Innovation

News

15 Apr 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Researchers have succeeded in improving mobility efficiency by having the snake-like robot move using an “undulating motion” on uneven terrain and a “rolling motion” on level ground.
The Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies at Lingnan University organises the third Business Case Competition (LUBCC) 2026.
14 Apr 2026
Lingnan University
To enhance the business acumen and practical experience of students from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area (GBA) tertiary institutions, the Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS) at Lingnan University organised the third Business Case Competition (LUBCC) 2026. The Final Presentation Day and Award Presentation Ceremony were successfully held yesterday (12 April). This year’s competition expanded for the first time to include five GBA universities: Shenzhen University, Jinan University, Foshan University, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and Guangdong University of Technology. The first-prize teams were Lingnan University and Foshan University.
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Prof Arieh Warshel speaks at the Lingnan University Assembly.
13 Apr 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University today, 13 April, hosted its University Assembly with guest of honour Prof Arieh Warshel, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2013 and widely recognised as one of the founding figures of computational chemistry. In his lecture Electrostatic Basis of Biological Actions, Prof Warshel shared insights from his decades of research and presented an integrated account of his life’s work, from fundamental physical principles and the laws governing electrons to the construction of the “microscopic world” of biological systems. He further extended this framework to the study and application of biomolecules, and highlighted the role of computational tools and artificial intelligence in advancing medical and pharmaceutical research.
06 Apr 2026
The Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2026 proudly marks its Silver Jubilee, celebrating 25 years as one of Asia’s leading platforms for invention, innovation, and technology commercialization.
06 Apr 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Professor Yutaka Amao’s review gives a comprehensive overview of natural photosynthesis, the principles and history of artificial photosynthesis research, and carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage technologies.
01 Apr 2026
Ateneo de Manila University
New technology coming out of Ateneo de Manila University is helping reveal the technology of the Philippines' deep past.
Conventional strategies often lead to the uncontrolled diffusion of ligand molecules into the perovskite bulk or their severe loss during solvent washing, failing to form an effective ligand layer. The research team proposes a novel strategy that successfully immobilises the ligand molecules onto the SAM molecules, constructing a localised 2D/3D structure.
31 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
In response to the global demand for clean energy transition, tandem solar cells are recognised as a crucial next-generation technology that will significantly improve solar power efficiency. Scholars from Lingnan University’s Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) and their collaborators have innovatively developed a novel interfacial structure, which substantially reduces energy loss and successfully overcomes the current limitations of perovskite solar cells in voltage, further improving the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. Their findings, published in the top-tier international journal Nature Communications, affirm Lingnan University’s research capabilities in the fields of renewable energy materials and photovoltaic technology.
31 Mar 2026
Hokkaido University
Opening new possibilities for fluorescence-based imaging in extreme environments, from bioimaging to advanced materials
30 Mar 2026
Hokkaido University
A new global review shows countries taking very different approaches to regulating polygenic embryo testing
The conference brings together more than a hundred experts from around the world.
27 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
Asian turtles face a severe conservation crisis caused by illegal poaching and the wildlife trade. Supported by Ocean Park and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, Lingnan University is hosting the inaugural International Conference on Integrated Conservation of Asian Turtles (ICAT) from today, 27 March, through 30 March 2026. The conference, attended by 180 leading scholars, scientists, zookeepers, veterinarians, policymakers, educators, and other experts from 19 countries and regions will examine the latest research findings and practical conservation, as well as strategies to combat the illegal poaching of Asian turtles, and enhance protection for endangered species.
Nine broad and individual subjects at Lingnan University are in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with over half improving year-on-year. Computer Science and Information Systems appears on the list for the first time.
25 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University has achieved outstanding results in the international higher education organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Nine broad and individual subjects were designated, and more than half moved up. Philosophy came in the top three in Hong Kong, and Computer Science and Information Systems is included in the list for the first time, showing Lingnan’s considerable recent progress in developing interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and data science, which has gained widespread recognition from the international academic community. QS stated that only three Hong Kong universities have achieved a net improvement, with Lingnan University among the most improved.
Internationally renowned mathematician Prof Eugene Tyrtyshnikov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor and Chairman at Lomonosov Moscow State University, is formally appointed a Lingnan Fellow at LUIAS. (From left: President Qin, Prof Eugene Tyrtyshnikov)
25 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) held a conferment ceremony today, 25 March, to officially appoint Prof Eugene Tyrtyshnikov, distinguished mathematician, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor and Chairman at Lomonosov Moscow State University, as a Lingnan Fellow, recognising his outstanding academic achievements in computational mathematics and numerical analysis, as well as the significant societal impact of his work.
19 Mar 2026
Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University has donated a curated collection of its academic journals—spanning topics ranging from precolonial history to modern technology—to the Book Nook at SM North EDSA, one of the Philippines' major malls.
Guests officiated at the kick-off ceremony. (From left: Ms Jessie Law, Mr Mason Wu, Mr Augustine Lui, Dr Patrick Wong, the Honourable Andrew Yao, Dr the Honourable Starry Lee, Dr Roy Chung, President S. Joe Qin, Mr B K Leung, Mr Huang Liwei and Mr Ernest Chan)
19 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University proudly hosted its signature fundraising event, the Bright Future Charitable Foundation presents: Lingnan University Gala Dinner, held last night (18 March), and raised over HK$3 million. All proceeds will be used to enhance the University’s research facilities, supporting infrastructure, and cutting-edge research projects.
19 Mar 2026
Osaka Metropolitan University
Researchers developed high-performance, lead-free piezoelectric thin films on silicon that convert everyday vibrations into electricity. By using strain engineering and a novel sputtering method, they achieved record performance and demonstrated the compatibility of efficient, battery-free MEMS energy harvesters with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes.
18 Mar 2026
Duke-NUS Medical School
The winning prototype is a next-generation healthcare solution designed to address real-world solutions for critical clinical challenges. It’s part of the broader research and innovation curriculum at Duke-NUS, to nurture clinician-innovators and MedTech leaders who can translate breakthrough ideas into solutions that improve patients’ lives.
From the left: Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration); Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; and Prof Sam Kwong Tak-Wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence.
17 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University held its 2026 Chinese New Year media reception on the Tuen Mun campus today, 17 March, hosted by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration); Prof Sam Kwong Tak-Wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence, and Prof Lau Chi-pang, Special Advisor to President on Publicity cum Director of Communications and Public Affairs. They announced the University’s most recent news and its strategic development blueprint for the coming years, which includes a series of campus development initiatives which will continue to improve teaching, research, and innovation.
From left: Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing of Lingnan University, President Qin, Prof Guillermo Sapiro, and Prof Richard M. Walker, Director of the LUIAS.
10 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) hosted a conferment ceremony today, 10 March, to honour Prof Guillermo Sapiro, Augustine Family Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University and Distinguished Engineer at Apple, Inc. He was formally appointed a Lingnan Fellow in recognition of his remarkable academic achievements and significant contributions in the field.
06 Mar 2026
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo Laboratory for Intelligent Visual Environments (ALIVE) is eager to co-develop machine learning solutions with leading experts from various disciplines.
Lingnan University will officially launch the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class) in the 2026/27 academic year.
05 Mar 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University announced today (4 March) that it will officially launch the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class) in the 2026/27 academic year. The Class, bearing the name of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Samuel C.C. Ting, will select a group of top-performing undergraduate students from among recipients of the University Entrance Scholarships for comprehensive learning opportunities.
04 Mar 2026
Tohoku University
What’s going on in there? An international research team developed a method to pull back the veil on the unknown processes going on inside quantum computers - which may help us build more reliable quantum machines.
Nearly 200 higher education leaders from all over the world visit the Lingnan University campus.
28 Feb 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University welcomed nearly 200 higher education leaders from all over the world at its Tuen Mun campus today (27 February). The visit was one of the main activities of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition. Through campus tours and interactive exchanges, Lingnan showed its internationalised learning environment and innovative teaching facilities, actively highlighting Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international higher education hub. The University also promoted the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, which aims to attract more non-local students to study and work in the city. Lingnan’s senior management, academic staff, and students explored opportunities to work with representatives of student exchange programmes, research partnerships, and talent recruitment.
Lingnan’s President S. Joe Qin welcomes Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s 2026–27 Budget.
25 Feb 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, Prof S. Joe Qin, welcomed the 2026–27 Budget delivered today by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which included multiple policy initiatives related to education and innovation technology.
25 Feb 2026
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University’Research on Optical and Electronic Systems (ROSES) Laboratory, the Philippines' first and only facility dedicated to locally designing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and training PIC designers.
Winners of the Sony Women in Technology Awards 2026
20 Feb 2026
Springer Nature
Three early- to mid-career researchers across science and engineering, recognised at second awards: Zhen Xu, Ellen Roche, and Xiwen Gong.
19 Feb 2026
Tohoku University
Storing hydrogen efficiently is still challenging. Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new catalyst that coordinates the two key steps of hydrogen formation in alkaline water electrolysis, helping the reaction run more smoothly. A promising step toward practical green hydrogen.
Lingnan University achieved multiple “Hong Kong SAR First” and “Hong Kong SAR Only” distinctions in 2025.
18 Feb 2026
Lingnan University
Reflecting on 2025, Lingnan University reached new heights with a series of “No. 1 in Hong Kong SAR” and “Only in Hong Kong SAR” distinctions across major benchmarks, reaffirming its leadership in teaching and research excellence and the transformative power of its whole-person education. The following highlights showcase Lingnan’s defining achievements in 2025 that secured its “Hong Kong SAR First” and “Hong Kong SAR Only” status.
Lingnan University and the Universidad de la República (University of the Republic, Udelar) sign a Memorandum of Understanding. The ceremony is officiated by Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing of Lingnan University (left), and Prof Héctor Cancela, President of the Udelar (right), with senior representatives of both universities attending the event.
11 Feb 2026
Lingnan University
Lingnan University and the Universidad de la República (University of the Republic, UdelaR), the largest public higher education institution in Uruguay, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 10 February 2026 on Lingnan campus, formally establishing an academic partnership. This is an important step in advancing academic cooperation between Lingnan and universities in South America.
The Department of Marketing and International Business at Lingnan University organises The City Through My Lens: A Social Media Campaign - Video Competition 2025.
09 Feb 2026
Lingnan University
To inspire students in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), unleash their creativity, and engage with the evolving landscape of new media, the Department of Marketing and International Business at Lingnan University organised The City Through My Lens: A Social Media Campaign - Video Competition 2025. Students were invited to form teams and create short promotional social media videos capturing the highlights of their cities. The competition provided a platform for GBA secondary school students to express their creativity and broaden their horizons, while also strengthening the connection between the University and the younger generation. This is the first time the competition has included schools across the GBA, and there were 18 entrants. The championship was awarded to Malvern College Hong Kong, the first runner-up was St. Paul's Convent School, and the other runners-up were the HKSYC&IA Chan Nam Chong Memorial College, Sha Tin College, St. Paul’s Secondary School and Yew Chung International School.
06 Feb 2026
Hiroshima University
The approach uses 3D printing to produce WC–Co cemented carbides—ultra-hard materials used in cutting and construction tools—while reducing the waste and cost of conventional manufacturing.

Events

22 Oct 2021
To round off TIE 2021, the TIE Online Forum will be held on October 22nd. Inventors and VIPs from Taiwan, Japan, and Germany will present their recent innovations and breakthroughs.
28 Sep 2021
TECHINNOVATION is a premier technology-to-industry matching event presented by IPI. It brings together international technology providers and enterprises to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies, seed licensing opportunities and foster open innovation collaborations.
14 Jul 2021
Intelligent Mobility 2021 will offer a platform for industry experts, thought leaders, policy makers, city planners and researchers to discuss the future of mobility, growth opportunities emerging as a result of disruptive innovation, and the potential impact of new business models.
07 Oct 2021
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is proud to present the 19th Edition of the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC).
14 Oct 2021
Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) is the leading invention show in Asia. The event will take place from October 14-16, 2021 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1.
25 Oct 2021
First in the region focused on recognizing innovations, initiatives, programmes and ideas which contribute to sustainability, eradicating poverty, improving well-being, protecting our planet, and building peace and prosperity.
14 Jun 2021
Scheduled to return in June 2021, the awards were created to recognize and honour all COVID-19-related inventions.
13 Dec 2021
The internationally renowned exhibition is the region’s professional marketplace for ideas and inventions, and is back to bring together some of the best ideas from around the world.
24 Nov 2020
The two-day strategic summit—”Intelligent Mobility: The Digital Acceleration“—will feature curated webinars, insightful panel discussions, and other online events.
03 Nov 2020
The Singapore Centre for 3D Printing is pleased to share our first online webinar in collaboration with HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Corporate Lab.
The Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) acknowledges the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors from across the globe and to appreciate their high quality research work and contributions to different fields of science and technology.
05 Aug 2020
In collaboration with EmTech Asia, SGInnovate is holding a forum for clinicians and scientists residing in Singapore who are looking to commercialise their research in the fields of Human Health, Urban Sustainability and Supply Chain & Logistics.
22 Mar 2021
Rethinking education in the new normal. Future EdTech 2021 brings you this perfect opportunity to meet thousands of educators from primary education to universities.
22 Mar 2021
A strong advocate of creativity and development of innovations, MTE acts as a catalyst to create synergy between entrepreneurs and the science and technology communities to work together towards global partnerships.
08 Jul 2020
This program has identified many outstanding companies from the Automotive, Energy, Building & Environment industries to the Healthcare, Information Communication Technologies and Logistics sectors in Asia Pacific.
24 Sep 2020
Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) is the biggest invention show in Asia, It will take place in Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from Sep. 24 to Sep. 26, 2020
09 Mar 2020
Find the right UM startup partner for your next business during UM Startup Co-Founder Search Day 9th March 2020.
03 Jun 2020
An important message from the organisers - due to the escalating situation globally, Innovfest Unbound will no longer be taking place on 3-4 June 2020.
20 Nov 2020
As we continue to confront the challenging conditions that we are facing from the pandemic this year, ITEX remains steadfast and committed to its strength to convene innovators and inventors from Malaysia and around the world, with the new ITEX ONLINE taking centrestage with a convenient borderless invention platform.
03 Jun 2020
New dates and agenda announced.. Distance participation only. Check out latest news at conference website.
14 Oct 2020
Asia Pacific is the fastest growing global region for the identity market. Identity Week Asia is a world-class virtual event, to help create a more secure world, through the implementation of trusted identity solutions. FREE PASS available for Asia Research News readers!
14 Jan 2020
Organised by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) brings together distinguished scientists, post-graduates and academics for four days of learning and mentoring from 14 to 17 January 2020.
04 Aug 2020
Join the First EmTech Asia Virtual Conference on the Emerging Technologies That Matter
10 Sep 2019
South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology is delighted to announce the HFE Labs’ Demonstration Day is scheduled to be held on September 10, 2019.
South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), jointly with Ulsan Metropolitan City, held the "Graphene Symposium in Ulsan" on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.
South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) held a ceremony to mark the official opening of Smart Port Logistics Data Center.
13 Jan 2020
Duxes is pleased to announce the launch of the Smart Wearable Device Asia Pacific Summit 2020 (SWAP), that will take place in Shenzhen, China. January 13-14. This upcoming event aims to meet the latest demands of companies in the smart wearable device market, shedding light on current hot topics, industry concerns and the latest innovations.

Researchers

Picture of Prof.Albert Ko
Lingnan University
Prof. Albert is an experienced engineer, accomplished entrepreneur, innovative educator and a well-respected humanitarian worker. His research interests include artificial intelligence, robot-assisted search and rescue systems, humanitarian technologies and rural water and sanitation systems.
His research focuses on functional surfaces, bioinspired antifouling coatings, and medical antifouling materials.
Dr. Siti Fauziah Toha
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
Dr. Siti Fauziah Toha's main expertise in Artificial Intelligence Modelling and Control optimisation of complex systems and its applications.
Prasanna Lakmal
Prasanna Lakmal is a lecturer at the Department for Commerce & Financial Management of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Dr. Fariha is a Senior Lecturer and a Civil Engineer at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. She is actively conducting research on Kenaf-sorb beads that is potentially for wastewater treatment at the factory’s effluent point.
Prof. (Dr.) Pranay Dilip Abhang
Founder and Director, Arnarupra Foods
Frederico C. Ferreira
Frederico Castelo Ferreira's current research interest balances between fundamental and applied research, with potential translation into the market of sustainable products and processes.
Dr. Mohammed N. Abdulrazaq is currently an Assoc. Prof. at Department of Engineering & Technology, Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia.
Taylors university
Dr Chin Chin Sia is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Business & Law, Taylor's University, Malaysia.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Dr. Connie Cassy Ompok is an early childhood education expert and a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She Started her career in Early Childhood Education as a preschool teacher (2004-2007), a lecturer in early childhood education at the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (2008-2016) before serving as a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at UMS (2016 until now).
mohamed syazwan osman
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Senior lecturer at School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. He is also Head of Lab EMZI-UiTM Nanoparticles Colloids
Rabin Mahat is a result-oriented and multifaceted doctoral student in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at The University of Alabama, USA. He is currently working under the guidance of Dr. Patrick LeClair, and Dr. Arunava Gupta. He received M.Sc. in Physics in 2013 from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He also received his second M.Sc. in experimental Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Alabama in 2019. Rabin's main research is focused on the discovery of novel half-metallic Heusler compounds for potential spintronics device applications. He excels academic and professional expertise in process engineering, research procedures and material science.
Dr. A. Ahmad obtained his BS, MSc, and PhD degrees in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, respectively. Dr. Ahmad's areas of expertise include algal engineering for bioenergy production, environmental remediation, dark fermentation, and biochemicals, CO2 mitigation, industrial wastewater treatment, and heavy metals biosorption. Ahmad has worked on several projects using integrated microalgal engineering in industrial wastewater. Dr. Ahmad has published over 35 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and generated significant research interest. He serves as a reviewer for more than ten scientific journals.
Currently a research assistant in the laboratory of green energy in Zhejiang University of Technology.
Dr. Shreshth Chhabra holds a PhD degree in Labour welfare. He has a teaching experience of almost 21 years and taught at undergraduate, Post graduate, Executive Programme, PhD coursework level and guided research projecs. In his present assignment, he is associated with DCBS, an affiliate college of De Montfort University, UK. He was associated with a Renaissance university as Coordinator Research wing and PhD supervisor. He has published in national and international Journals, Conferences and dailies. He is associated as reviewer in two international prestigious journals – Global Journal of Labour, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and Journal of HRM, Science publishing group, New York, USA. He has conducted MDPs for MSME , State Electricity Board, Police and other corporate as well. He has been recognized by Rotary Club, Amity Business School and EMG-SSM Trust.
A Tenured Professor at the Institute of Space Technology (Pakistan), Dr. Shabbir is working on Polymer based Nanomaterials for food safety, nano-drug delivery systems, water treatment, solar cells and carbon dioxide capture.
Picture of Audrey Chia
National University of Singapore
I work at the intersection of Business, Medicine and Environment. Many of the world’s current problems are best addressed from multiple perspectives. I examine issues ranging from sustainable development, pandemics, diversity, environment, social innovation and philanthropy, and suggest how we can do better.
Picture of Sravya Tekumalla
Nanyang Technological University
Dr. Sravya Tekumalla is currently a Principal Investigator in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where she works as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow. In addition, she also leads a small team of staff and students working in the domain of metal additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing).
My current research is generally on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties especially from agricultural by-product. Recently, I have found that these agricultural by-product has a promising potential to be used as biopesticide. They are not expensive, practical and will not significantly affect the environment and human health.
De La Salle University
Michael Angelo B. Promentilla is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and the head of the Waste and Resource Management Unit of the Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research (CESDR) at De La Salle University (DLSU).
Hira Khalid is an associate professor at the Department of Chemistry of Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Dr Heo is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Hokkaido University
Manabu Tokeshi is a Professor at the Division of Applied Chemistry at Hokkaido University.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Li Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering (MAE) and an associate faculty member in Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine (TIM) and T Stone Robotics Institute (CURI) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He is also the co-director of CAS SIAT-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Systems.

Giants in history

Tu Youyou (born 30 December 1930) is a Chinese pharmaceutical scientist who was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on extracting artemisin from sweet wormwood to treat malaria.
Physicist and statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (29 June 1893– 28 June 1972), who founded the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931, is known for his pioneering application of statistics to practical problems.
Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (23 October 1920 – 19 November 1998) was a Japanese-American meteorologist who created the Fujita scale that classifies the strength of tornadoes based on damage to structures and vegetation.
In 1915, Koichi Ichikawa along with pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
In 1915, pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa and his research assistant Koichi Ichikawa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
Rajeshwari Chatterjee (24 January 1922 – 3 September 2010) was the first female engineer from Karnataka in India.
Julian Arca Banzon (13 March 1908 – 13 September 1988) was a biochemist from the Philippines who was a pioneer in alternative fuel research. Banzon investigated the use of indigenous crops as sources of renewable fuels and chemicals.
Chien-Shiung Wu (31 May 1912 – 16 February 1997) was an experimental physicist who made several important contributions to nuclear physics. Wu worked on the Manhattan Project – a top-secret program for the production of nuclear weapons during World War II and helped to develop a process for separating uranium into U235 and U238.
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (25 June 1936 – 11 September 2019) was an Indonesian engineer who was President of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999.
Abdus Suttar Khan (c. 1941 – 31 January 2008) was a Bangladeshi engineer who spent a significant part of his career conducting aerospace research with NASA, United Technology and Alstom.
Gopalasamudram Narayanan Ramachandran (8 October 1922 – 7 April 2001) is best known for developing the Ramachandran plot to understand the structure of short chains of amino acids, known as peptides.
Srinivasa Ramanujan (22 December 1887 – 26 April 1920) was a math prodigy and widely considered one of India’s greatest mathematicians. Despite having almost no formal training in mathematics, he made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions.
Mohammad Abdus Salam (29 January 1926 – 21 November 1996) was a theoretical physicist and the first Pakistani to receive a Nobel Prize in science.
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (7 November 1888 – 21 November 1970) was an Indian physicist who performed ground-breaking research in the field of light-scattering.
Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani (12 May 1977 – 14 July 2017) was the first and only woman and Iranian to date to win the Fields Medal in 2014 for her work on curved surfaces.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (19 October 1910 – 21 August 1995) was an Indian astrophysicist who studied the structure and evolution of stars.
Woo Jang-choon (8 April 1898 – 10 August 1959) was a Korean-Japanese agricultural scientist and botanist.
Osamu Shimomura (27 August 1928 – 19 October 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist who dedicated his career to understanding how organisms emitted light.
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose (30 November 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a scientist and inventor who contributed to a wide range of scientific fields such as physics, botany and biology.
Meghnad Saha (6 October 1893 – 16 February 1956) was an Indian astrophysicist best known for formulating the Saha ionization equation which describes the chemical and physical properties of stars.
Motoo Kimura (13 November 1924 – 13 November 1994) was a Japanese theoretical population geneticist who is best remembered for developing the neutral theory of molecular evolution.
Cyril Andrew Ponnamperuma (16 October 1923 – 20 December 1994) was a Sri Lankan chemist who was interested in the origins of life on Earth. His research in chemical evolution showed how inanimate molecules may have given rise to the building blocks of life – a process known as abiogenesis.
Charles Kuen Kao (Nov. 4, 1933 to Sept. 23, 2018) was an engineer who is regarded as the father of fibre optics. His work in the 1960s on long distance signal transmission using very pure glass fibres revolutionized telecommunications, enabling innovations such as the Internet.
The field of solid-state ionics originated in Europe, but Takehiko Takahashi of Nagoya University in Japan was the first to coin the term ‘solid ionics’ in 1967. ‘Solid-state ionics’ first appeared in 1971 in another of his papers, and was likely a play on ‘solid-state electronics’, another rapidly growing field at the time.
The techniques that make industrial pearl culturing possible were developed over a century ago at the Misaki Marine Biological Station in Japan. The station’s first director, Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri, emphasized to Kokichi Mikimoto in 1890 that stimulating pearl sac formation was important for pearl growth, and they went on to successfully develop methods for culturing pearls.
David T. Wong (born 1936) is a Hong Kong-born American neuroscientist who is best known for discovering the antidepressant drug fluoxetine, better known as Prozac.
Japanese physicist Ukichiro Nakaya (1900-1962) made the world’s first artificial snowflakes. He started his research on snow crystals in the early 1930s at Hokkaido University, where there is an unlimited supply of natural snow in winter. By taking over 3,000 photographs, he established a classification of natural snow crystals and described their relationship with weather conditions.
Physicist Narinder Singh Kapany (31 October 1926 – 4 December 2020) pioneered the use of optical fibres to transmit images, and founded several optical technology companies. Born in Punjab, India, he worked at a local optical instruments factory before moving to London for PhD studies at Imperial College. There, he devised a flexible fibrescope to convey images along bundles of glass fibres.
Wu Lien-teh (10 March 1879 – 21 January 1960) was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. Winning the prestigious Queen’s Scholarship enabled Wu to become the first Chinese student to study medicine at the University of Cambridge.
Minoru Shirota (April 23, 1899 – March 10, 1982) was a Japanese microbiologist who invented the popular fermented drink Yakult.
After witnessing death and suffering as a youth in his home village during World War II, Nguyễn Tài Thu (6 April 1931 – 14 February 2021) set his sights on alleviating pain by becoming a doctor. After studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in the 1950s, Thu returned to Vietnam to serve in military hospitals. Eventually, he became the country’s foremost practitioner of acupuncture, a technique he first learned by inserting needles into himself.
Fe Villanueva del Mundo (27 November 1911 – 6 August 2011) was a Filipina paediatrician who founded the Philippines’ first paediatric hospital.
Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping (7 September 1930 – 22 May 2021) developed the first varieties of the high-yield, hybrid rice that brought food security to multiple countries including China, which had been ravaged by food shortages as recently as the mid-20th century.
Korean parasitologist Seung-Yull Cho (16 November 1943 – 27 January 2019) is remembered largely for his pioneering works to control infections caused by helminthic parasites and his contribution to journal publishing.
In 1939, biochemist Kamala Sohonie (18 June 1911 – 28 June 1998) became the first woman to be accepted into the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Filipino chemist and pharmacist Manuel A. Zamora (29 March 1870 – 9 July 1929) is best remembered for his discovery of the tiki-tiki formula to combat beriberi, a disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency.
Research by Filipino plant scientist Benito Vergara (23 June 1934 – 24 October 2015) on the physiology of rice led to the development of deep-water and cold-tolerant rice varieties. Vergara also made several contributions to expanding public awareness of rice science.
Filipina chemist María Orosa (29 November 1892–13 February 1945) fought malnutrition and food insecurity in the Philippines by devising over 700 culinary creations including Soyalac, a nutrient rich drink made from soybeans, and Darak, rice cookies packed with Vitamin B1, which could prevent beriberi disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency. She was also a partisan of the guerrilla movement resisting Japanese occupation during World War II, and died after being struck by shrapnel while working in her laboratory during the Battle of Manila.
Japanese chemist Kenichi Fukui (4 October 1918 – 9 January 1998) was the first Asian scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Together with Roald Hoffman, he received this honour in 1981 for his independent research into the mechanisms of chemical reactions.
The research of Filipino pharmaceutical chemist Luz Oliveros-Belardo (3 November 1906 – 12 December 1999) focussed on essential oils and other chemicals derived from native Philippine plants.
Birbal Sahni (14 November 1891 – 10 April 1949), a pioneer of Indian palaeobotanical research, and founder of what is now the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow, made multiple contributions to the study of prehistoric plants. These include the discovery of a new group of fossil gymnosperms (named Pentoxylae), reconstruction of the extinct Williamsonia sewardiana plant, and description of a new type of petrified wood from the Jurassic age.
Ground-breaking cancer researcher Kamal Jayasing Ranadive (8 November 1917 – 11 April 2001) advanced the understanding of the causes of leukaemia, breast cancer and oesophageal cancer through the use of animal models. She was also among the first to recognise how susceptibility to cancer is linked to tumour-causing interactions between hormones and viruses.
Hideki Yukawa (23 January 1907 – 8 September 1981) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949 for predicting the existence of the pi meson subatomic particle. Japan’s first Nobel laureate, Yakawa also expressed his support for nuclear disarmament by signing the Russell–Einstein Manifesto in 1955.
In his over 30 year career in rice research, Munshi Siddique Ahmad (1924 – 19 October 2011) developed more than 30 varieties of high-yielding rice, including the BRRI Shail strain, which was responsible for increasing the rice production of Bangladesh from 8 million tonnes in 1965 to 20 million tonnes in 1975.
Fazlur Rahman Khan (3 April 1929 – 27 March 1982) was a Bangladeshi-American structural engineer and architect who invented the tube principle, which formed the basis for modern skyscraper design.
A pioneer of bio-organic chemistry, Darshan Ranganathan (4 June 1941 – 4 June 2001) is remembered for developing a protocol for synthesising imidazole, a compound used to make antifungal drugs and antibiotics. Widely considered India’s most prolific researcher in chemistry, she also published dozens of papers in renowned journals on protein folding, molecular design, chemical simulation of key biological processes, and the synthesis of functional hybrid peptides and nanotubes.