News

First International Conference on Digital Intelligence for Energy Systems successfully held

The First International Conference on Digital Intelligence for Energy Systems, co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Zhejiang University, was successfully held from 5 to 8 January 2025 on PolyU campus. The opening ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including Ir Dr Otto POON Lok-to, BBS, OBE, and Ir Raymond POON Kwok-ying, JP, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). The Conference attracted over 200 experts from academia, industry and government across various countries. Participants shared valuable insights and innovative ideas on various topics related to smart energy, such as artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) in energy system planning, building-grid interaction, carbon neutrality transformation, energy storage, renewable energy, power transmission, smart grid and microgrid operation, energy sustainability, and energy policies. Further reading: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/rise/news-and-events/news/2025/icdies2025/?sc_lang=en

Inaugural issue of Innovation Digest is now available

We are pleased to share that PolyU has launched its brand new research newsletter Innovation Digest! The inaugural issue showcases the ground-breaking research work undertaken by PolyU’s academics in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), and highlights eight cutting-edge research studies, including projects led by PAIR researchers. These studies exhibit the breadth and depth of AI research at our university, reflecting our dedication to addressing real-world challenges through technological advancement. Six Research Highlight articles featuring studies by PAIR researchers: Collaborative Edge Computing Enabled AIoT by Prof. CAO Jiannong https://polyu.hk/IbIXJ Bioinspired In-sensor Computing Architectures and Optimisation in Sensory AI Systems by Prof. CHAI Yang https://polyu.hk/TgpPO AI-Driven Topographic Analysis of Asteroids to Support Future Asteroid Exploration and Sampling Missions by Prof. WU Bo https://polyu.hk/mgIkD Smart Adaptation: The Fusion of AI and Robotics for Dynamic Environments by Prof. ZHANG Dan https://polyu.hk/odVdn Machine Learning Accelerates the Synthesis of Novel Catalyst for Green Energy by Prof. NI Meng https://polyu.hk/apQEc Integrating Machine Learning with Total Network Controllability Analysis to Identify Therapeutic Targets for Cancer Treatment by Prof. ZHANG Weixiong https://polyu.hk/qCulR Check out full e-version: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/publications/innovationdigest/

PolyU holds New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony and University Gallery opening ceremony

PolyU held a flag-raising ceremony and the opening ceremony of the University Gallery on 1 January 2025 on campus. Both ceremonies were graced by Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai, President Prof. TENG Jin-Guang and other management members. Through engaging profiles and exhibits, the University Gallery illustrates the University’s evolution and rich history in the past eight decades. It highlights the University’s endeavours over the years in offering quality education and nurturing future leaders to meet the needs of social and economic development, while also sharing stories of distinguished PolyU researchers including scholars at PAIR who are devoted to translating their research outcomes into innovative solutions to address global challenges, thereby benefiting Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. Come visit now to discover the stories of PAIR researchers and receive an exquisite souvenir while stock lasts! Play the University Gallery video via Facebook. Press release: https://polyu.me/4fEVDo0 Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3W0RlQE Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/49XQpT5 Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3PkdBkK Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/49YS76E Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4fBmhhz Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3DEDmK2  

Prof. BU Siqi develops real-time assessment method for addressing multiple stability problems in power systems

Prof. BU Siqi, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and his colleagues recently published a research paper titled “Real-time Multi-stability Risk Assessment and Visualization of Power Systems: A Graph Neural Network-based Method” in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. The paper proposed a real-time Multi-stability Risk Assessment (MSRA) method based on a graph neural network (GNN) for addressing multiple stability problems in renewable energy-integrated power systems effectively, including rotor angle (small-disturbance and transient), voltage (short-term and long-term), frequency and converter-driven stability. The team employed a GraphNorm method to tackle the over-smoothing problems and improve the generalisability of GNN. The method proposed by the team can simultaneously and continuously predict the risks of the multiple types of stability based on real-time data, and visualise the stable and unstable operation regions (SURs) based on alpha shapes. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified in the IEEE 39-bus system, the 179-bus western electricity coordinating council (WECC) system, and the Great Britain (GB) system. Read the full paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10819251/metrics#metrics

RIAIoT member Dr ZHANG Shuowen recognised as “N²Women Rising Star”

Congratulations to Dr ZHANG Shuowen, Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), for being recognised by N2Women (Networking Networking Women) as one of the ten “N²Women 2024 Rising Stars in Computer Networking and Communications”, for her outstanding contributions to solving challenging beamforming and resource allocation optimisation problems in various wireless communication systems. N2Women is a discipline-specific community of researchers in the fields of networking and communications. It encourages diversity and aims at fostering connections among under-represented women in the computing sub-field. Its annual list of rising stars recognises women who have outstanding research outcomes and/or service contributions in the field. Full list: https://n2women.comsoc.org/awards/rising-stars/2024-rising-stars-in-computer-networking-and-communications/

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming featured in Wen Wei Po on enhancing diving techniques through sports science and technologies research

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, gave an exclusive interview to Wen Wei Po, sharing how research in sports science and technologies can be used to improve diving techniques, thereby enhancing the safety and success rate of diving. Prof. Zhang, along with his PhD student Ms WANG Xin, former member of the national diving team and the gold medallist in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is utilising waterproof, wireless, flexible body sensors, cameras, etc., to record data on the impact and pressure experienced by various body parts, including joints and muscles, during the take-off, aerial phase, and entry of a dive, with the aim of determining whether the force can cause injuries, so as to find methods for preventing injuries, and enhancing the difficulty and performance of the divers’ moves. Prof. Zhang candidly stated that this research is still in its preliminary stage, and the team needs to conduct further follow-up basic research to ensure its accuracy. He hopes to eventually establish a digital model of the human body, which can be used to analyse the pressure on various body parts of athletes during the diving process. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3BDp63N; https://polyu.me/3ZV2GTt; https://polyu.me/4gSfMYE; https://polyu.me/4gVlTLW

Prof. ZHENG Yongping features in The 21st Century Business Herald on his research journey

Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Director of the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, was interviewed by The 21st Century Business Herald on his journey of research into ultrasound as well as Scolioscan®, the world’s first radiation-free 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system developed by his team. Online coverage: The 21st Century Business Herald - https://polyu.me/41NUZRP Sina - https://polyu.me/3BLX2uW NetEase - https://polyu.me/3PffI9s

PolyU awarded Green Tech Fund to develop low-carbon marine self-healing concrete for achieving carbon neutrality

The project titled “Marine self-healing concrete with biomineralization-enhanced construction waste for long-term decarbonization” led by Prof. LI Xiangdong, Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development, has been awarded approximately HK$ 6.03 million from the Green Tech Fund for a duration of 24 months. This project focuses on designing and developing low-carbon marine self-healing concrete by incorporating biomineralization-enhanced recycled aggregates (RAs). Marine carbon-capturing bacteria will utilise carbon dioxide (CO2) to accelerate carbonisation and improve RAs, thereby addressing the issue of scarce natural aggregates, reducing CO2 emissions, and achieving the recycling of construction waste. In addition, this microbial concrete structure possesses self-healing properties that enhance its durability, providing a significant advantage in achieving long-term decarbonization and sustainability objectives. Press release: https://polyu.me/3CctkQ2 Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/4iMpJbR Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3Wh2vBd Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3PDcYTy  

Dr LI Ming on blockchain standardisation and development in China

Dr LI Ming, Associate Researcher of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things, Chairman of the IEEE Computer Society Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Standards Committee, and Executive Chairman of the Hong Kong Web 3.0 Standardization Association, was recently interviewed by China Times, discussing the current state of blockchain standardisation and the development of blockchain technology in China. Dr Li stated that in recent years, blockchain technology has undergone rapid development, and when it comes to technological innovation, major mainstream institutions around the world have made breakthroughs in scalability and interoperability. At the same time, the integration of blockchain with artificial intelligence, edge computing and other technologies has accelerated the construction of distributed infrastructure, providing support for broader applications based on blockchain. With the development of blockchain technology, new applications and business models are continuously emerging. Through the application of smart contracts, traditional business processes have been optimised, and data sharing and supply chain management capabilities have been significantly enhanced. Dr Li believes that the focus of blockchain technology standardisation will shift from promoting industry consensus and summarising best practices, to providing quality assurance. In the early stage of the industry, blockchain technology needs to be understood by more people, and so it is necessary to gather more practitioners to build a consensus on the technology through standardisation, lowering the entry barriers for the industry. During the process of applying innovations, standards can be used to summarise the exemplary practices in applying innovations, reducing the cost of innovation in the industry. As the industry matures, it is necessary to improve the quality of services provided based on blockchain technology through standards, ensuring the standardised development of the industry. Dr Li further stated that in the face of the rapid development of blockchain development, the biggest challenge today is how to ensure the security and scalability of the technology. To address these challenges, innovating several key areas is needed in the future. For example, in terms of performance optimisation, the consensus mechanism should be improved, and on-chain scaling technologies and layer 2 networks should be developed. In terms of privacy protection, advanced encryption technologies should be applied, privacy protection models should be designed, and a balance between privacy and performance should be achieved. In terms of cross-chain interoperability, cross-chain standards should be established, cross-chain infrastructure should be built, and cross-chain security technologies should be strengthened to promote the development of blockchain technology and to expand its application.   Online coverage: China Times - https://polyu.me/4fAbO5Z East Money - https://polyu.me/4iMHO9J NetEase - https://polyu.me/3PgSWOp Sina - https://polyu.me/41JiX0v Sohu - https://polyu.me/3DEinH8

PolyU-developed High-Definition Corneal Topographer to be showcased at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Prof. KEE Chea-su, Associate Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), Head and Professor of the School of Optometry and Co-founder of GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Ltd, introduced the world’s first portable High-Definition Corneal Topographer “K-Shape” developed by his team in an interview with TVB. The innovation leverages AI-driven algorithms to accurately measure corneal power, provide early diagnosis of vision problems such as corneal astigmatism and corneal ectasia, and simplify the diagnosis process, enabling it to be completed in as little as one minute. The device will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025 to be held in Las Vegas, USA, in January 2025. Online coverage: TVB - https://polyu.me/3ZHECU4 (00:44 - 01:13) Wha Tech - https://polyu.me/3ZAY8BG