News

Five interdisciplinary research projects funded by the NSFC/RGC Collaborative and Joint Research Schemes

Ten research projects led by scholars at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been funded in the 2022/23 Exercise of the Joint Research Scheme (JRS) and the new Collaborative Research Scheme (CRS) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC).  PAIR is so proud that five of them are interdisciplinary research projects from our constituent research units. List of projects funded under NSFC/RGC Collaborative Research Scheme 2022/23: Project Title Project Coordinator (in Hong Kong) Principal Investigator/ Institution (in inland) PAIR Constituent Research Unit Monolithically Integrated Electronics with Two-Dimensional Semiconductors – from Controllable Growth to Device Integration Prof. CHAI Yang, Department of Applied Physics Prof. ZHANG Wenjing, Shenzhen University Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Long-cycle and High-energy-density Flexible Li Batteries Using Hollow Multishelled Structure and Hierarchical Composite Electrode Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Prof. YANG Mei, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE)   List of projects funded under NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme 2022/23: Project Title Project Coordinator (in Hong Kong) Principal Investigator/ Institution (in inland) PAIR Constituent Research Unit Investigation of Rainstorm - Storm Surge Joint Occurrence Pattern and Induced Flooding Risk Assessment in Coastal Cities within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Dr DUAN Huanfeng, Department of Civil and Environment Engineering Prof. ZHENG Feifei, Zhejiang University Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) Tin-Based Metal Halide Perovskites for X-Ray Detectors Prof. YAN Feng, Department of Applied Physics Prof. YANG Shihe, Peking University Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Time-sequence Regenerative Repair of Atherosclerotic Blood Vessels with Janus Cardiovascular Stents Dr ZHAO Xin, Department of Biomedical Engineering Prof. YANG Zhilu, Southern Medical University Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI)   The NSFC and the RGC jointly established the CRS and the JRS to promote cooperation between the inland and Hong Kong in valuable and innovative science research projects. The CRS, which was newly introduced in 2022/23, aims to support larger-scale cross-institutional and collaborative research projects to enhance research output and impact. The CRS funds about 10 projects in each year exercise and provides funding support of up to HK$3.6 million per approved project by Hong Kong applicants. The JRS promotes collaboration between researchers in the Mainland and Hong Kong for their complementary strengths and provides funding support of up to HK$1.25 million per approved project by Hong Kong applicants. Further reading: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2022/1130_ten-polyu-projects-funded-by-the-nsfc_rgc/

RCSV researchers launch innovative spectacle lens powered by PolyU’s two patented technologies to slow down myopia progression in children

The Vision Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (VST), a PolyU-supported start-up, has successfully developed the Nano Multi-rings Defocus Incorporated Lens, offering children and adolescents a convenient, non-invasive and effective option to delay myopia progression. The VST collaborated with the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) (SKL-UPMT), the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and the School of Optometry of PolyU to create the new solution by integrating PolyU’s proprietary technology—Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) technology and Ultra-precision Nano Multi-rings Machining Technology—to create the new spectacle lens, which will soon be rolled out  in Hong Kong and the inland. The company will continue collaborating with PolyU to develop new myopia control products based on DISC technology to protect the vision health of children and adolescents. Founded by PolyU’s professor and alumni, VST has received financial support from the PolyU Micro Fund and the PolyU Tech Launchpad Fund. In 2018, the VST secured a licence from PolyU for commercialising DISC technology, which VST manufactures and distributes DISC lenses at its authorised optometric clinics and fitting centres. Further reading: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/rcsv/news-and-events/news/2022/20221207-rcsv-associate-director-and-member-launches-innovative-spectacle-lens/

SHKP and PolyU sign MoUs on Building Innovation & Technology Research Projects and Scholarship Programme

Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) and PolyU signed memoranda of understanding on 18 November 2022 for collaboration on research projects on green application, green building materials and green construction processes to support Hong Kong’s development into a smart city. Prof. WANG Shengwei, Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), and other two professors will lead three collaborative projects, each of which worth HKD 5 million. Among them, the green application project “Full Life Cycle Optimization of Green Smart Building Energy System” led by Prof. Wang, will be conducted at SHKP’s integrated complex atop High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station, for real-time, flexible and optimised energy control. The green and smart building technologies developed by the team have been used for the International Commercial Centre (ICC) in SHKP–PolyU collaboration in 2005 with proven success. The team’s energy solutions have been used in a range of commercial and industrial buildings, including factories, hotels, commercial and office complexes, and underground facilities, as well as PolyU campus buildings, with an energy saving of 15–40% and maximum annual energy saving of over 10M kWh per individual building. Further reading: https://polyu.me/3URlW0o

PolyU's research excellence to be showcased in InnoTech Expo 2022

The InnoTech Expo organised by Our Hong Kong Foundation will be held from 12 to 22 December 2022 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.  PAIR is so proud that some of our outstanding research have been selected for exhibition.  Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, is one of the academic experts appointed to the selection panel by the organiser for selecting representative scientific research achievements in Hong Kong for exhibition.  The expo aims to inspire youngsters to develop an interest in innovation and technology.  “Nurturing students to become international I&T talents is one of the keys to help develop Hong Kong into an international I&T hub,” Prof. Chao said. Selected PAIR research projects include: the “Surface Sampling and Packing System”, the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera” (“Mars Camera”), and the “Innovative Topographic and Geomorphological Characterisation and Analysis Technique” developed by the Research Centre for Deep Space Exploration (RCDSE) for the Nation’s Lunar and Mars exploration missions; the “Smart Monitoring System for Urban Tree Management” by the Research Institute for Land and Space; the “Comprehensive Spatial Analysis and Onset Risk Prediction Platform for the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong” and the “Three-dimensional (3D) Mobile Mapping System” by the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI); and the “3D Ultrasound Imaging System for Radiation-free Scoliosis Assessment” by the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA). https://www.ourhkfoundation.org.hk/en/event/1603/inno-platform/innotech-expo-2022 Media coverage: SCMP - https://polyu.me/3ilOaCj Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3VCvfkL Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3F8mHwN Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Vwhpk0 Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3ify64V HK01 - https://polyu.me/3UcA1EH Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3EJ2U5I China Review News - https://polyu.me/3AQopQI

RCSV Management Committee Member conferred American Mathematical Society Fellowship 2023

Prof. Chen Xiaojun, Management Committee Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Director of University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics and Chair Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at PolyU, was elected to the 2023 Class of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) in recognition of her contributions to mathematical optimisation, stochastic variational inequalities and the analysis of non-differentiable functions. Prof. Chen has an distinguished track record in academic research and research leadership. She has published over 90 research papers in top journals of applied mathematics. Prof. Chen has received over 20 grants from the Australian Research Council, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences and the Hong Kong UGC Research Grants Council (RGC). She was awarded over HK$3M grant from the RGC Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) in 2022. Prof. Chen has made significant contribution to the promotion and maintenance of high professional standards in mathematical research in PolyU. She serves as an Area Editor and an Associate Editor for seven international journals including the SIAM (Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics) Journal on Numerical Analysis and the SIAM Journal on Optimization. The full list of 2023 AMS Fellow Class can be downloaded from the link below: https://www.ams.org/cgi-bin/fellows/fellows_by_year.cgi

RCDSE of PolyU and Hong Kong Space Museum collaborate on “Moon | Mars VR” interactive exhibit, simulating a spacewalking journey for visitors

PolyU has collaborated with the Hong Kong Space Museum to showcase an interactive exhibit “Moon | Mars VR”, for one year starting from December. The virtual reality exhibit, powered by PolyU’s cutting-edge technology that assists the Nation’s space missions, allows the public to experience spacewalking and explore the landing sites of Chang’e-4 and Tianwen-1 spacecrafts on the Moon and Mars. The VR exhibit makes use of data provided by the relevant space agencies of China and the PolyU research team led by Prof. Wu Bo, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and Associate Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, to create a virtual reality environment of the landing sites on the Moon and Mars, allowing visitors to virtually experience spacewalking on the two celestial bodies. Invited by the China National Space Administration, this VR system was also recently showcased at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition held at Zhuhai and enthusiastically received by audience. The launch ceremony was held on 3 December 2022 at the Museum and was officiated by Prof. Wu Bo and the Curator of the Hong Kong Space Museum, Mr Timothy Ho Man Hung. Prof. Wu said, “As the only Hong Kong institution contributing to the Nation’s astronautical projects, PolyU has been deeply involved in China’s lunar and Mars missions. We are pleased to collaborate with the Hong Kong Space Museum in showcasing this exhibit, inviting the public to experience some of the scientific research achievements of PolyU and the Nations’ space exploration accomplishments over the years. Looking forward, it is hoped that more events and exhibitions with a focus on space technology can be held to promote greater awareness and interest among the public and young people.” To further contribute to the development of China's aerospace technology, PolyU has established the RCDSE to promote interdisciplinary researches in space resources and associate technologies for explorations and exploitations, and also signed a cooperation agreement with the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology in China to establish the “Joint Research Centre of Advanced Aerospace Propulsion Technology”. The University fully supports the selection of payload specialists in Hong Kong for China’s manned space programme, and previously held a seminar on campus to encourage outstanding young scholars to apply. PolyU will continue to realise our vision to benefit the Nation and Hong Kong by nurturing talents and pursuing cutting-edge scientific research. The “Moon | Mars VR” exhibit is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and PolyU, and jointly organised by the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Planetary Remote Sensing Laboratory of PolyU’s Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, and supported by the China National Space Administration’s Information Office. For more information, please visit the museum website at: https://hk.space.museum/en_US/web/spm/exhibitions/permanent-exhibition/moon-mars-vr.html

Construction R&D Forum – Bringing Applied R&D to a New Height held successfully

The Development Bureau and the University-Government-Industry Consortium for Sustainable Urban Development (UGI Consortium) co-organised the “Construction R&D Forum – Bringing Applied R&D to a New Height” on 4 November 2022. The Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) of PolyU, as the host office of the UGI Consortium, was delighted to co-organise the forum with the Development Bureau and see the Government playing a key role in driving construction innovation, particularly in promoting applied research and development (R&D) in public works. The forum attracted about 400 participants including scholars from local universities and stakeholders from the Government and the construction industry, exchanging views on the promotion and adoption of applied R&D to enhance the industry’s efficacy to meet the challenges ahead. At the forum, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po delivered an opening remark; and Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ms Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development of the Development Bureau, and Ir Dr Andrew Chan, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the UGI Consortium delivered keynote speeches. Ir Wai Chi Sing, Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority and Ir Ricky Lau, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) of the Development Bureau chaired the plenary session and made a concluding remark respectively. The forum included presentations, discussion sessions, and showcase of university research projects. Five research projects from RISUD were exhibited at the forum. https://www.polyu.edu.hk/risud/news-and-events/news/2022/2022_11_04/

Forum on Integrating I&T into GBA and the National System cum Launch Ceremony of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) successfully held

PolyU successfully held the “Forum on Integrating I&T into GBA and the National System cum Launch Ceremony of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT)” on 24 November 2022. About 300 staff, students, alums, guests, and leaders from I&T, finance, and academia attended this grand occasion and exchanged views on how Hong Kong can proactively integrate into the Nation’s development plan. At the opening ceremony, Mr Xu Jie, Deputy Director-General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Prof. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, HKSAR Government; and Ms Li Fangfang, Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered video remarks to congratulate PolyU on its 85th Anniversary and the official debut of PReCIT.   Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Mr Charles Li, Co-Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect and Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Prof. Teng Jin-Guang, President; Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, PolyU Deputy Council Chairman; Prof. Wong Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost; Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President; Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT; and Prof. Eric Chui, Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT, officiated the launch ceremony.   PReCIT is a university-level interdisciplinary policy research centre with the aspiration to be the leading I&T think tank in Hong Kong and the region. The Centre focuses on three major research areas – carbon neutral cities, the Greater Bay Area I&T development, and the Belt and Road Initiative development in Southeast Asia, with a view to supporting Hong Kong’s evolution into an international I&T hub in line with the National 14th Five-Year Plan.   The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) congratulates the tremendous success of the forum and the launching of PReCIT.   Further reading: PolyU launches Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology to advocate for strategies for integrating with the Nation’s development | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

RILS project on rainfall characterisation awarded Public Policy Research Funding

Dr WANG Shuo, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, has been awarded a funding of HK$470,350 in the 2022/23 Public Policy Research Funding Scheme for the project titled “Incorporating Spatial Heterogeneity of Rainfall Response to Climate Change into the Design of Slope Drainage Provisions in Hong Kong”. The project aims to enhance the rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves currently adopted in Hong Kong by capturing and incorporating the changes in the spatial distribution of rainfall in response to climate change. The IDF curves are mathematical functions which show the relationship between the intensity, duration, and frequency of rainfall. The distribution of rainfall has been shown to be highly variable due to the intensifying global water cycle under global warming. The existing rain gauge-specific IDF curves adopted in Hong Kong are derived from measurements on rain gauges at predefined locations. The curves should therefore not be applied to nearby ungauged areas in Hong Kong; otherwise, the results can be unreliable or even misleading. The project will create grid-based IDF curves, i.e., new curves with higher grid resolution, increase the accuracy and reliability of IDF curves. The new curves will be created based on urban climate simulation to better capture the heterogeneous spatial distribution of rainfall, thereby increasing the applicability of IDF curves for the ungauged areas in Hong Kong. The research outcomes will facilitate the policy-making in addressing the challenges of climate-induced extreme rainstorms, as well as the planning and development for climate-resilient and sustainable urban infrastructure in Hong Kong.

Online Mental Health Self-care Workshop (for PolyU Staff and Students only)

Stress is a normal and unavoidable part of life.  Stress by itself is a motivating force but too much stress can affect our well-being, work performance, and learning.  How can we maintain a positive mind amidst challenges in life?   The Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) cordially invites PolyU staff and students to join the Online Mental Health Self-care Workshop on 9 December 2022 (Friday) at 4:30pm.  The workshop, hosted by the Diversity & Well-being Laboratory of CUHK and co-organised by MHRC, the University Health Services of PolyU, and the Jockey Club Tour Heart+, seeks to teach participants the ways and tools to maintain positive mind and self-care.   For registration and more info: https://t.edm.polyu.edu.hk/activities_web/sample/click?msgid=7aac8279-073a-47b2-9fbc-db69515891ea&linkid=637b4254054104000171a800