research funding, co-train postdoctoral researchers, and establish a phytonutrient database alongside functional assessment models to support the advancement of the Greater Bay Area’s health sector. In his address, Prof. WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, highlighted the growing demand for phytonutrients products and emphasised the significant potential of this partnership, seizing research innovation and commercialisation opportunities in the field to bring forth new solutions that benefit human health, science and technology and economy. Mr Johnson HAN, General Manager of Innovation and Science of Amway (China), highlighted the company’s decades of research and market experience in phytonutrients. The memorandum was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr Johnson HAN, under the witness of Prof. WONG Wing-tak; Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR); Dr Eric Du, Principal Scientist of the Research and Development Centre of Amway (China) and Dr Clark Chen, Senior Scientist of the Research and Development Centre of Amway (China). The inauguration ceremony for the joint laboratory followed, led by Prof. WONG Wing-tak; Prof. Christopher CHAO; Prof. Raymond WONG, Dean of Faculty of Science of PolyU; Mr Johnson Han; Dr Eric Du; and Dr Clark Chen. The gift exchange between the two sides brought the ceremony to a fruitful close. Prof. CHEN Qingyan presented Amway (China) with a commemorative plaque, and in return, Dr DU Jun gifted the Nutrilite N90 Tree of Life, an artistic decor piece symbolising holistic health. Over 20 experts, including Prof. WONG Man-sau, Director of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Prof. Lee Ming-yuen of Department of Food Science and Nutrition, joined this momentous occasion.  

Prof. NI Meng discusses hydrogen energy development on RTHK TV programme

Prof. NI Meng, Management Committee Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Construction and Environment and Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology, shared his expertise on hydrogen energy in a recent interview with RTHK TV programme Hong Kong Connection.  Prof. Ni elaborated on the benefits and limitations of grey, blue and green hydrogen, emphasising their important roles in the global transition to sustainable energy systems. He also pointed out that renewable energy supply and demand are not always matched, resulting in the generation of more renewable energy than needed, hence causing renewable energy being wasted; if the excess renewable energy can be used to produce hydrogen, this can not only avoid energy waste, but also truly achieve zero-emission hydrogen production, contributing to carbon neutrality and sustainability. Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4hcfKKX (06:39 - 08:53; 15:05 - 16:23)（Chinese only）

Notable scholar Prof. Jesse ZHU advises graduate students on research career preparation at PAIR Distinguished Lecture

Prof. Jesse ZHU, Senior Advisor to the President, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China, delivered the 36th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Research Strategy and Planning: How to Prepare a Research Career?” on 12 March 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted over 110 participants to join in person and captivated an online audience of over 13,300 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube. Prof. Zhu kickstarted his presentation by sharing his personal anecdotes from his journey through academia and industry, emphasising that innovation, curiosity and a commitment to societal impact have guided his research trajectory. He stressed the importance of identifying meaningful research themes to ensure both academic rigor and real-world relevance, noting, “True scientific breakthroughs emerge when we chase fundamental truths, not just external accolades.” Prof. Zhu illustrated these principles with examples from his cross-disciplinary work, including (i) healthcare innovation, the development of a rotating fluidiser which is a device that enable uniform particle suspension to optimise drug delivery systems; (ii) sustainable manufacturing, the application of nanoparticles in paint production to enhance flow efficiency and reduce environmental waste; and (iii) urban sustainability, pioneering compact wastewater treatment technologies for space-constrained urban environments. In conclusion, Prof. Zhu underscored the transformative role of research in advancing global well-being, advocating for a balance between theoretical exploration and applied solutions. He urged students to cultivate resilience, collaborate across disciplines, and align their work with societal needs, that is, “persistence and purpose are the bedrock of a fulfilling research career.” The event concluded with a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. Chen, where attendees explored topics ranging from funding strategies to various considerations in technology development with Prof. Zhu. Please click here for an online review.