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232 PolyU scholars ranked among World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2024 for career-long citation impact

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved remarkable results in the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2024 lists, according to the latest two rankings compiled by Stanford University. Notably, 232 scholars were included based on their career-long citation impact. Together with the scholars named for their single-year citation impact, a total of 355 PolyU scholars were recognised. Based on career-long citation impact, PolyU stands out globally with the largest representation of top scholars in the sub-field of Building and Construction, boasting 18 scholars. It also demonstrates the strongest research performance in Hong Kong with the largest representation of top scholars across 12 sub-fields. Beyond Building and Construction, the University leads locally with the most top scholars in Materials (19 scholars), Energy (15 scholars), Civil Engineering (13 scholars), Operations Research (10 scholars), Optoelectronics and Photonics (10 scholars), Nursing (7 scholars), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (7 scholars), Logistics and Transportation (6 scholars), Mechanical Engineering and Transports (6 scholars), Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (4 scholars), and Rehabilitation (4 scholars). In addition, four PolyU academics are placed among the top 10 scholars worldwide in their respective sub-fields, seven scholars are ranked among the top 20, while 17 scholars are placed within the top 50 worldwide. This represents the highest number of top-ranked scholars among universities in Hong Kong. The World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists compiled by Stanford University is divided into two lists, based on scholars’ career-long (1960-2023) and single-year (2023) impact, recognising  their lifetime achievement and recent research impact respectively. Over 100,000 top scientists globally were grouped into 22 subject fields and 174 sub-fields. The lists were based on indicators including citations, scientific research output and a composite indicator for citation impact, up to the end of 2023. As one of the world’s top 100 universities, PolyU is committed to promoting research and innovation for the betterment of society. This international recognition is a testament to the University’s research excellence. PolyU will continue to pursue excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer, for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.

PolyU’s “Digital Strolling” programme wins Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards (Hong Kong) 2024 for alleviating depression in mobility impaired individuals

Advancements in technology have provided inventive solutions with health and rehabilitation programmes for mobility impaired individuals addressing concerns related to depression and quality of life. Dr Yan LI, Assistant Professor (Presidential Young Scholar) of the School of Nursing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been awarded the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards (Hong Kong) 2024 for the project “The Impact of ‘Digital Strolling’ on Depression and Quality of Life of People with Severe Mobility Impairment.” According to the World Health Organization’s 2023 figures, approximately 16% of individuals with severe mobility impairment (SMI) globally and 7.1% in Hong Kong often faces health issues like marginalisation. Research indicates that more than 50% of individuals with SMI experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. Digital strolling refers to the use of virtual reality technology to simulate the experience of walking or moving around in a digital context, representing a novel and promising intervention for the SMI population. Dr LI’s study aims to develop and test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a digital strolling intervention among people with SMI, with a focus on addressing problems related to depression, chronic pain, and sleep quality. Participants use head-mounted displays (HMDs), wireless handheld controllers, and laptops to engage in a virtual environment. The HMD connects to a laptop, allowing users to see simulated arms and legs, while the handheld controller tracks arm movements and positions in three dimensions. This data is then converted into virtual leg movements, enabling participants with SMI to “walk” in a three-dimensional space. Dr. Li is a registered nurse with over 10 years of experience and is an active nurse researcher. Her research interests include digital psychosocial health, mental health among individuals with physical disabilities, and the integration of artificial intelligence ( in educational innovations. Dr Li said, “Digital strolling is highly transformative as it can be conducted easily and interestingly, allowing patients to enjoy themselves during treatment. Additionally, this controller-based approach allows individuals with mobility challenges to engage in an experience that simulates walking, often set against natural backdrops like forests. This experience can help alleviate mental symptoms and positively impact other conditions such as sleep quality, and thus overall quality of life.” The research findings will lay the foundation for subsequent large-scale trials and provide recommendations for medical staff and rehabilitation experts to develop innovative and comprehensive community healthcare programs for people with SMI. The Research Grants Council (RGC) has collaborated with the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) of the United States for the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards (Hong Kong) (HLCA (HK)) since 2022, aiming to call for bold and innovative ideas from any discipline that has the potential to extend the human healthspan.

PolyU and Huizhou government jointly establish PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held an unveiling ceremony for the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute (Research Institute) in Huizhou, in collaboration with the Huizhou Municipal People’s Government and the Huizhou Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone. Marking the official launch of the Research Institute in Huizhou, the unveiling ceremony was officiated by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Mr Arthur LEE Kam-hung, PolyU Council Member; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Deputy President and Provost; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation); Dr Laura LO, PolyU Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement); Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Director of the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute; Mr LIU Ji, Secretary of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal People’s Congress; Mr LI Ming, Member of the Standing Committee of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Head of the Organisation Department of the Huizhou Municipal Committee; Mr YUAN Guangxia, Director Level Officer (Grade 1) of Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province; Ms ZHONG Yonglan, Executive Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department of the Huizhou Municipal Committee and Director of Bureau of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of Huizhou; Mr GUO Wupiao, Chairman of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone; Mr SAN Jinfeng, Vice Chairman of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone; and Mr CHEN Zhiming, Member of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Building Office of the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone. Dr Lam Tai-fai stated in his opening speech that since the signing of the tripartite agreement among PolyU, the Huizhou Municipal Government, and the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone in May this year, the basic infrastructure of the office and the incubation building had been completed within four months. This demonstrates the efficiency of the collaboration and the strong commitment to promoting technological innovation. The Research Institute will focus on the development of local industries through optimizing resource allocation and promoting the industrialisation of research outcomes, and contribute to the high-quality development of Hong Kong, Huizhou and the Nation as a whole. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng saidthat while PolyU strives for excellence in teaching and research, it also pays great attention to global environmental protection and sustainable development. The Research Institute aims to develop green energy and technologies, taking social responsibility by promoting modernisation, digitalisation and environmental protection. The collaboration with the Huizhou city government and the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone will foster an in-depth integration of government, industry and academia, and the Research Institute will help serve as an important platform for green energy and advanced technological innovation between Hong Kong and Huizhou. Mr Liu Ji also delivered a speech during the ceremony. He stated that Huizhou is implementing closely with the key ideas conveyed at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, as well as the specific arrangements of the “1310” scheme of the Provincial Party Committee through in-depth participation in the development works of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the collaboration in technological innovation between Huizhou and Hong Kong. With the establishment of the Research Institute, Huizhou and PolyU work together to consolidate the resources of the cutting-edge technology and nurture a group of high-quality scientists and talents in innovation and entrepreneurship. The Research Institute strives towards a first-class platform for high-end technology and innovation and a new model for collaboration between school and local industry in both cities. The four key research areas of the Research Institute were highlighted at the Ceremony. Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Director of the Research Institute, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of PolyU, introduced the Research Institute’s overall development plans, as well as his research topic on new materials and new energy; Prof. Ka-fu YUNG, Associate Director of the Research Institute, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science and Director of the University Research Facility in Chemical and Environmental Analysis of PolyU, spoke on green chemistry and sustainable catalysis; Prof. Minchen WEI, of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering of PolyU, spoke on spatial computing and imaging; and Dr RUAN Haihui of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, spoke on green and smart manufacturing. These four core research areas not only address the upgrading needs of existing industries but also focus on future development, laying a solid foundation for sustainability and technological self-reliance. The Research Institute also held a signing ceremony with eight local enterprises for collaborative projects, further advancing technology transfer and application. Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, shared his insights in the inaugural Daya Bay scientific seminar. Prof. C. C. Chan, Distinguished Chair Professor of PolyU and Director of the Research Centre for Electric Vehicles, shared his insights in the inaugural Daya Bay scientific seminar. A first-ever Daya Bay scientific seminar, “Technological Innovation in Fostering the New Productivity” was also held, at which Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, Dr Sunny CHAI, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, and Prof. C.C. CHAN, Distinguished Chair Professor of PolyU and Director of the Research Centre for Electric Vehicles shared their views. The seminar provided forward-looking insights for officials, researchers and business representatives on how technological innovation can enhance productivity, as well as highlighting the trends and challenges of industrial transformation. Looking forward, the Research Institute aims to become a new model of cooperation between Huizhou and Hong Kong. By leveraging the solid foundation and policy support of the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone, it will introduce Hong Kong’s expertise to Huizhou’s industrial landscape, accelerating the establishment of green and low-carbon system, enhancing the development of the manufacturing sector, and building two major industrial clusters in petrochemical energy, new materials and electronic information with higher competitiveness.

PolyU and Arup engaged in research sharing at Eureka Moments for sustainable development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is harnessing its world-class academic and research excellence to develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future. Recently, PolyU hosted a networking event titled “Eureka Moments” in partnership with Arup, bringing together brilliant minds to explore key themes of green energy and carbon-neutral technologies. During the event, participants shared their research projects on various topics, such as hydrogen synthesis and storage, low-carbon construction materials, offshore wind energy, and carbon dioxide to fuel conversion, etc. PolyU researchers actively engaged in discussions and gained valuable insights from the latest industry practices, which sparked new research ideas and directions. The “Eureka Moments” event serves as a vital platform to facilitate and inspire the exchange of ideas, skills, and knowledge between Arup specialists and PolyU researchers. Additionally, it opened doors for potential partnerships with Arup in pursuing diverse research endeavors and paving the way for in-depth collaborations and exciting funding opportunities.

Media report: PolyU and UNIQLO release joint survey on Hong Kong Consumer Sustainable Fashion

A survey titled "Hong Kong Consumer Awareness of Sustainable Fashion”, conducted by the School of Fashion and Textiles of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in collaboration with Japanese clothing retailer UNIQLO, showed that 70% of Hong Kong consumers are aware of sustainable development goals, indicating a significant increase in environmental awareness. The survey found that 1 in 10 consumers purchases more than 21 items of clothing each year, but concerningly, about 20% reported that each item is worn less than 10 times on average.  Additionally, the survey revealed consumer clothing disposal habits. Although 90% of respondents expressed their willingness to participate in clothing recycling, the actual recycling rate is only 11%, according to the Environmental Protection Department. The main reasons include inconvenient recycling locations and a lack of understanding of recycling channels. Consumers expect fashion brands to enhance recycling incentives, such as offering shopping discounts and cash rewards to encourage greater participation in recycling. The survey results indicate that the recycling behaviour of Hong Kong consumers is primarily driven by intrinsic motivations, suggesting that more support from the community and stakeholders can provide more support to further promote sustainable consumption.

PolyU and Shaoxing government jointly establish technology and innovation research institute to advance technological development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the People’s Government of Keqiao District, Shaoxing, have jointly established the PolyU-Shaoxing Technology and Innovation Research Institute (Research Institute). The Research Institute will focus on a number of cutting-edge technologies including textile technology, carbon composite materials and application, and modern construction. Mr SHI Huifang, Secretary of the Shaoxing City Committee and other representatives joined the “Shaoxing Talent Week” event on 21 September. PolyU and the People’s Government of Keqiao District, Shaoxing, held an official ceremony to sign a cooperation agreement at the event. A plaque unveiling ceremony was also held to establish the Research Institute, marking a significant milestone in fostering the scientific research and technological advancements of both parties. This partnership signifies a commitment between Hong Kong and Shaoxing to advancing innovation and excellence, serving as a dynamic platform that connects academia, industry and the community. Leveraging PolyU accomplishments and accolades in fashion and textiles, impactful technologies in civil and environmental engineering, and outstanding research in mechanical engineering, in conjunction with Shaoxing’s resources and strengths, the Research Institute will harness PolyU research outcomes to foster technology transfer and research incubation, thus enabling real-world implementation of scientific innovation. Moreover, the Research Institute will play a pivotal role in nurturing a new generation of engineers with global perspectives, as well as top-tier technological innovation and entrepreneurial skills. The plaque unveiling ceremony was co-hosted by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement); Mr YUAN Jian, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Keqiao District, and representatives of the Keqiao District Government, signifying the official establishment of the “PolyU-Shaoxing Technology and Innovation Research Institute”. In his speech, Prof. Teng highlighted the outstanding talent pools in Shaoxing and PolyU. With a rich history spanning 86 years, PolyU boasts over 2,900 researchers, including over 200 individuals recognised among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in Stanford University’s Scientist Rankings. Renowned for its excellence in the civil engineering, construction and building domains, PolyU holds a distinguished global reputation. The Research Institute is committed to advancing technological innovation, cultivating scientific and technical expertise, and fostering robust partnerships with international collaborators to drive progress not only in Hong Kong and the Nation but also on a global scale. PolyU and the Shaoxing government will both play pivotal roles by leveraging their respective strengths. This partnership signifies a significant advancement in fortifying the University’s research ties with the Mainland, bolstering research capabilities, nurturing exceptional talent and collaboratively addressing pressing global challenges through interdisciplinary cooperation.

PolyU scientist advancing in site-selective bioconjugation for enhanced therapeutic development

Bioconjugation, particularly targeting lysine residues and N-termini of peptides and proteins, has opened new avenues in chemical biology research. These sites, due to their reactivity and accessibility, are prime targets for attaching functional molecules. This process forms covalent bonds between biomolecules and other molecules, emerging as a potent tool for creating multifunctional bioconjugates with diverse applications. Proteins, fundamental to organisms, fulfill critical roles in various biological activities. Yet, their instability and the need for additional functionalities for specific applications like drug delivery or targeting have led researchers to explore modification techniques. Traditional methods often lack selectivity, causing batch-to-batch inconsistencies and decreased efficacy. Hence, there's a growing demand for site-selective bioconjugation approaches enabling precise modification without compromising protein function. Prof. Man Kin WONG, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science and Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, along with his research team, leads the forefront, focusing on the N-terminal modification of peptides and proteins. They have strategically targeted the N-terminus due to its solvent exposure and minimal interference with protein activities. By utilizing 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes (2-EBA) under slightly acidic conditions, they have achieved remarkable selectivity, enabling the modification of proteins while preserving their biological functions. This approach has shown promising results in various applications, including drug delivery systems and cancer therapeutics. Moreover, Prof. Wong's team has expanded the scope of bioconjugation by developing novel visible light-responsive and thermal-responsive bioconjugation reagents. These advancements pave the way for stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems, antibody-drug conjugates and cell surface engineering. By harnessing the power of light or temperature stimuli, these bioconjugates provide improved control over drug release and targeting, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. The development of site-selective bioconjugation technologies represents a significant advance in therapeutic research. Prof. Wong's team aims to improve the stability, efficacy and pharmaceutical kinetics of multifunctional therapeutic bioconjugates to treat human diseases more effectively. Their work has resulted in numerous academic papers and patents, with collaborations across departments at PolyU to explore wider medical applications. This interdisciplinary effort not only advances chemical biology research but also promises innovative therapeutics for potentially better clinical outcomes.

PolyU researchers unveil novel carbon dots-driven green radiative cooling coating for energy saving in buildings

Buildings account for about 90% of Hong Kong ’ s electricity consumption and over 60% of carbon emissions. Energy conservation in buildings is crucial for achieving climate mitigation goals. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have developed an environmentally friendly solar-driven adaptive radiative cooling (SARC) coating for building roofs and walls. This coating can reduce a building’s surface temperature by up to 25°C and lower indoor temperatures by 2 to 3°C, all without consuming any energy. This non-toxic, metal-free and durable coating can be produced on a large scale, promoting an eco-friendly and energy-saving method to mitigate urban heat island effects and support the achievement of carbon neutrality. Coating a building in a reflective material enablesthe self-regulation of its thermal environment to minimise indoor temperatures. However, traditional passive radiative cooling materials are unable to automatically adjust cooling capacity in response to environmental changes, which limits their applications. To address this challenge, a research team led by Prof. LU Lin Vivien, Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineeringat PolyU, along with key team member Dr Quan GONG, Postdoctoral Fellow of the same department, has invented a carbon dots(CDs)-driven SARC coating that can adjust cooling capacity based on solar irradiance. This new photoluminescent radiative cooling nanocoating can convert solar energy into light energy. As solar intensity increases, the coating’s solar reflectance is enhanced, preventing buildings from absorbing excessive heat. However, traditional photoluminescent cooling materials typically rely on rare earth metals and perovskite materials, which pose environmental risks.To address these issues, Prof. Vivien Lu’s team has introduced groundbreaking, environmentally friendly polymer-based CDs as photoluminescent materials into radiative cooling coating. Nano-sized CDs were embedded into polymers to create a biologically harmless material. The polymer CDs were uniformly coated onto hollow glass particles to create Smart Cooling Beads, enabling the coating to effectively convert ultraviolet light into visible light photons and increase effective solar reflectance. This water-soluble SARC only requires the evaporation of water to form a coating on building surfaces without releasing any volatile organic compounds, thereby reducing air pollution. Results have shown that, compared to conventional radiative cooling coating, the new SARC coating improved effective daytime solar reflectance from 92.5% to 95% and increased the cooling effect by 10% to 20%. For example, it can reduce the temperature by up to 25°C when applied to concrete rooftops. In a demonstration project with the HKSAR Government department, the team applied the SARC coating to the roofs of container houses at a construction site in Hong Kong. After approximately two and a half years of continuous outdoor exposure, the coated roofs remained 24 °C cooler than concrete roof under sunlight. The coating proved highly durable, with solar reflectance decreasing by less than 2% over the two-year period. Annual energy savings of 10% were achieved by reducing the air-conditioning load. By mapping the average annual temperature drop and cooling power across different climatic regions of Mainland China, the team observed that the stronger the radiation, the greater the temperature difference the new SARC coatingachieved. Taking as examplesHong Kong and 10 Mainland cities—Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Changsha, Hotan in Xinjiang, Shenyang, Guilin, Fuzhou, Chongqing and Lanzhou—the adoption of this novel cooling coating for buildings is projected to save between 97 and 136 kWh/m² of electricity annually in each city. Prof. Vivien Lu remarked, “As global warming intensifies and extreme weather events like heatwaves become more frequent, the scientific community is increasingly focused on finding ways to cool buildings while minimising energy consumption. Our novel SARC coating demonstrates exceptional cooling performance and is suitable for a wide range of climates, thereby accelerating the development of next-generation cooling materials. This water-soluble coating can also be produced in various colors, allowing it to be easily applied to building roofs, walls, roadways, and urban surfaces, using paint rollers.It achieves both cooling and aesthetic enhancements and offers a promising solution for sustainable urban development and mitigating the urban heat island effect.” With support from PolyU’s Carbon Neutrality Funding Scheme, the team has also integrated the photoluminescent coating with bifacial solar photovoltaics (PV) to achieve synergistic enhancement in thermal management and power generation, transforming buildings from energy consumers into energy harvesters. The team is planning to install bifacial PV panels on the rooftops of the under-construction PolyU Kowloon Tong Student Hostel, with new coating applied on the corresponding area under the panels, to enhance power generation while radiatively cooling the buildings. The team expects this dual-functional system to improve electrical power generation by 30-50% and reduce the carbon emission by 30% compared with conventional uncoated rooftops. Taking this project as an example, installation of PV over an area of approximately 600 m2 on hostel rooftops can generate 97,000 kWh of electricity, resulting in annual cost savings of over HK$120,000. The team is also developing a paraffin-based self-adaptive radiative cooling coating that can maintain appropriate solar reflectivity in response to cold and hot weather, achieving the effect of keeping warm in winter and cooling in summer. The water-soluble SARC coating can also be produced in various colours, allowing it to be easily applied to building roofs, walls, roadways, and urban surfaces to achieve both cooling and aesthetic enhancements.

Three PolyU projects supported by Smart Traffic Fund to enhance driving safety and traffic efficiency

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is dedicated to developing advanced technologies for safe and smart mobility. Leveraging its proven research capabilities, PolyU has secured funding for three out of four projects in the 15th batch of Smart Traffic Fund, with total funding awarded to the University of approximately HK$14 million. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU said, “The collective support for 21 PolyU projects out of a total of 59 projects funded from the Smart Traffic Fund since the launch of this scheme underscores PolyU’s legacy of excellence in smart traffic technology. These funds drive us to advance further in enhancing quality of life and shaping the future through the development of intelligent transportation systems. Drawing upon our diverse academic and research capabilities, PolyU will continue to lead the way in advancing and transforming smart mobility.” A study on public transport re-routing, with a healthy ‘Wait-to-Ride’ trip mode for optimizing public transportation routes and improving traffic congestion, is led by Prof. Charles Man Sing WONG, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics. The study will develop a spatial-temporal environment database to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance road network efficiency. This database will inform suggestions for re-routing public transport in over-served areas with duplicated services. Safety is a crucial aspect of smart mobility. Dr Kam-hung NG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, leads another of the funded projects, “Development of human-centric driver support systems and training recommendations for safer cross-border driving during Northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles”. By analysing potential human errors through the collection of various neuropsychological data, a cross-border driving simulation and training program will be developed. Dr Yiping JIANG, Assistant Professor of the same Department, led the project “A study of integrating adaptive safety requirements into localisation for autonomous driving in Hong Kong”. It aims to develop a configurable platform using machine learning algorithms, which will allow autonomous driving systems to adapt to safety requirements across different traffic scenarios. The Smart Traffic Fund provides funding support to local organisations and enterprises for conducting research and applying innovation and technology with the objectives of enhancing commuting convenience, enhancing efficiency of the road network or road space, and improving driving safety. Details of the three funded projects:

PolyU scientist’s breakthrough energy-efficient innovations in applications for sensory AI systems

Prof. Yang CHAI, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science and Professor of the Department of Applied Physics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has conducted groundbreaking research on sensory artificial intelligence (AI), paving the way for more energy-efficient, low-latency and memory-optimised AI systems. His advancements significantly enhance diverse applications such as mobile devices, IoT sensors and edge computing. Overcoming crucial barriers in power consumption, latency and memory within sensory AI systems, Prof. Chai’s innovations unleash the potential of sensory AI across diverse industries and domains. Furthermore, the in-sensor computing strategy has sparked progress in improving decision-making and situational awareness, strengthening privacy and security, and transforming intelligent automation. For his exceptional innovation, Prof. Chai has been honoured as a 2024 Falling Walls Winner in the Engineering & Technology category for “Breaking the Wall of Efficient Sensory AI Systems”. He has developed novel hardware architectures and optimisation techniques, which enable the deployment of advanced sensory AI systems in mobile devices, IoT sensors and edge computing, subsequently transforming applications in smart cities, autonomous vehicles and industrial automation. The Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year Award was initiated by the Berlin-based Falling Walls Foundation, to recognise the latest breakthroughs and outstanding science projects worldwide. This year, the jury, comprising globally recognised experts in the various fields, reviewed over 1,000 entries from 52 countries. In the Engineering & Technology category, 10 excellent winners were selected and shortlisted for the award of Science Breakthrough of the Year 2024. Prof. Chai said, “The proliferation of data from ubiquitously distributed sensors leads to a massive increase in sensory terminals. It is crucial to partially shift computation tasks to the sensory terminals. This transition substantially compresses the collected information and extracts key data, especially for sensor-rich platforms.” Prof. Chai’s research clearly defines near-sensor concepts and in-sensor computing paradigms based on the physical distance between sensory and computing units. This classification further divides functions into low-level and high-level processing. His study explores the implementation of near-/in-sensor computing for different physical sensing systems and provides possible solutions for integrating sensing and processing units through advanced manufacturing technologies. While Prof. Chai and his team focus on advancing computational hardware for sensory AI systems, the extraordinary capabilities of natural bioinspired sensory systems more broadly are a vital research inspiration. By emulating human visual adaptability, which allows accurate object identification under various lighting conditions, the new bioinspired sensors developed by Prof. Chai’s team offer a solution for the progress in motion processing by directly adapting to different light intensities. This approach avoids relying solely on backend computation, which emulates and even surpasses the human retina’s ability to adapt to various lighting levels. The sensors reduce hardware complexity and boost image contrast in varied lighting conditions, thus improving machine vision systems for visual analysis and identification tasks. Inspired by flying insects’ high flicker function frequency, Prof. Chai has pioneered research on optoelectronic graded neurons for perceiving dynamic motion. This innovation efficiently encodes temporal information at sensory terminals, reducing the amount of visual data transferred relating to fusing spatiotemporal (spatial and temporal) information in a computation unit. This advances machine visual systems with minimal hardware resources, promising potential applications in autonomous vehicles and surveillance systems. These outstanding findings have been published in high-impact journals including Nature Electronics and Nature Nanotechnology, and have been highlighted in Nature, IEEE Spectrum and others, while also being highly cited by research teams worldwide. He envisions, “My long-term goal is to develop cutting-edge microelectronic and nanoelectronic devices with new functionalities and unprecedented performance. Specifically, we intend to create imaging technology capable of perceiving three-dimensional depth, four-dimensional spatial-temporal and multiple spectral (beyond visible light) information. To achieve this, a bio-inspired mechanism will be utilised to reduce power consumption and latency.” Learn more about Prof. Chai’s research focus in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk7Rga3kSoc