Shines bright: FLASS bagged five awards at Geneva’s golden jubilee inventions expo

The project “Novel Biomaterials Used for Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Cancer Immunotherapy” led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, second from right, wins a Gold Medal and an International Special Merit Award at the innovation event. Also in the photo are Professor (Practice) Stephen Chow Cheuk-fai, Director of Knowledge Transfer, EdUHK, left; Professor Zhifeng Huang, a member of the project team from the Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, second from left; and Dr Lemon Kwan Hok-ming, Head of Knowledge Transfer Sub-Office at EdUHK.

Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam’s project “Novel Biomaterials Used for Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Cancer Immunotherapy” enhances dendritic cell maturation using silica nanomatrices.

Four innovative projects from FLASS garnered five awards at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva held from 9 to 13 April. The winning projects, developed by various FLASS research teams, span a broad spectrum of fields, including artificial intelligence, biomaterials, neuroscience, and educational technologies. These achievements underscore the faculty’s growing strength in interdisciplinary research and its increasing impact on the international stage.

The project, entitled “Novel Biomaterials Used for Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Cancer Immunotherapy”, led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam was awarded both a Gold Medal and an International Special Merit Award. Professor Yung is the Associate Vice President (Research) at EdUHK, Director of the University Research Facility of Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN), and Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies.

Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho’s “Automatic Multi-modal Deep Learning Analysis System” project wins a Silver Medal.

Projects headed by Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho and Dr Fu Hong from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT) received a Silver Medal and a Bronze Medal respectively at the Geneva innovation event. Mr Lo Wai-kin, a student in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology (BSc(AI&EdTech)) programme, collaborated with Dr Henry So Chi-fuk, also from MIT, on a project that secured another Silver Medal.

Mr Lo Wai-kin, right, teaches visitors at the exhibition how to use his invention for two-way communication. The invention can translate sign language into spoken or written language and vice versa.

“Sign2V: Connecting Sign Language to the Verbal Sphere”, a joint project by Mr Lo Wai-kin, left, and Dr Henry So Chi-fuk, right, wins a Silver Medal at the event. It integrates interactive AI and machine learning for seamless bidirectional interpretation between sign language and speech or writing.

EdUHK as a whole attained nine prestigious awards from seven projects, including two International Special Merit Awards, one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, an additional Gold Medal, three Silver Medals, and two Bronze Medals. This landmark success marks the first time EdUHK has achieved such recognition, further cementing its position as a leading institution in interdisciplinary research and innovation.

The Knowledge Transfer Office coordinated EdUHK’s participation in the exhibition. Professor Stephen Chow Cheuk-fai, the Director of Knowledge Transfer, expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “Since our first participation, this year EdUHK has sent its largest-ever delegation to the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva. We are deeply encouraged by this recognition, which reaffirms the dedication and hard work of our researchers. Participation in the Exhibition not only provides EdUHK researchers with opportunities to interact and collaborate with international innovators and industry leaders, but also demonstrates our commitment to creating solutions that positively impact society and advance human well-being.”

Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, EdUHK Vice President (Research and Development), extended his heartfelt congratulations to the research teams. He emphasised that EdUHK’s research initiatives have profound implications for societal progress and human development, reflecting the university’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“EdUHK aims to conduct impactful research with clear social benefits. Recently, we established the University Research Facility of Human Behavioral Neuroscience, the University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and the SDG Living Laboratory. Currently, 42% of our research outputs directly contribute to SDGs. The awarded inventions demonstrate our researchers’ exceptional ability to leverage science and technology to address societal and market needs, highlighting our dedication to knowledge transfer and the commercialisation of research outcomes. We will continue to champion innovation, driving the transformation of research into impactful and practical solutions,” he added.

The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, widely regarded as one of the world’s most prominent platforms for inventions that push the boundaries of innovation, attracted almost 1,050 entries from over 40 countries and regions.

List of FLASS’ winning projects and related awards:

Project name	Investigator(s)	Project abstract	Award(s)
Novel Biomaterials Used for Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Cancer Immunotherapy	Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience at Department of Science and Environmental Studies	Traditional cancer treatments often rely on cytotoxic agents. The invention enhances dendritic cell maturation using silica nanomatrices, offering a safe & biocompatible method to improve treatment efficiency, effectiveness and survival rates.	Gold Medal International Special Merit Award
Automatic Multi-modal Deep Learning Analysis System	Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho, Professor at Department of Mathematics and Information Technology	Reliable datasets are essential for AI training, but evaluating ground-truth descriptions is prone to error. The invention automates the process, delivering high-quality, domain-specific feedback that enhances AI model performance, effectiveness, and quality control.	Silver Medal
Sign2V: Connecting Sign Language to the Verbal Sphere	Mr Lo Wai-kin, Student in Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology Dr Henry So Chi-fuk, Senior Lecturer at Department of Mathematics and Information Technology	Sign2V integrates interactive AI and machine learning for seamless bidirectional interpretation between sign language and speech or writing. By overcoming communication barriers, it promotes mutual understanding and inclusion in diverse social contexts.	Silver Medal
Smart Vest for Improving Behavioral Performance of School-aged Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)	Dr Fu Hong, Associate Professor at Department of Mathematics and Information Technology	The smart vest is a non-invasive, real-time feedback device designed to help children with ADHD integrate into the classroom and wider society. It captures motion data using 2 built-in 6-axis inertial measurement units and detect hyperactive behaviour.	Bronze Medal