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PolyU establishes research centre to advance innovations for grid modernisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the establishment of the Research Centre for Grid Modernisation (RCGM). The Centre aims to foster innovations and applications for modernisation of the power grid and the development of novel electric power systems to support Hong Kong’s and the country’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable energy development. The RCGM launch ceremony took place on the PolyU campus, drawing together leaders from 35 government bureaus, quangos, research institutes, professional bodies and industry associations. Representatives from numerous large-scale Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China enterprises from across various sectors including power and energy, energy management, microelectronics, telecommunications, electrical engineering and railway transportation were also in attendance. Academic leaders, experts and scholars from 26 universities in Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland were also present at the event. Opening remarks were delivered by Mr TSE Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government; Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; and Dr HAO Yingjie, Secretary-General of the China Electricity Council. Mr QIAN Chaoyang, President of China Southern Power Grid Company Limited delivered a keynote speech. They were joined at the ceremony by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology; Ir Alfred SIT Wing-hang, Professor of Practice (Electrical Engineering) and Adjunct Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of PolyU, Honorary Director of RCGM, former Secretary for Innovation and Technology, and Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the HKSAR Government; and Prof. CHUNG Chi-yung, Head of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering, and RCGM Director. Together, they extended their congratulations to the University on the establishment of the Centre. Mr Tse Chin-wan said, “Hong Kong strives to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The Government has set out four decarbonisation strategies, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction, to actively reduce carbon emissions from source. The path to carbon neutrality requires the concerted efforts of the community. I express my warmest congratulations to PolyU for launching the RCGM cum Academician Forum on Intelligent Carbon-neutral Electricity Grid and Cooperation Workshop, bringing together representatives from the academia, industry and government departments, facilitating the valuable exchange of insights enabling cooperative sustainable development in the Greater Bay Area. Let us seize this opportunity to learn more about the collaborative advancement of carbon neutrality and new power systems.” Prof. Sun Dong extended his congratulations on the establishment of RCGM via a video and stated, “The establishment of the PolyU RCGM is not only well-timed but also a crucial leap forward. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the RCGM team. With world-class power systems experts at the helm, I am confident that the Centre will emerge as a cutting-edge R&D hub, paving the way for the realisation of modern grids, smarter cities and, ultimately, more intelligent societies.” Dr Hao Yingjie stated, “The establishment of the PolyU RCGM signifies a concrete step toward developing new power systems. This initiative aims to consolidate industry expertise, foster cooperation throughout upstream and downstream of the industry chain, and support the transition to clean and low-carbon energy. The China Electricity Council will collaborate with PolyU and other tertiary institutions in exploring and promoting the establishment of new regional power systems, thereby facilitating the evolution and enhancement of the power industry and the implementation of new energy systems. Ultimately, this endeavour seeks to accomplish the ‘double carbon’ goal.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said in his welcoming remarks, “With the societal need for grid modernisation and PolyU's unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, RCGM will serve as an internationally recognised platform to attract and nurture global talents to develop cutting-edge technologies and transfer them to solve the challenges and problems faced by the power and electricity industries. Furthermore, the pioneering work of the Centre will contribute to the development of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area.” In recent years, the world has witnessed an increase in extreme weather events, unpredictable climate patterns, and the aging of power networks and equipment. These factors have collectively led to a rise in the frequency of major power outages globally. The reliability of global power supply is facing unprecedented challenges, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions in current power and energy systems. The pursuit of carbon neutrality has introduced a large number of new devices and systems into the grid, including wind farms, solar farms, energy storage systems and electric vehicles. This massive integration poses significant risks to the reliability and economic operation of today’s power systems. To mitigate these risks, it is imperative to harness emerging technologies across various fields including sensors, 5G/6G communications, microelectronics, AI, big data analytics, robotics and more. These technologies are crucial for modernising power grids and reducing operational risks. RCGM aims to establish an international platform for grid modernisation for exchange and collaboration with academia, industry and governments worldwide. With a mission to build a secure and sustainable energy future for the benefit of all mankind, the Centre is dedicated to pursuing impactful multidisciplinary research and development of secure, sustainable, and affordable power and energy systems. Additionally, it aims to facilitate R&D and knowledge transfer, demonstration, and deployment of cutting-edge electric grid and sustainable energy technologies, and powering future smart and carbon-neutral zones in the Greater Bay Area. Prof. Chung Chi-yung said, “RCGM is strategically located in Hong Kong, an international metropolis with a dense population and many high-rise buildings that requires an exceptionally reliable power supply. This provides an ideal backdrop for R&D, including demonstration, testing and application of innovative technologies in grid modernisation for a smart city of the future. Moreover, the Hong Kong government’s vision of transforming the city into a global hub for innovation and technology is backed by robust funding and policy support. We aim to establish the Centre as a leading global hub for collaborative research and knowledge transfer in electric grid modernisation to enable a secure and sustainable energy supply.” Ir Alfred Sit Wing-hang said, “Modernising our electricity grid to make it more effective in supporting renewable energy and new energy applications is definitely one of the areas that we should examine in our journey towards this goal. As a PolyU alumnus, I am proud that my colleagues are willing to take the lead in setting up this pioneering Research Centre in Hong Kong with the aim of working together with experts from both overseas and the mainland for this important mission, ensuring that it becomes a beacon of innovation and excellence in the field of power systems engineering.” RCGM has garnered staunch support from various organisations and tertiary institutions, serving as the Centre’s inaugural partners. In addition, the Centre has invited five distinguished experts and scholars who have made remarkable contributions to the field of energy and power to join as honorary advisors. These honorary advisors include Prof. ZHOU Xiaoxin and Prof. CHENG Shijie, who are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as Prof. XUE Yusheng and Prof. YU Yixin, who are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Furthermore, Prof. C.C. CHAN, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Distinguished Chair Professor of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Electric Vehicles, also serves as an honorary advisor of RCGM. During the event, RCGM and Shenzhen Auto Electric Power Plant Company Limited announced their partnership in establishing the PolyU-Autosun Joint Laboratory for Sustainable PowerTech Research in Modern Grid. This collaborative effort aims to propel research and development in electric vehicle charging technology, smart microgrids, new energy storage systems and safety and health monitoring systems for power equipment. ***END***   Appendix Partner organisations and institutions of RCGM (sorted by stroke counts of Chinese names): ABB (Hong Kong) Limited The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) NTT Com Asia Limited Hong Kong International Airport China Southern Power Grid Company Limited The Hongkong Electric Company Limited China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau Co., Ltd. The Hong Kong Electrical & Mechanical Contractors' Association Limited New Energy Security Research Center of China Academy of Building Research The Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited China Huadian Hong Kong Company Limited Electrical & Mechanical Services Department of HKSAR Government China Electricity Council MTR Corporation Limited Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering Digital China Holdings Limited China Unicom Global Limited Shenzhen Dark Energy Power Supply Co., Ltd. CLP Power Hong Kong Limited Shenzhen Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Development Co., Ltd. CHINT Group Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Auto Electric Power Plant Co., Ltd. Analogue Holdings Limited Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited   Siemens Limited China Resources Power Holdings Company Limited The Jardine Engineering Corporation Limited AscenPower Semiconductors Co. Ltd. China Southern Power Grid Digital Grid Research Institute Co., Ltd. Gowin Semiconductor Corporation Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited Guangdong Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau Co., Ltd. REC Engineering Company Limited Macau Electricity Company Limited The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Electrical Division)     China Three Gorges University Hohai University Shanghai Jiao Tong University Changsha University of Science and Technology Shanghai University of Electric Power Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) Shandong University Chongqing University Tianjin University The University of Hong Kong Beijing Jiaotong University Zhejiang University Sichuan University Tsinghua University Shihezi University Hunan University Xi’an Jiaotong University Huazhong University of Science and Technology Northeast Electric Power University North China Electric Power University Southeast University South China University of Technology Wuhan University Jinan University Wuhan University of Technology University of Macau

Media Interview: PolyU upgrades Surface Sampling and Packing System for Chang’e-6 Mission

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has actively participated in our Nation's space exploration projects by developing highly sophisticated space instruments for our country. In the latest development, China's Chang'e-6 mission lander have successfully touched down on the far side of the Moon, marking a new chapter in aerospace history. Ta Kung Pao reported that PolyU developed and manufactured the “Surface Sampling and Packing System” for the Chang’e 6 mission. Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Exploration (RCDSE), introduced these innovations, which include the two samplers, two accompanying high-temperature nearfield cameras, and a primary sealing and packaging system consisting of a sample container and its sealing mechanism.  Building upon the success of Chang'e 5, China's inaugural lunar sample return mission, PolyU has further refined these highly sophisticated space instruments for the Chang'e-6 mission. Full interview with Ta Kung Pao (In Chinese Only)   For more: Prof. YUNG Kai-leung invited to witness launch of Chang’e 6 lunar probe in Hainan PolyU achieves the landmark membership in the International Astronautical Federation as the first education institution in Hong Kong PolyU-made Space Instruments for Lunar Sample Acquisition awarded The Science and Technology Progress Award PolyU’s space instruments contribute to Nation’s first lunar sample return mission PolyU-developed space instruments complete lunar sampling for Chang’e 5

PolyU and Zibo Municipal Government signed framework agreement to establish a joint research institute

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Zibo Municipal People’s Government have signed a framework agreement to establish the "PolyU Zibo Technology and Innovation Research Institute" (the Research Institute) and to engage in deep and effective industry-academia-research collaboration. The Research Institute to be established will focus on areas such as nano technology, industrial artificial intelligence and digitalisation, and cultural tourism. Responding to Zibo's economic development and industrial needs, it will carry out technological R&D, tackle core technological challenges, and promote the transformation, application, and sustainable development of research outcomes. The agreement was signed by Prof.  DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement) of PolyU, and HU Xiaohong, Vice Mayor of Zibo Municipal People’s Government, on 28 May at the 2024 Shandong-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Conference in Hong Kong. The institute will also undertake the important mission of talent cultivation. Both sides will work together to cultivate a pool of outstanding engineers who are capable of mastering critical technologies of the future and are internationally connected, as well as high-quality, innovative and entrepreneurial talents.

Media Interview: PolyU develops technology for cleaning buildings’ external walls with drones

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to pioneering top-notch technologies for smart city development. Dr WEN Weisong, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering of PolyU, was interviewed by Ming Pao Daily News to share how to develop a low altitude economy in Hong Kong. Dr Wen and his team have developed a technology that employs drones for cleaning buildings’ external walls. By utilising laser radar and GPS positioning devices, the drone can scan a three-dimensional model of the building's exterior and automatically plan the best cleaning route. He anticipates the potential revenue from this industry could reach HK$300 million a year. Full interview with Ming Pao For more: PolyU Collaborates with Meituan to Develop Vision-aided Positioning System for Parcel Delivery by Drones in Urban Canyons

PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award fosters new energy for scientific research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has honoured six young researchers with the Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2024. Their research endeavours cover a wide range of areas and bring benefits to materials science, green energy, environmental development, and healthcare through the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies. The research projects of the six awardees encompass various areas, including new materials, green energy, advanced manufacturing, intelligent construction, textile technology, and medical technology. These projects explore the frontiers of knowledge, consider practical applications, and assess their impact on various industries. These projects include the design of a new generation of nano-porous materials to enhance the storage and release of hydrogen, the development of novel computing devices to reduce computational energy consumption in Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), and the design of a recycling certification to establish a sustainable circular economy. Additionally, the awardees are working on the development of biocompatible smart wearable materials for daily health monitoring, the advancement of high-performance swept lasers for applications in industrial inspection and medical diagnostics, and the exploration of four-dimensional (4D) real-time tumour tracking technology to improve cancer treatment. Prof Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Chairman of the YIRA 2024 assessment panel, said, “Congratulations to the six awardees. Their research projects span across disciplines and fields, dedicated to providing solutions to the challenges our world faces today, while showcasing promising prospects. PolyU takes pride in nurturing numerous outstanding scientific talents who are ambitious, dedicated to research, and pursue innovation. Previous awardees have gained international recognition for their excellent research capabilities.” The University is committed to supporting researchers in developing impactful interdisciplinary research and leveraging their expertise to contribute to emerging and future industries. This initiative aligns with the national vision of fostering “New quality productive forces” while simultaneously bolstering the talent pool. For the third consecutive year, the YIRA aims to recognise young researchers under the age of 35 with outstanding research capabilities. Each awardee will receive HKD 500,000 in research funding and a personal cash reward of HKD 20,000. The Young Innovative Researchers 2024 are (in alphabetical order): Awardees Research Focus Description Dr CHEN Jiewei Research Assistant Professor Department of Applied Physics Novel Computing Devices for Low-power Artificial Intelligence of Things Develop novel topological devices with new physical mechanisms in the post-processing units of AIoT to reduce computational energy consumption while minimising unnecessary data transmission by improving intelligent sensing, pre-processing, and information extraction capabilities. Dr CHEN Shaoyu Assistant Professor School of Fashion and Textiles Smart and Recyclable Materials from Supramolecular-Dynamic Covalent Co-Assembly of Stimuli-Responsive Amphiphiles and Biobased Polyelectrolytes Adopt ecological and recyclable approaches to biocompatible and intelligent materials with feedback signals. These materials are designed for use in advanced wearable sensors, textiles, and soft robotics, enabling daily health monitoring and more. Dr GUO Xiaomeng Associate Professor Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies Promoting Usage of Recycled Materials Through Label Design Design recycling certification mechanisms to promote green consumption and motivate enterprises to adopt recycled materials, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the circular economy. Dr HUANG Dongmei Assistant Professor Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering High performance swept laser and its applications Develop high-performance swept lasers with a high sweep rate, wide sweep range, and long coherence length, as well as accelerate innovation and breakthroughs in their applications, which range from medical diagnostics to industrial detection. Dr LI Tian Assistant Professor Department of Health Technology and Informatics Contrast-Adaptive Real-Time (CART) 4D-MRI Technique via Cascaded Deep Learning for Abdominal Tumour Tracking in MRI-guided Radiotherapy Propose a new real-time 4D tumour tracking solution called CART 4D-MRI to overcome the limitations in imaging speed and quality of current Magnetic Resonance-guided Radiotherapy (MRgRT) techniques. This innovation aims to provide faster and clearer tumour images, facilitating improved treatment for abdominal cancer patients. Dr TIAN Tian Assistant Professor Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Design and development of novel nano-porous materials with enhanced hydrogen storage and delivery capacity Design and synthesize a new generation of nanoporous materials to enhance hydrogen storage and delivery capacities. This will address current technical bottlenecks, such as storage costs and safety risks, and ultimately facilitate the transition to a net-zero society in the long term.  

PolyU research finds improving AI large language models helps better align with human brain activity

With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) transforming the social interaction landscape in recent years, large language models (LLMs), which use deep-learning algorithms to train GenAI platforms to process language, have been put in the spotlight. A recent study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) found that LLMs perform more like the human brain when being trained in more similar ways as humans process language, which has brought important insights to brain studies and the development of AI models. Current large language models (LLMs) mostly rely on a single type of pretraining - contextual word prediction. This simple learning strategy has achieved surprising success when combined with massive training data and model parameters, as shown by popular LLMs such as ChatGPT. Recent studies also suggest that word prediction in LLMs can serve as a plausible model for how humans process language. However, humans do not simply predict the next word but also integrate high-level information in natural language comprehension. A research team led by Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology at PolyU, has investigated the next sentence prediction (NSP) task, which simulates one central process of discourse-level comprehension in the human brain to evaluate if a pair of sentences is coherent, into model pretraining and examined the correlation between the model’s data and brain activation. The study has been recently published in the academic journal Sciences Advances. The research team trained two models, one with NSP enhancement and the other without, both also learned word prediction. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from people reading connected sentences or disconnected sentences. The research team examined how closely the patterns from each model matched up with the brain patterns from the fMRI brain data. It was clear that training with NSP provided benefits. The model with NSP matched human brain activity in multiple areas much better than the model trained only on word prediction. Its mechanism also nicely maps onto established neural models of human discourse comprehension. The results gave new insights into how our brains process full discourse such as conversations. For example, parts of the right side of the brain, not just the left, helped understand longer discourse. The model trained with NSP could also better predict how fast someone read - showing that simulating discourse comprehension through NSP helped AI understand humans better. Recent LLMs, including ChatGPT, have relied on vastly increasing the training data and model size to achieve better performance. Prof. Li Ping said, “There are limitations in just relying on such scaling. Advances should also be aimed at making the models more efficient, relying on less rather than more data. Our findings suggest that diverse learning tasks such as NSP can improve LLMs to be more human-like and potentially closer to human intelligence.” He added, “More importantly, the findings show how neurocognitive researchers can leverage LLMs to study higher-level language mechanisms of our brain. They also promote interaction and collaboration between researchers in the fields of AI and neurocognition, which will lead to future studies on AI-informed brain studies as well as brain-inspired AI.”

PolyU and Shenzhen Urban Safety Institute launch joint research laboratory to promote innovative urban safety science and technology development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the National Science and Technology Institute of Urban Safety Development (NSTI), and the Shenzhen Technology Institute of Urban Public Safety (SZSTI) have collaboratively established the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Urban Safety Technology Research Center , which aims to carry out innovative research in the field of public safety, contributing to national and industrial development needs, and enhancing international competitiveness. The joint laboratory serves as an innovative platform to conduct research focusing on areas such as urban safety, industrial safety, disaster prevention, and emergency management. It will leverage the resources of the three parties and foster deep collaboration, with objectives on technological development, advancement of  frontier innovations, and cultivating talents. The inauguration ceremony was held on the PolyU campus on 24 May. The launch was unveiled  by Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement) of PolyU; Prof. NI Yiqing, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of PolyU; Prof. DING Xioali, Chair Professor of Geomatics of PolyU; Dr DONG You, Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of PolyU; and Dr DONG Fang, Executive Director of NSTI and Director of SZSTI; Dr SHI Zhongqi, Executive Manager of R&D Centre (Acadamician Office) of SZSTI. PolyU is committed to developing innovative and cutting-edge technologies in pursuit of  its mission to advance sustainable development. This is achieved through a focus on research excellence in various areas, including architecture, energy, environment, smart city, urban informatics and urban disaster mitigation. By applying its research expertise in practical applications, PolyU has established close ties with the government, industry, and organisations, working together to promote the construction and development of the Greater Bay Area. The Shenzhen Technology Institute of Urban Public Safety (SZSTI), a Shenzhen-based state-owned enterprise established by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, focuses on creating a security and emergency industry ecosystem through the integration of safety innovations and technologies. Together with the National Institute of Urban Security Development Technology, they integrate frontier research and talent to promote government-industry-academia collaboration. The National Science and Technology Institute of Urban Safety Development (NSTI) (Shenzhen) is co-founded by Emergency Management Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality,  the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government (Shenzhen SASAC), and SZSTI. Its launch aims to create a national-level urban safety R&D institute rooted in Shenzhen, serving the Greater Bay Area and nationwide.  

PolyU wins ZPRIZE 2023 for blockchain innovation again demonstrating groundbreaking research in zero-knowledge proofs

The research team led by Prof. Allen AU Man Ho, Professor of the Department of Computing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Dr Lu Xingye, Research Assistant Professor, have won an award in the international ZPRIZE competition for the second consecutive year for their pioneering work in zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Their groundbreaking work in this field has profound implications for enhancing privacy and scalability in blockchain and Web3 applications. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “We take great pride that PolyU academics continue to gain worldwide acclaim for driving innovation in cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography. This award underscores the exceptional capabilities of our research team and their pioneering work in accelerating the development and real-world adoption of zero-knowledge encryption.” The annual ZPRIZE competition, spearheaded by the blockchain industry in 2022, promotes the advancement of ZKPs by open-sourcing winning submissions for the reference of the general public. ZKPs allows a “prover” to convince a person of the validity of a computation without leaking any information; it is hence referred to as zero-knowledge cryptography. This year, the PolyU team have triumphed in the “High Throughput Signature Verification” open division category, winning a cash prize of US$250,000. They were tasked with verifying the greatest number of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) signatures in a given time using ZKPs. ECDSA signatures are used to prove the authenticity and integrity of digital messages over the internet, as well as of blockchain transactions on networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Making it more efficient to cryptographically verify those signatures inside a ZKP is important for creating a better user experience and enables numerous real-world applications. The PolyU team’s innovative approach can generate ZKPs for the digital signatures of 50 1KB messages on a regular laptop computer within ten minutes, laying a solid foundation for future applications of ZKPs in ECDSA verification. It also reduces the complexity of generating proofs for a 5MB message’s digital signature to a maximum of 6.2 million constraints compared to over 50 million constraints previously - a minimum eight-fold reduction. As a pioneer in blockchain education and research in Hong Kong, PolyU has introduced Hong Kong’s first Master of Science in Blockchain Technology programme. It has also initiated doctoral programmes relating to financial technology, as well as bachelor’s degree programmes relating to FinTech and Artificial Intelligence (AI). On the research front, the University has established the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology, the first research centre in Hong Kong whose research studies full-stack blockchain technology. According to the “Best Universities for Blockchain 2022” rankings by CoinDesk, PolyU has been ranked the No. 1 university for blockchain in the world.

PolyU researchers develop novel fungus-based fat replacer AkkMore™ to prevent obesity and enhance gut health; collaborates with Hotel ICON to launch reduced-fat desserts to promote environmental innovation in food industry

In recent years, scientists have been actively exploring the potential of future foods, including using boundless microorganisms as substitutes for limited animal and plant resources. Among these microorganisms, the replacer of animal-derived fats is a research topic currently of very great interest. A research team from the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed AkkMore™, a novel fungus-based fat replacer which is effective in preventing obesity and metabolic diseases, enhancing gut health, modulating immune response and relieving anxiety. This replacer not only helps lower the calorific content of food, but also extends the shelf life of cream products. In the long term, it can reduce dairy consumption and food waste, providing innovative ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) solutions in the food industry. A PolyU research team led by Dr Gail CHANG, Core Member of RiFood and Research Assistant Professor of FSN together with Dr Amber CHIOU, Associate Director and Associate Professor of RiFood, and Associate Head of FSN has extracted the functional component of AkkMore™ from natural fungus to develop the replacer and has conducted three phases of animal experiments. The study has found that mice which had been administered the AkkMore™ formula had a healthier gut microbiota with higher density of Akkermansia, lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, lighter adipose tissue and suppressed neuroinflammation when compared to the control group. This indicates the effectiveness of the formula in managing weight, enhancing gut health, modulating immune and metabolic diseases and relieving anxiety. This research won a Silver Medal at the 2022 International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva and its application for health benefits has entered patent substantive examination stage. Making use of the thickening, emulsifying and stabilising properties of AkkMore™, the team has developed Cream Mate, an AkkMore™-based cream substitute. Cream Mate can be used in conjunction with traditional cream to reduce the amount of cream used in dessert. Not only does it decrease the fat and calorific content of food while maintaining the quality of taste and texture, but it also significantly extends the shelf life of cream-based products. In the long run, this could lead to reduced consumption of dairy products and food waste, reducing carbon emissions and profitability of production. Dr Chang stated, “This collaboration is testament to the successful translation of a research outcome. Moving forward, we will further explore the application of AkkMore™ formula in innovative health foods and put greater efforts into identification of mushroom strains with better functions and standardisation of the cultivation process.” PolyU is committed to the translation of research outcomes. Dr Chang was admitted to the PolyU GBA Startup Postdoc Programme in 2019 and has been granted support from the PolyU Micro Fund. As well as beig selected for the Incu-Tech Programme of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Chang has received a number of awards in entrepreneurial competitions. In 2020, she partnered with Dr Amber Chiou and Dr Jimmy JIN, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business to establish Bo InnoHealth Biotechnology Company Limited, a start-up focusing on research into the growth mechanism of fungus and has received generous support from the PolyU Tech Launchpad Fund and multiple angel funds. Following the launch of supplement containing the AkkMore™ formula, the research team has collaborated with GREEN of Hotel ICON, the PolyU teaching and research hotel, whereby the hotel restaurant infuses Cream Mate in reduced-fat soft serve and desserts, and launch its new limited time “ForestFit Afternoon Tea With Japanese Fruit And Akkmore™”. Hotel ICON has commissioned a laboratory to test the nutritional components of soft serve in two formulae. The test showed that the total fat content of soft serve with AkkMore™ Cream Mate was less than 3% and was reduced by more than 80% when comparing with regular soft serve, and the total energy was also reduced by more than half. For more details, please visit the Hotel ICON website: https://www.hotel-icon.com/offers/akkmore-japanesefruits-afternoon-tea

PolyU research reveals major healthcare and communication challenges for migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong

Migrant domestic workers support many Hong Kong working families in childcare and household duties but their own personal needs seldom receive significant attention. The Department of English and Communication at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted research into the health and other structural issues faced by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal that health literacy and access to information and facilities are crucial to their well-being. The researchers have interviewed more than 700 Filipino and Indonesian migrant domestic workers and surveyed more than 400 to investigate their life stories and well-being in Hong Kong, covering topics from narratives about their (traumatic) experiences, health literacy and healthcare needs to their communication networks. In view of the increasing number of workers driven by growing demand for domestic elderly care in Hong Kong, these studies aimed to highlight the significance of cultivating favourable conditions for workers. Prof. Hans LADEGAARD, Professor of the Department of English and Communication at PolyU, said, “Our research shows that Indonesian workers, in particular, face marginalisation and isolation due to language and communication problems and a lack of awareness of their rights. Many took only a three-week Cantonese course before arrival, which clearly does not guarantee their Cantonese proficiency, while most of them are also unable to speak English. Many workers even do not know it is illegal to be paid under the minimum wage or that they are entitled to have 24 hours off once a week. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritise efforts to provide language learning support and to educate these workers about their rights.” Inadequate access to health facilities and information is one major challenge facing these workers. According to Prof. Ladegaard’s research, when the COVID-19 pandemic-induced loneliness, isolation and homesickness put them at higher risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, they only had limited access to support. To address the issue, the team advised that health campaigns be conducted in a language that the workers can understand and that accessible channels such as social media are mobilised for promotion. The research also indicated utilising cartoons and storytelling to be more effective in communicating with migrant populations. Another research study, led by Dr Jeffry OKTAVIANUS, Assistant Professor of the Department of English and Communication, found that community storytelling networks, including interpersonal relationships, community organisations and media outlets, played an essential role in supporting the migrant domestic workers in coping during the pandemic. His research has been published in the journal Health Communication. The study revealed that many workers could not obtain knowledge about effective preventive measures during the pandemic, due to the absence of reliable and accurate information in their native language. Interaction with workers’ communities on social media thus became their major source of informational and emotional support. However, workers were also exposed to fake news through interpersonal networks, which led to adverse effects, such as having a negative psychological impact. Dr Oktavianus remarked, “These networks provide crucial support, but also spread misinformation, creating both opportunities and challenges for empowering marginalised communities.” The research further highlighted the potential of community organisations in debunking hoaxes by disseminating credible news, thereby eliminating uncertainty, refuting misinformation and aiding in understanding the chaotic situation. In this regard, health campaigns are encouraged to utilise community-based storytellers, such as Indonesian organisations or ethnic media, to communicate public health information. Meanwhile, improving digital literacy is also important for helping foreign workers distinguish fake news from real. While the Philippines now has one of the highest breast cancer diagnosis rates in Asia, there is also an increasing number of Filipino workers diagnosed with breast cancer in Hong Kong. Dr Margo TURNBULL, Assistant Professor of the Department of English and Communication, led a research team focusing on the health literacy needs of migrant domestic workers. Published in the journal Quality Health Research, the research study provides a critical examination of how breast cancer and migration impact the lives of these workers. This study again emphasised the importance of health campaigns in workers’ native language and of their access to health facilities, particularly on Sundays, enabling them to receive timely diagnoses and assistance. Dr Turnbull added, “Improving language and communication skills can also increase workers’ effective utilisation of medical resources, alleviate the psychological impacts of having cancer and enhance their confidence in advocating for their healthcare needs.” Currently, Dr Turnbull is working with a cancer support group to co-develop multilingual communication resources that can be used by migrant domestic workers to share information about their diagnosis and care needs with their employers, families and doctors. In light of the structural issues uncovered by the studies, a symposium, “Migrant Worker Lives Matter”, organised by the Department of English and Communication in collaboration with two local migrant worker NGOs, PathFinders and Mission for Migrant Workers, will be held at the PolyU campus on 24 May. The event aims to address the challenges faced by migrant domestic workers and explore ways for Hong Kong to become a more inclusive society.