EdUHK Advances Global Innovation with Eight Award-Winning Breakthroughs at SVIIF 2026
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has once again earned international recognition at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) 2026, one of the largest innovation exhibitions in the United States. Eight inventions developed by EdUHK scholars received 11 awards, comprising three Special Awards, five Gold Medals and three Silver Medals. These achievements underscore EdUHK’s growing strength in innovation, knowledge transfer and impact-driven research.
The award-winning inventions span diverse fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), educational technology, healthcare, environmental sustainability and next-generation wireless communications. They reflect EdUHK’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovative technologies that deliver tangible societal impact, while contributing to Hong Kong's position as a global innovation and technology hub.
Among the award-winning projects, “RoMetric: Intelligent Hand Function ROM Assessment System” stood out with the remarkable achievement of winning three Special Awards and a Gold Medal. Developed by Dr Fu Hong, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, the innovation provides automated hand-function assessment using computer vision technology, reducing assessment time by up to 87%.
EdUHK also secured four additional Gold Medals for “EmoCare: An AI-powered Application to Foster Emotional Well-being”, “AI-Steered Wireless Circuit Design for Next-Generation 6G and Satellite Transmitters”, “BioSentinel Passive eDNA/eRNA Enrichment and Sampling System”, and “From Sludge to Structure: Transforming Waterworks and Sewage Sludge into Sustainable Concrete”. (For details, please refer to the table below.)
Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, Vice President (Research and Development), congratulated the research teams on their achievements. “These award-winning inventions demonstrate how EdUHK is redefining innovation through a human-centred lens. From empowering young learners and supporting emotional well-being to advancing healthcare, sustainability and next-generation communications, our researchers are transforming knowledge into solutions that address society’s most pressing needs. International recognition at SVIIF not only affirms the quality of our research but also reflects the growing global relevance of innovations originating from Hong Kong.”
EdUHK was also invited to participate in an engagement programme hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in San Francisco. During a roundtable networking session, Dr Gabby Fung Ka-yan, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education, showcased “Loving Baby”, a humanoid, multimodal interactive robot system designed to enhance language learning and engagement among students.
Dr Lemon Kwan Hok-ming, Director of Knowledge Transfer, welcomed the opportunity to engage with members of the innovation and investment community. He highlighted, “The roundtable provided a valuable platform to exchange ideas with 46 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and technology leaders from Hong Kong and the Silicon Valley. Such interactions not only raise the international visibility of EdUHK’s innovations, but also create opportunities for new partnerships and collaboration.”
SVIIF is one of the leading invention exhibitions in the world, bringing together global inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and industry representatives. This year, the exhibition attracted more than 500 inventors from 31 countries and regions that showcased the latest advancements in innovation and technology worldwide.
List of EdUHK awarded projects and related awards:
| Project Name | Investigator(s) | Abstract | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoMetric: Intelligent Hand Function ROM Assessment System | Dr Fu Hong, Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology | RoMetric is a hand function assessment system using advanced computer vision to automate precise measurement of 15 joints (20 degrees of freedom) in 3D. It provides accurate, objective data for non-invasive evaluation, reducing assessment time by up to 87% and supporting timely rehabilitation planning. | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) National Award for Inventor; Prize of Korea Invention Promotion Association; Prize of the Filipino Inventors Society; Gold Medal |
| EmoCare: An AI-powered Application to Foster Emotional Well-being | Professor Song Yanjie of the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology | EmoCare is an AI-powered app based on the PERMA model to enhance emotional wellbeing. It offers journaling, emotion tracking, image generation and reflection to build resilience, with a real-time dashboard displaying mood trends & analytical reports. | Gold Medal |
| AI-Steered Wireless Circuit Design for Next-Generation 6G and Satellite Transmitters | Dr Steve Mung Wai-yin, Assistant Professor at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies | A deep neural network predicts linearity in wireless 6G and satellite transmitters. This approach reduces testing time by over 70% and automatically generates and suggests 3GPP-compliant, low-current matching networks, significantly accelerating 6G/satellite design. | Gold Medal |
| BioSentinel Passive eDNA/eRNA Enrichment and Sampling System | Dr Cheng Jinping, Assistant Professor at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies | A portable, flexibly deployable passive eDNA/eRNA enrichment and sampling system enables efficient large-scale collection, saving 90% of time and 75% of cost. It supports eco friendly, high throughput, non-destructive biota monitoring for environmental health and sustainability. | Gold Medal |
| From Sludge to Structure: Transforming Waterworks and Sewage Sludge into Sustainable Concrete | Dr Tsang Yiu-fai, Associate Professor at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies | This invention transforms waterworks and sewage sludge into concrete by replacing conventional aggregates and cement. With a simple pre-treatment process, eco-friendly concrete of varied strengths can be produced for diverse applications. | Gold Medal |
| Loving Baby: A Multi-Modal Interactive Cognitive Ability and Language Enhancement System for Special Needs | Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen-fung, Research Professor at the Department of Special Education and Counselling; Dr Gabby Fung Ka-yan, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education | Loving Baby is a humanoid, multimodal interactive robot system combining speech, gesture, games, and self-determination theory design. It enhances inclusive language learning, engagement and emotional wellbeing, providing positive thinking support for primary students with and without special educational needs. | Silver Medal |
| ASAP: Automatic Speech Analytics Program for Early Personalised Psychosocial Health Assessment | Dr Amanda Chu Man-ying, Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies | ASAP is a portable device for real-time psychosocial health assessment. By analysing textual and acoustic patterns, it generates reliable, objective evaluations (accuracy > 85%) during consultation, supporting early intervention and therapeutic planning. | Silver Medal |
| CWrite: An AI-Assisted Platform for Young Writers to Think, Create, and Grow | Dr Nicole Yang Yin, Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology | CWrite redefines AI as a thinking partner rather than a shortcut. Designed for primary ESL/EFL learners, it integrates a patented graph‑based narrative system, CEFR-aligned diagnostics, adaptive scaffolding, and multimodal storytelling to foster creativity, writing skills, and values development through structured human AI collaboration. | Silver Medal |
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EdUHK Advances Global Innovation with Eight Award-Winning Breakthroughs at SVIIF 2026
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