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PolyU and CUHK jointly develop ABarginase, the first-in-class drug for multiple obesity-related metabolic diseases

Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have jointly made a groundbreaking drug discovery in treating multiple metabolic diseases related to obesity and insulin resistance like diabetes and fatty liver disease. The new drug, ABarginase, opens a new path for safe, long-lasting cures to multiple obesity related diseases simultaneously through an ingenious treatment mechanism – arginine starvation. Currently, patients often have to take multiple medications for these inter-related diseases, and are hence more prone to the potential risks of polypharmacy. ABarginase shows promise for the effective treatment of multiple metabolic diseases including prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The fabrication process of ABarginase is inexpensive and highly efficient, making it affordable and widely adoptable for clinical applications. The research is led by Prof. Thomas LEUNG Yun-chung, Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences of PolyU, and Prof. Alisa SHUM Sau-wun, Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK. Obesity is not just about being fat. It is associated with many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. The PolyU-CUHK research team discovered that a low level of arginine (a semi-essential amino acid) in the blood can suppress fat synthesis, promote fat breakdown and sensitise cells to insulin. Native arginase can break down arginine, but it has a short circulatory half-life of less than 30 minutes. Prof. Thomas Leung said, “By using an advanced fusion protein strategy, our research team developed a long-lasting recombinant human arginase, ABarginase, that contains an albumin-binding domain, which enables it to bind with the stable and abundant albumin in the blood stream to extend its half-life by about 200 folds. ABarginase exhibits strong catabolic activity and it would only require one dose of ABarginase a week to maintain circulating arginine at low levels to achieve arginine starvation.” In preclinical studies, diet-induced obese mice were injected with ABarginase once a week, while control mice were injected with saline. Researchers found that within eight weeks of treatment with ABarginase, the treatment group’s body weight, fat mass, fatty liver and characteristic features of diabetes such as high blood glucose, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance were entirely reversed. Prof. Alisa Shum said, “The promising results show that ABarginase has great potential in safely and effectively treating multiple metabolic diseases related to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and most importantly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which has no FDA-approved drug so far. We may have found the one drug that can cure them all.” Patent applications for this invention were filed in multiple countries. The research team is now scaling up the production for manufacturing ABarginase at Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) grade in preparation for conducting clinical trials. Prof. Leung and Prof. Shum further added, “As scientists, we dream of building a better world. The successful development of ABarginase is an important step towards realising our dream.” In an affirmation of its potential benefit to patients and positive impact on global health, as well as a testament to the research excellence of inter-university collaboration, ABarginase recently won one of the two prestigious Grand Prizes awarded to Hong Kong in this year’s International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva – the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) Best Invention Award. Obesity is generally recognised as a global health problem. According to the latest data of the World Health Organization, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight and over 650 million adults were obese in 2016, accounting for 39% and 13% of the world’s adult population. While in Hong Kong, about one in two adults are considered to be overweight or obese. The joint research project is supported by the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Limited, the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau and the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery of PolyU.

PolyU and China Harbour establish joint research centre to promote land development research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd (CHEC) have collaborated to establish the China Harbour–PolyU Joint Research Centre for Land Development (JRC) to promote sustainable land development, develop a green, low-carbon economy and improve the urban living environment. The Centre inauguration ceremony was held on the PolyU campus on 17 May. The establishment of the research centre symbolises a joint effort between PolyU and CHEC to boost practical research into land development. The Ceremony was attended by Mr TSE Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology; Mr Shuiqiu YE, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Ka Sing KWONG, Head of Project Strategy and Governance Office of the Development Bureau of the HKSAR; Ir Aaron Kwok Ming BOK, President of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers; Mr Hoi Shan HSU, Director of the Beijing–Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre; Mr Hang LIANG, Vice General Manager of the Greater Bay Area Branch of the China Communications Construction Company Ltd ; Mr Heming JIANG, Deputy Manager of CHEC (Hong Kong), Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Director of the PolyU Academy of Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR); and Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of the PolyU Research Institute of Land and Space (RILS). The collaboration agreement on the establishment of the JRC was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Mr Yong XUE, Managing Director of CHEC (Hong Kong). Mr Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology said, “The JRC provides an excellent platform for both basic and applied research in the field of green land development and construction. I look forward to important new research results from the Centre that will contribute to green land development and construction in Hong Kong and help Hong Kong achieve its target of carbon neutrality, making it a more livable and sustainable city.” Prof. Teng, President of PolyU said, “The CHEC–PolyU Joint Research Centre for Land Development will effectively combine PolyU’s strong scientific research capabilities with CHEC’s extensive experience in project implementation. Through close cooperation between the two parties, the Centre will propose innovative ideas and advanced technologies, and, through knowledge transfer, the research outcomes can be applied to land development projects in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, the Nation and other parts of the world, hence improving livelihoods and contributing to societal sustainability.” Mr Yong Xue, Managing Director of CHEC (Hong Kong) said, “The global vision, project experience and outstanding research strengths of the combined team will boost research and development in advanced new technologies, in particular for green, low-carbon and sustainable land development and construction. We aim to promote the findings of the JRC to benefit the entire industry and society as a whole by enhancing the efficiency, safety, cost-effectiveness and environmental protection in the process of land development and construction.” The JRC is the first joint research centre established by the China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), parent company of CHEC, in partnership with a Hong Kong higher educational institution. The JRC will harness CHEC’s abundant resources and experience in implementing projects and applying technologies in Hong Kong and other parts of the world, with PolyU’s solid research strengths in land and infrastructure development. The JRC will be jointly operated by RILS and CHEC under the leadership of inaugural Co-Directors, Prof. Jianguo DAI, Management Committee Member of RILS, PolyU and Mr Hualei SUN, General Manager of Administration Department of CHEC (Hong Kong). The Centre will initially focus on research innovation, knowledge transfer and talent cultivation in the following areas:   • Technologies for marine engineering and construction of immersed tunnels to connect islands;   • Technologies for innovative prefabricated building, smart harbour and smart airport projects, facilitating the efficient use of land;   • Solutions for municipal and marine solid waste treatment, contributing to the realisation of carbon neutrality, and better recycling and reuse of municipal and marine solid wastes;   • Fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials and green high-performance concrete for marine engineering; and   • Life-cycle technologies for marine infrastructures and development, and application of innovative AI-based spatial information technologies for construction projects. Mr Ming LIN, Chief Scientist of CCCC and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said, “CCCC attaches great importance to technological innovation and application. As the first joint construction industry-university research centre in Hong Kong, CCCC will fully support the operation of the JRC, striving to create a better development blueprint for Hong Kong, contributing to the implementation of national development strategies for transportation, marine construction, and supporting major development projects in Hong Kong and the GBA.”

PolyU showcased innovations at World Intelligence Congress in Tianjin

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently participated in the 7th World Intelligence Congress (WIC) in Tianjin to showcase technology innovations and to join other valuable exchange activities. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU led a delegation of PolyU scholars to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th WIC and other exchange programmes in Tianjin.  With the theme on “Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver,” WIC focused on cutting-edge scientific topics such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), 5G+AI, smart manufacturing. The three-day event brought government officials, scientists and entrepreneurs together to explore cooperation opportunities.  In the technology exhibition, PolyU showcased latest innovations in ultra-precision machining and medical technology such as Nano Multi-rings Defocus Incorporated Lens and AI-driven heart disease diagnosis technology. PolyU also co-organized a seminar on Tianjin-Hong Kong technology and innovation cooperation with Tianjin’s technology bureau. In the seminar, Prof. CHAO said riding on Tianjin’s solid entrepreneur and industry foundation and PolyU’s research expertise and talents, both entities would contribute to further collaboration on the establishment of research institute and promotion on translational research and knowledge transfer. During the seminar, PolyU researchers, Tianjin’s technology entrepreneurs and education institutions made insightful sharing and discussion on innovative technologies such as ultraprecision machine technology, drones, AI-driven disease diagnosis, autonomous driving system. The discussion paved the way for further collaboration in research and technology development.  A delegation of Tianjin’s technology bureau visited PolyU in February this year. PolyU was invited by the delegation to visit Tianjin and attend the president-entrepreneur round table forum at the WIC. Moving forward, PolyU would actively promote exchanges and cooperation with Tianjin government and organisations for further cooperation in research and technology development and talents exchange.   

PolyU scholar shares experiences on generating lifetime learning to students from research project on THE Campus

While some may think that entering student science competitions is all about the gold medals, the long-term nature of such projects is perfect fodder for learning meaningful skills.  Winning award is clearly a common goal of competition entry. However, effective management of student involvement in research project competitions should aim not only for success but also at ensuring a meaningful learning process for student researchers who dedicate considerable time to a project. Dr Pai ZHENG, Assistant Professor of Department of Industrial Systems and Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) shares his experiences with THE Campus on generating lifetime learning for students from research competition.  Dr ZHENG said, “A supervisor’s role encompasses managing the project but also mentoring students in terms of academic, social and teamwork skills. It is important to inspire and guide students, particularly in times of uncertainty and difficulty, such as if and when significant changes need to be made.”  Dr ZHENG led a research team for the aforementioned successful research project “Mutual Cognitive Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing System” comprised undergraduate and postgraduate students. Dr Zheng is also the principal investigator of the Research Group of AI for Industrial Digital Servitisation at PolyU.  The team won a number of local and international Information and Communication Technology (ICT) awards for their work to improve collaboration between people and robots.  Dr ZHENG said, “It must be kept in mind that, as in any science and technology discovery, a research project is a long-term learning process in which ongoing motivation of interest and persistence is crucial for success.” For more:  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-supervisors-can-use-research-competitions-inspire-lifetime-learning  

PolyU scholars win ZPRIZE for ground-breaking Web3 technology in zero-knowledge cryptography

Computer science scholars from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have won the ZPRIZE in the Plonk-DIZK GPU Acceleration prize category for innovative solutions in empowering zero-knowledge cryptography. Led by Prof. Allen AU from the University’s Department of Computing and Research Assistant Professor Dr Xingye LU, the research team was awarded a cash prize of US$550,000. Zero-knowledge cryptography, also known as zero-knowledge proofs (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. It is seen as a breakthrough technology impacting Web3, a decentralised online ecosystem based on blockchain, because it enables data privacy protection, efficiency improvement and scalability of transparent systems such as blockchain. Zero-knowledge cryptography is important to foster trust and promote widespread adoption of decentralised applications, which in turn is crucial for the growth of Web3. It also facilitates the development of innovative solutions for privacy-preserving data sharing and collaborative computation. A variety of industries including financial services, healthcare and supply chain management would benefit from the application of this technology. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “We take great pride in our scholars’ remarkable achievements in winning the ZPRIZE. It showcases PolyU’s unwavering commitment to advancing blockchain technology and revolutionizing Web3 through innovative research and transformative solutions.” A major challenge for real-world adoption of ZKPs, particularly for applications at scale, is the high computation cost. In addressing this issue, the research team focused on enhancing the efficiency and scalability of Plonk, a popular ZKP system. The team delivered this achievement by leveraging GPU acceleration to achieve computation speedup and distributing the workload evenly across multiple servers to improve scalability. Prof. Au said, “This is crucial because generating these proofs can be computationally intensive, and so a faster and more efficient method could enable the use of zero-knowledge cryptographic in a wider range of applications.” This new implementation can generate a proof in less than one hour for a circuit of size 228 gates, which is the largest circuit with reported successful plonk proof generation. The research team’s solution has achieved a significant computation speedup of over 40% on a single machine. With the new distribution approach, the team was able to improve the overall proof generation process by a factor of 10 compared with existing method. The Plonk-DIZK GPU Acceleration Prize falls under the open division category of the ZPRIZE for general public interests. ZPRIZE is a collaborative effort across the blockchain industry that involves over 32 global partners and sponsors who contribute time, effort and resources to this industry-wide competition, with the aim of increasing the practicality and awareness of this technology. Dr Lu said, “Our submission will become open-source libraries for the benefit of the community. We hope this new technology can support the next generation of decentralized protocols and applications to enable secure, interoperable and scalable applications for the next-generation web.”

PolyU showcases research in Asia Summit on Global Health

PolyU participates in the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), showcasing its research expertise in health innovation. PolyU is honored to lead panel discussion on the theme of “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the Powerhouse of Healthcare Innovation”. Prof Wong Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU is the panel chair. Valuable experience and insights on health innovation and collaboration are shared by the speakers. The sharing also drew substantial interest of government officials, business leaders, researchers and event participants with interactive sharing. The exhibition also showcases PolyU’s research expertise in healthcare, life sciences, AI innovations and material application, as well as impactful innovations of InnoHK R&D Centres, to highlight Hong Kong's strengths in the healthcare sector. ASGH is a cross-disciplinary platform which will bring together senior government officials, academia, investors, influential business leaders, as well as financial and professional service providers from related sectors around the world to exchange insights and explore business opportunities and partnership in advancing global health.

PolyU contributes to environmental protection supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund

Eleven projects of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) are funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) with a total awarded amount of HK$6.23 million. This achievement demonstrates PolyU’s research excellence and expertise on environmental protection in different disciplines across construction and building, engineering and applied science. The awarded research projects cover a variety of topics, including climate change, waste reduction and management, recycling, air and water quality protection etc. PolyU scientists are dedicated to the innovative adoption of technologies, addressing Hong Kong’s environmental challenges and needs. The eleven awarded projects initiate new technologies and solutions such as waste minimization, energy efficiency, recycling, decarbonization and thermal management to improve Hong Kong’s living environment on air, land and sea. The ECF was set up by the government of HKSAR to provide funding support for educational, research and other projects and activities in relation to environmental improvement and conservation of local environment since 1994. Details of the 11 ECF funded projects: Principal Investigator Project Title Awarded Amount (HK$) Prof. CHAO Yu-hang Christopher, Vice President (Research and Innovation) A Feasibility Study on Various Types of High-Efficiency Chillers in Hong Kong: A Life-Cycle Assessment 1,000,000 Prof. DU Ya-ping, Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering CO2 and CH4 Conversion into High-Value Liquid Chemicals and Fuels in One Step at Room Temperature by Sliding Arc Plasma-Catalyst Synergy 500,000 Dr. FU Sau Chung, Research Assistant Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Development of an energy efficient technology for removal of microplastics from wastewater 495,000 Dr. DONG You, Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Coastal Hazard Protection Benefits of Ecosystems in Hong Kong under Global Climate Change 806,400 Dr. ZHANG Shipeng, Research Assistant Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering High-Performance Artificial Aggregate derived from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash 452,000 Dr. SHEN Xi, Assistant Professor of Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Development of a non-contact solar-thermal converter material for sustainable solar desalination 499,400 Ir Prof. WEN Chih-yung, Head and Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering, Associate Director of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology A Novel Real-Time Thermal Management solution Using Lightweight CFD and Reinforcement Learning for Hong Kong's Next-Generation Data Center 500,000 Dr. WANG Minghao Research Assistant Professor of Department of Electrical Engineering Dynamic decarbonization audit and cost-efficient management system of multiphysical photovoltaic power generation systems in smart cities 500,000 Dr. REN Jingzheng Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Converting waste plastics into value-added products: process design, simulation, and feasibility analysis 482,000 Dr. LI Meng-jung Molly Assistant Professor of Department of Applied Physics Process intensification reinforces the carbon-free ammonia-to-hydrogen efficiency through microwave heating 500,000 Dr. ZHAO Jiong Assistant Professor of Department of Applied Physics Convert the Coffee Grounds into Two-Dimensional Graphene Thin Film 500,000  

PolyU and NGOs develop innovative and effective intervention services to help families cope with adversity

To help families cope with stress and adversity, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), with the support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, has partnered with Hong Kong Children and Youth Services, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, The Salvation Army, and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to deliver a three–year project ‘Jockey Club “Promoting Family Resilience” Project’ (the Project). Since 2021, the Project has launched various programmes including an e-learning training course on family resilience and community-based family intervention services to help families respond to changes and disruptions brought about by the pandemic and adapt to the constantly changing social environment. Family resilience is the ability of a family to cope with and adapt to challenging situations and external threats; it includes family cohesion and flexibility, open family communication, and a shared sense of purpose and positive outlook. By developing family resilience, families can better navigate difficult circumstances and maintain a sense of stability, mutual support and positive communication even in the face of adversity. The e-learning training course is a 12-hour tailor-made e-learning program from which parents can learn about the concepts of family resilience, reflect on their own family situation and capacity, and apply family resilience strategies in their daily life. Eight months after the launch of the training course, there have been over 5,000 beneficiaries. Prof. Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, and Li and Fung Professor in Service Leadership Education of PolyU, said over 97% of the participants reported that they acquired the concepts of family resilience and had a better understanding of their own family characteristics, and 95% found that they face adversity more positively and were more willing to shoulder the burdens of other family members. Moreover, those participants who had completed the 12-hour modules showed a decrease in personal stress, anxiety and depression, and an increase in family resilience including more positive family values and stronger optimistic beliefs, more cohesion and flexibility among family members, and better family communication and problem-solving capabilities. The project team also conducted a quasi-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of the training course by comparing an experimental group (i.e., those who had completed the e-learning course) and a comparison group (i.e., those who had not joined the course). The experimental group reported a decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms, and an increase in family resilience after participating in the programmes, when compared with the comparison group. What also makes the Project unique are the community-based family intervention programmes which also aim to enhance family resilience in the community. Over the past two years, over 7,000 families have joined these programmes. Four such programmes have been developed jointly by the collaborating NGOs and PolyU, and implemented by the NGOs. They incorporate different programme designs and concepts of family resilience: 1) family adventure-based training; 2) family-based art workshops; 3) family photo albums; and 4) mindful journeys for families. The programmes comprise six-sessions and include group sessions and outdoor activities, with entire families invited to participate. Nearly 900 families have joined these programmes in the past two years. Dr Janet LEUNG, Associate Professor of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, said programme evaluation showed that 97% of participants reported that they were more optimistic in facing adversity, communicated better and developed mutual support among their family members. Furthermore, participants showed a decrease of mental health symptoms (stress, anxiety and depression) among family members, and an increase in family resilience (positive family beliefs, family flexibility and cohesion, and family communication and collaborative problem-solving). Moreover, results of a quasi-experimental study indicated that an experimental group (i.e., those families that joined the programmes) showed a decrease in anxiety, an increase in family resilience and better marital satisfaction after participation, when compared with the comparison group (i.e., those families that did not join our programmes). Families in Hong Kong still face different challenges and difficulties during the post-pandemic stage. The prolonged pandemic has taken a significant toll on individual and family mental health. The unpredictable economic condition with high inflation has also created worries within families. Moreover, when schools resume normal, families may need to adjust to new routines again and, in managing learning loss, parents and children are anxious to catch up, which can cause significant stress. In facing the challenges ahead, it is clear that family-based programmes that effectively promote family resilience are essential. The Project will help Hong Kong families better understand and enhance their resilience. It also hopes to train professionals including social workers and psychologists to further optimise intervention services to help families cope with adversity. Jockey Club “Promoting Family Resilience” Project Website: https://family-fhss.polyu.edu.hk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCFamilyResiliencehk/

PolyU hosts premier interdisciplinary research conference in the Greater Bay Area with Prof. Yan Nieng and over 100 leading experts as distinguished speakers

The first and largest interdisciplinary research and development conference in Hong Kong commenced at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today, with some 100 internationally renowned experts as distinguished speakers to share their knowledge and insights during the 4-day conference. The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders from industry, academia, and governments worldwide to engage in closer exchange and collaboration, enriching and expanding interdisciplinary knowledge to foster a brighter and more sustainable future. Under the theme of “Research Excellence for Societal Impacts”, the Conference has 15 streams focused on three core areas: advanced technologies and manufacturing, good health and well-being, and smart and sustainable cities. Besides insightful keynote and discussion sessions, the programme also comprises laboratory visits and presentations of select research papers. At the Conference opening session, Prof. YAN Nieng, Founding President of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and a world-leading structural biologist, delivered an insightful presentation on the frontier research of proteins that may play a key role in the pharmaceutical development of pain relief solutions. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “This academic conference is specifically dedicated to interdisciplinary research and emerging technologies, which are especially relevant in today's complex world. Tackling pressing societal issues, such as climate change, an ageing population, poverty, energy shortages and so forth requires game-changing interdisciplinary solutions that transcend the boundaries of individual disciplines.” Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Chairman of the Conference’s Scientific Committee, said, “As we finally emerge from the pandemic and return to normality, this year's Conference marks a new chapter for academia in Hong Kong and around the world to establish, renew and deepen interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of society.” Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of PolyU, said, “The Conference is important for us to understand what it means to be innovative, interdisciplinary, and agile. It is a major step towards closer interinstitutional and cross-sectoral collaboration to embrace the challenges ahead.” Officially inaugurated in July 2022, PAIR is PolyU’s interdisciplinary research hub with 16 research institutes and centres and over 400 senior researchers, making it the largest research platform of its kind in the Greater Bay Area.  

China Resources and PolyU to drive the establishment of Joint Research Institute of Carbon Neutral New Materials

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), China Resources Enterprise, Limited (China Resources) and China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday (4 May) on research collaboration in carbon neutrality and sustainability-driven projects, talent development and start-up projects, and a framework agreement to drive the establishment of the CR-PolyU Joint Research Institute for Carbon Neutral New Materials. Witnessed by Mr Xiangming WANG, Chairman of China Resources Group; Ms Cheng WU, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr Tai Fai LAM, Council Chairman of PolyU; and Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, the agreement was signed by Mr Ying CHEN, Assistant General Manager of China Resources Group, Chairman and CEO of China Resources Enterprise, and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU. Mr Xiangming Wang said, “This collaboration relies on the abundant industrial resources of China Resources Group, combined with the strong scientific research capabilities and technology of PolyU. The aim is to extensively apply the results of research into new materials to industry, and jointly establish an ‘Industry-University-Research Integration’ research center to conduct commercial transformation and incubate startup projects. Against the backdrop of the Nation’s active promotion of the dual-carbon policy and the demand for new industrialisation in Hong Kong, the collaboration drives demand-driven development, strengthens the integration of production and application, and aims to solidify the research foundation of material science, sustainable development and other research directions to promote technological research and development, new products and new business models, and achieve open innovation.” PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “This collaboration will facilitate talent nurturing for researchers and provide support for knowledge transfer. On the one hand, the two parties will provide more external opportunities for PolyU graduate students to exchange and collaborate. On the other hand, China Resources will provide incubation support for PolyU’s startups. These will help Hong Kong become an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area. Moving forward, China Resources and PolyU will jointly carry out frontier technology research and designated subject and technological innovation in basic fields based on the joint research institute platform, so as to attract researchers and incubate scientific and technological innovation start-up projects in sustainable development fields.