Innovation

Lithium batteries are widely used in electric vehicles and electronic products, but concerns are growing about their environmental impact during mining and disposal. Scholars from Lingnan University’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies and their collaborators have published a pioneering study online in top-tier, peer-reviewed, scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials. The study introduces a novel “anode-free sodium battery” that, by tuning the salt concentration in the electrolyte, reduces the risks of short circuits and shortened lifespan during fast charging. Laboratory tests have demonstrated that this new type of battery can be charged within minutes while maintaining safety and stability.

Timely information on a company's production activities is crucial for investors and policymakers, yet it remains scarce as financial reports and other broader economic indicators like the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) are only released periodically. This information lag makes it difficult to assess a company's operational health in real time. To address this challenge, Prof Zhao Xiaofeng, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance and Associate Director of Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies at Lingnan University, in collaboration with researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has developed a new economic indicator, which uses thermal infrared radiation data to monitor the production and operation of enterprises in real time, and accurately predicts changes in their future profitability in terms of sales growth. The findings were recently featured in the prestigious international finance journal “Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis”, and received support from the General Research Fund (GRF) of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) amounting to about HKD$400,000.

Just like litter is a big problem on Earth, space junk is cluttering up outer space. To dispose of this junk, a Tohoku University researcher demonstrated the utility of a special plasma thruster

Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) 2025 will return from October 16–18 at Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1, uniting government, academia, and industry under the theme “Cross-Domain AI Innovation: Driving the Future with Intelligence.” The event will feature 450 exhibitors presenting nearly 1,100 patented technologies, highlighting Taiwan’s role as a key driver of global innovation.

Combining multiple sensory inputs has been a big hurdle for developing physical AI robots. Recent research at Tohoku University solves this problem using a brand new approach.

Lingnan University congratulates the “Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou” cluster on achieving the top position in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII) Ranking of World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters. Released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), this ranking recognises the Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) outstanding innovation capacity and its vital strategic role in the global innovation ecosystem.

To reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability, scholars from the Lingnan University School of Interdisciplinary Studies and their research team have developed a successful new eco-friendly bioplastic material. Unlike conventional plastics, it degrades naturally into harmless water and carbon dioxide in as little as 29 days under ambient conditions, and is a practical way to mitigate global plastic pollution. Their study, “Sustainable DNA-polysaccharide hydrogels as recyclable bioplastics”, was recently published in the respected journal Nature Communications.

On 19 August, World Humanitarian Day, Lingnan University announced the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU) to establish the UNU Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University), making it the first higher education institution in Asia to set up a UNU Hub. The Hub is scheduled to open officially in October 2025 and will have an annual operating budget of over HK$8 million. Its Humanitarian Innovation and Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) will spearhead research and design initiatives, education and training programmes, and international collaborations, and improve living conditions in developing countries and regions of the Global South by leveraging innovative and cutting-edge technologies. Scholarships will be awarded to encourage local youth to fulfil their ambitions through knowledge and innovation.

Lingnan University's science and innovation teams have achieved outstanding results at the 11th Silicon Valley International Invention Festival 2025 (SVIIF) in their first-ever participation. All 13 participating projects, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, and intelligent transportation, won awards, including 8 gold and 5 silver medals. One of the projects, the AI-based Fencing Training and Assessment System, led by Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), also received a special award ⸺ Prize of the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA), making Lingnan the Hong Kong higher education institution that won the highest number of total awards and gold medals at this year’s festival.

Curate the Curious, an annual exhibition curated by 36 students of the Master of Arts in Curating and Art History (MACAH) at Lingnan University, will be held from 1-10 August. Introducing a new-generation curatorial perspective, the exhibition presents the hidden stories behind more than 50 paintings, sculptures, videos, and new media art by over 30 well-known artists from Mainland China and Hong Kong. The six curiosity-driven themes are designed to inspire audiences to embark on their own journey of artistic discovery and dialogue. Admission is free.

To promote equality in education and allow aspiring creators to learn about film production without physical equipment, a team from the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries at Lingnan University has spent two years developing CineSim, the world’s first cinematography simulation education software. CineSim enables hands-on filmmaking skills to be learnt easily using computer simulation and eliminating the need for professional studios and camera equipment. The project was supported by a subsidy of approximately HKD $800,000 from the University Grants Council (UGC), and is now freely available to all Lingnan staff and students. The team will market the software to secondary schools and the film production industry to encourage Hong Kong’s creative talents. In mid-June, the full version of CineSim was officially launched on Steam, one of the world’s largest digital game distribution platforms for PC gaming, a significant move into the international market.

SUTD researchers demonstrate a new 3D printing method that produces electrically conductive structures from sustainable materials, enabling potential applications in sensors, electronics, and wearables.

Nonlinear quantum dynamics are complicated, but they don’t have to be. A new, real-time simulation may help demystify these unusual dynamics, serving as a guide to develop next-gen quantum devices.

Researchers from SANKEN, The University of Osaka, have revealed a technique for exploiting the catalytic action of hydrogen in platinum to reverse the degradation of magnetization. This method can be used to increase the robustness of next-generation computer chips based on thin magnetic films.

The Mindoro Archaeology Project has found compelling evidence of the pivotal role of the Philippine archipelago in ancient maritime Southeast Asia.

Self-assembling dye rings demonstrate photosynthetic energy and charge circulation

The Philippines faces a chronic shortage of nurses and physicians, and many health graduates are unprepared for real-world public health work.

Researchers at Tohoku University have achieved record-breaking energy efficiency for a high-speed memory storage device, called a SOT-MRAM cell.

Organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) of the HKSAR Government, with the support from the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme (HKSCHRP) of Lingnan University, the 2024/25 Territory-wide Junior Secondary Chinese History and Culture Quiz Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at the Chan Tak Tai Auditorium of Lingnan University today, 17 May. The 12 finalist teams were selected from over 22,000 students from more than 145 secondary schools across Hong Kong. The number of participants has increased by 38% over the 16,000 who took part in last year's inaugural event, which highlights the competition’s success in stimulating interest in Chinese history and culture in young people as well as the Government's achievement in promoting patriotic education.

Space-saving version of Paralympic sport increases motivation, mobility among older adults

Smart neural electrode, "Rhinoceros beetle" robot, Halting the thief of sight, Together at last & Lighting hardy plants. Plus latest SciCom Coffee talk. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

The Expert Report on the Fifth National Assessment Report on Climate Change Hong Kong and Macao Special Report, organised by the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21 (ACCA21) and co-hosted by Lingnan University, was held on Lingnan campus on April 26. Attendees included Vice President Lan Yujie of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Deputy Director Zhang Yongtao of ACCA21; Deputy Director Yan Jinding of the National High-tech R&D of NSFC; President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science Prof S. Joe Qin; Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Prof Gong Peng, Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning) of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Prof Jimmy Fung, as well as representatives from relevant departments and experts from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.

These dynamically adjustable water-based lenses have many potential future uses, from classrooms and research labs to cameras and wearable gadgets.

New light-powered DNA detection enables more accessible, affordable genetic analysis

Autonomous driving algorithm for robot using lidar shows promise with high-bed cultivation methods

Quasicrystals are intriguing materials with long-range atomic order that lack periodicity. It has been a longstanding question whether antiferromagnetism, while commonly found in regular crystals, is even possible in quasicrystals. In a new study, researchers have finally answered this question, providing the first definitive neutron diffraction evidence of antiferromagnetism in a real icosahedral quasicrystal. This discovery opens a new research area of quasiperiodic antiferromagnets, with potential applications in spintronics.

FLUID, an open-source, 3D-printed robot, offers an affordable and customizable solution for automated material synthesis, making advanced research accessible to more scientists.

Lingnan University’s Jockey Club Gerontechnology and Smart Ageing in Place Project held the "Silver Tech Symposium" at Lingnan@WestKowloon in the M+ Tower of the West Kowloon Cultural District today, 1 April. Co-organised by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), it established a platform for exchanging ideas, exploring opportunities arising from the silver market, and discussing how to enhance the quality of life of the elderly.

The Ateneo Laboratory for Intelligent Visual Environments (ALIVE) found a way to identify tooth and sinus structures with an accuracy of 98.2%

Researchers develop innovative phospholipids that improve the functional delivery of mRNA via lipid nanoparticles, paving the way for advanced therapeutic applications.