Showcasing PolyU’s research innovations

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Delegates attending the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Innovation & Impact Summit, co-hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and THE, were able to see first-hand how PolyU's research and teaching have helped improve the everyday lives of people in Hong Kong, the mainland, Asia and the wider world.   

More than 100 leading higher education professionals, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from around the world participated in a series of workshops focusing on PolyU’s research innovations in four niche areas, namely, space, aviation and railway; sustainable urban development; human-centered innovation; and hospitality. The workshops were held ahead of the two-day summit which was staged under the theme of “Powering Universities Economic and Social Impact through Innovative Research and Teaching.” The summit was a key celebratory event of PolyU's 80th anniversary.

At the Human-centered innovation Workshop, using healthcare as an example, Professor Maurice Yap, dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences explained to delegates how different departments combine their inter-disciplinary skills and knowledge to solve problems and provide solutions. For instance, Yap said the Faculty worked with engineers to ensure Hong Kong's new children's hospital located at the old airport in Kai Tak would be as children-friendly as possible.

"Throughout PolyU's 80-year existence, first as a Technical College and Polytechnic and since being awarded full university status in 1994, it has always been in our DNA to  conduct research and be involved in projects that benefit the Hong Kong community," said Yap. For example, he said that by combining the efforts and expertise of engineering, information technology, life sciences, medicine, and social science, the university is conducting new research targeting healthy, active ageing and social well-being.