Media Releases

A thousand PolyU members and guests attend flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony on campus to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. PolyU’s Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai, President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence LI Kwok-chang, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, Honorary Court Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG Chi-ping, President Emeritus Prof. the Honourable POON Chung-kwong, Ms ZHOU Qian, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, University Fellows, Outstanding Alumni, members of the PolyU Foundation and close to 1,000 distinguished guests, staff, students and alumni joined the ceremony, wishing prosperity and stability for the Nation. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU’s Chairman of Council remarked, “The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China is a significant milestone in the Nation’s development and a year of great importance. As a global top 100 institution, PolyU will unite its efforts, leveraging its solid foundation to support the development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology centre and a talent hub.  We will capitalise on the advantages of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ to contribute to the high-quality development of the Nation for a glorious future.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU’s President said, “Over the 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Nation has made remarkable achievements, especially with numerous breakthroughs in science and technology. Aspiring to be an innovative world-class university, PolyU is dedicated to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective, pursuing world-leading research and innovation for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.”

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 said that 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. ***END***

PolyU to launch seven bachelor’s degree schemes from the 2025/26 academic year to offer more flexible major study options; Info Day 2024 to be held on 12 October, introducing latest information on undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes

With the aim of nurturing future ready professionals and driving social innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will enhance the undergraduate admission arrangement from the 2025/26 academic year onwards to provide students with more flexible and interdisciplinary study options. The University will also offer various new taught postgraduate programmes that cover emerging fields to meet society’s talent needs. Catering for both students and those interested in pursuing further studies, the PolyU Information Day (Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes) (Info Day) will be held on 12 October to introduce the latest admission information and diversified programmes options. From the 2025/26 academic year, PolyU will offer different pathways for students to enable them to tailor their studies to better suit their personal interests. Students with clear academic goals can choose their preferred departmental schemes or programmes directly, while those who wish to further explore their aspirations can enrol in one of the seven new bachelor’s degree schemes to gain a better understanding about the different majors within a faculty.  In particular, students who are admitted to the Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies will be able to explore programmes from across different faculties/schools and decide their majors afterwards, leading them to more self-directed and flexible learning. The newly launched bachelor’s degree schemes: Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Computer and Mathematical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Science Under this new arrangement, all undergraduates (except for those from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and those enrolled in the Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies) will follow a Common Year 1 Curriculum under their faculty in their first year to build a solid foundation of knowledge, after which they can choose a major within the faculty based on their preferences and academic performance. Following the same mechanism, students who have enrolled in departmental schemes or programmes will also be allowed to switch to other majors within their faculty. Optimising undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes in response to industry needs PolyU is committed to continuously revamping its curriculum to meet the evolving manpower demands of society. In the 2025/26 academic year, the Faculty of Construction and Environment will launch the new BSc (Hons) in Architectural Studies*, while the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, which will be established in January 2025, will introduce the new BSc (Hons) Scheme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Data Science and Analytics / Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence). The following programmes will also undergo changes: Existing programmes Changes BSc (Hons) Scheme in Data Science Restructured into the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Applied Mathematics and Finance Analytics  Introduce the new BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics* and BSc (Hons) in Quantitative Finance and FinTech* under the Scheme BEng (Hons) Scheme in Product and Industrial Engineering Retitled as BEng (Hons) Scheme in Product Innovation and Smart Manufacturing BSc (Hons) Scheme in Logistics and Enterprise Engineering Retitled as BSc (Hons) Scheme in Intelligent Supply Chain and Engineering Management BEng (Hons) Scheme in Mechanical Engineering Introduce the new BEng (Hons) in Intelligent Robotics Engineering under the Scheme* BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Scheme in Language Sciences, Translation, and Speech Therapy Retitled as BA (Hons)/BSc (Hons) Scheme in Translation, Language Sciences and Analytics BSc (Hons) Scheme in Food Safety and Technology Retitled as BSc (Hons) Scheme in Food Science and Nutrition Introduce the new BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition and Health under the Scheme* In addition to undergraduate programmes, PolyU also provides quality taught postgraduate programmes to enhance professionalism in various emerging fields, fulfilling the evolving needs of society and industry. In the 2025/26 academic year, PolyU will offer more than 100 taught postgraduate programmes, including the eight newly-launched Master’s degree programmes listed below: MSc in Aviation Engineering and Operations Management MSc in Aerospace Engineering MSc in Economics MSc in Sports Technology and Management MSc in Vision Science and Innovation* MSc in Low-altitude Economy* MSc in Dietetics* MSc in International Management and Leadership*    * This programme is subject to approval New overseas opportunities scholarship to broaden students’ global perspective PolyU has always attached great importance to holistic education and strives to nurture students’ global outlook. Starting from the 2025/26 academic year, an additional HK$30,000 overseas exchange funding will be offered to all undergraduate students who receive the academic Entry Scholarship, enabling them to participate in non-local learning activities through the Work-Integrated Education programme, Service-Learning projects, exchanges, field trips and other programmes. The University aspires to provide opportunities for all undergraduates to engage in at least one non-local learning experience by the 2027/28 academic year. PolyU Info Day offers one-stop consultation with the latest programme information This year, the PolyU Info Day will be held from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday 12 October, offering the latest information for those interested in applying to full-time undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes. The event will feature a series of in-person activities, including admission seminars hosted by the Academic Registry, which will cover admission information for applications via JUPAS, non-JUPAS (non-local qualifications), senior year admission (Associate Degree or Higher Diploma qualifications) and National College Entrance Examinations (Gaokao). There will also be over 200 programme consultations organised by faculties, schools and departments, guided tours to the University’s laboratories and facilities, student sharing sessions and workshops. These activities will allow participants to fully understand the PolyU admission requirements and obtain programme information for planning their academic journey. For PolyU Info Day details and registration, please visit: http://www.polyu.edu.hk/infoday2024. ***END***

PolyU Jockey Club Operation SoInno Project holds “One from Hundred Thousand” Social Innovation Symposium, looking forward to community making and development in the Northern Metropolis

The Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today hosted the “One from Hundred Thousand” Social Innovation Symposium. The Symposium, part of the PolyU Jockey Club Operation SoInno Project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, featured distinguished speakers from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, who shared their insights on community making and development in the Northern Metropolis from a social innovation perspective. Ms Bernadette LINN Hon-ho, Secretary for Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and Prof. LING Kar-kan, PolyU Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) and Director of J.C.DISI, served as keynote speakers. They were joined by representatives from academia, non-profit organisations and business sectors to discuss urban planning, community development, and social services, in relation to coordination between urban and rural areas, planning of living facilities, and social service models in the Northern Metropolis, addressing the diverse needs of new communities and promoting co-existence and integration of existing and new communities that help shape sustainable and inclusive communities and create a cohesive and vibrant Northern Metropolis. In his welcoming remarks, Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman stated, “The seminar is themed around the Northern Metropolis, envisioning the future of community making to create liveable communities for the benefit of Hong Kong. PolyU is grappling with significant challenges due to severe land and space shortages and hopes to receive strong support from the HKSAR Government in terms of increased land supply. This includes the possibility of establishing a new campus in the Northern Metropolis, featuring a medical school and a large teaching hotel with a conference and exhibition centre. By leveraging PolyU’s strengths in ‘medical-engineering integration’, the new campus aims to address the healthcare service needs of the anticipated 2.5 million population in the Northern Metropolis and the very much larger population of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while also fostering the development of the tourism, conference, and exhibition industries in the region.” Ms Bernadette Linn delivered a keynote speech “Northern Metropolis: A Strategic Growth Area Ideal for People to Live, Work and Travel”. She highlighted that, as a major hub for Hong Kong’s ongoing development as well as its role in contributing to the overall development of the country, the Northern Metropolis will become a key collaboration platform for Hong Kong and other GBA cities, a new engine for Hong Kong to scale new heights and a major source of land supply for the City. Under a new industrial pattern of “South-North dual engine (finance - innovation and technology)”, the process of transforming the northern parts of Hong Kong from a traditional rural area into a new zone for economic growth, ideal for people to live and work in and travel to, comes with many challenges but also boundless opportunities. Prof. Ling Kar-kan delivered a keynote speech “Northern Metropolis Development — Community Making Opportunities and Challenges”. He stated that Hong Kong is an aging city and the Northern Metropolis will be its youngest area due to the influx of a large number of young families. The Northern Metropolis and Shenzhen are in proximity, numerous innovative community interactions will materialise. He added, although the Northern Metropolis is abundant in ecological and heritage resources, it currently lacks the educational, medical, business, cultural, sports and recreational facilities of a metropolitan standard. This presents both challenges and opportunities for developing sustainable and inclusive communities. At the Symposium, PolyU scholars along with representatives from various sectors, gave their valuable insights into “Urban-rural Integration”, “Creating 15-minute Neighbourhood”, “Integrating Community Services” and “Visions and Insights of Northern Metropolis Community Makers”.    The “One from Hundred Thousand” Social Innovation Symposium, organised by the PolyU Jockey Club Operation SoInno Project, was successfully held.    ***END***  

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 municipal 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. ***END***

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 enables the 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 Engineering at 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 coating achieved. Taking as examples Hong 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. ***END***

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: Principal Investigator Project Title Project Summary Project Duration Approved Funding Prof. Charles Man Sing WONG, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics A study on public transport re-routing with a healthy ‘Wait-to-Ride’ trip mode for optimizing public transportation routes and improving traffic congestion The project aims to conduct research on analysing the routes and stops of road public transportation. A spatio-temporal environmental database will be developed for providing suggestions on reorganising of public transport routing in over-served areas with duplicated routes, with the aim of easing road traffic congestion and enhancing the efficiency of the road network.   24 months HK$ 5,384.708.25 Dr Kam-hung NG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering Development of human-centric driver support systems and training recommendations for safer cross-border driving during Northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles The project aims to develop a cross-border driving simulation and training program by analysing potential human errors through collecting various neuropsychological data, with the goal of enhancing safety of cross-border driving.   21 months HK$ 6,932,836.44 Dr Yiping JIANG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering A study of integrating adaptive safety requirements into localisation for autonomous driving in Hong Kong The project aims to develop a configurable platform with machine learning algorithms that enable autonomous driving systems to adhere to adaptive safety requirements under various traffic scenarios and turning radiuses of vehicles to enhance the safe performance of autonomous vehicles.   24 months HK$ 1,683,890.95   ***END***

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 ***END***

SINOPEC x PolyU "Cleaner Energy Better Life" Outstanding Student Award Scheme donation ceremony

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PolyU launches District Care Teams (Sai Kung) training programme to enhance service skills and quality

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) and Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT), in collaboration with the District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd, have organised a professional training programme for the District Care Teams (Sai Kung). Officially commencing last Saturday, the programme employs diverse and flexible teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, case studies, group activities and visits. It aims to help participants systematically ground their theoretical knowledge and translate it into practical applications to enhance the quality of life, happiness and sense of security within the community. The programme also contributes to policy research at PReCIT. On the first day, the programme comprised two sessions covering the themes of “Social Welfare, Technology and Innovation, as well as Care Teams” and “Basic Administrative Skills”. The sessions were led by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS and Co-Director of PReCIT, and Prof. MUI Kwok Wai Horace, Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering. Future courses will cover topics including diverse communities, communication skills, law, mental management, effective community development skills, leadership, and strategic planning and execution. Prof. Chui introduced the roles of Care Teams in Hong Kong communities and their importance to residents, “Care Teams can serve as a communication bridge between residents and the government, as well as to fill service gaps. Developed around three aspects, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusivity, the Teams can explore the application of technology and innovative methods in a sustainable society, maintain professionalism through reflection and explore best practices, as well as create a rich and encouraging environment to enhance resilience and embrace diversity.” Prof. Horace MUI hoped that this programme can guide Care Teams to provide more comprehensive and effective management, “We expect each participant to possess professional knowledge and the latest skills to address social issues, thus enable them to provide necessary assistance and care to those in need, and be more adept in serving the community.” Ms Sandy CHAN, a participant in the programme, shared that the lecture on the first day equipped her to better serve the community, “I have learnt how to effectively identify those in need and consider their feelings and dignity. I can therefore assist them in integrating into society with empathy.” APSS is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and practice for more effective and compassionate human services through the integration of education, research and service, thus promoting social inclusion and community betterment locally, nationally and internationally. PReCIT brings together scholars from different disciplines and professions with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and policy research. The District Services and Community Care Development Fund (Sai Kung) Company Ltd consolidates community resources and forces from all sectors and strengthens district networks. This tripartite collaboration provides a systematic and practical professional training programme for the Sai Kung District Care Teams. The programme, designed by world-renowned scholars and experienced professionals from various fields, equips them to offer high-quality care services to the community. ***END***