A research team from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), led by Professor Liao Wei-Hsin, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering and Dr Li Xin from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, has developed two pioneering innovations: a battery-free wireless keyboard and a batteryless smart insole for gait monitoring. The inventions have recently received international 3wrecognition at the 50^th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG), winning a Gold Medal With Congratulations of the Jury and a Bronze Medal respectively. These breakthroughs showcase CUHK’s dedication to innovative technology, sustainable development and impactful knowledge transfer.

Battery-free wireless keyboard: redefining eco-friendly typing

Traditional wireless keyboards, while portable, require frequent battery replacements or charging, leading to environmental waste and diminishing user convenience. The battery-free wireless keyboard utilises cutting-edge “kinetic-to-electrical” energy conversion technology, which transforms the kinetic energy from each keystroke into electrical power to operate the keyboard and transmit signals. The technology efficiently captures keystroke energy, ensuring stable, lag-free wireless communication and enhancing the overall user experience.

Unlike solar-powered or radio frequency (RF)-based solutions, CUHK’s keyboard provides excellent reliability, low maintenance cost and environmentally friendliness. Dr Li said: “The wireless keyboard tackles the need for traditional batteries, reducing electronic waste while providing a sustainable and convenient solution for users. Powered by each keystroke, the keyboard achieves stable and efficient wireless communication, marking a breakthrough in existing battery-free technologies.”

Batteryless smart insole: revolutionising gait monitoring

Gait analysis is the systematic study of human movement patterns and characteristics, aiding in the early detection of chronic health issues, supporting rehabilitation, and enhancing sports performance analysis. However, traditional gait monitoring sensors require frequent battery replacements or charging, limiting their convenience and sustainability. CUHK’s batteryless smart insole integrates energy harvesting and sensing capabilities within a single piezoelectric-powered beacon. By harvesting kinetic energy from walking, it operates entirely without external power sources.

This smart insole enables continuous, real-time gait monitoring by capturing parameters such as step frequency, step length, gait variability, and symmetry. Professor Liao said: “Our batteryless smart insole not only eliminates the need for battery replacement and charging but also provides continuous, real-time gait monitoring, opening new possibilities for long-term health tracking, early disease detection, comprehensive athletic performance analysis and fall-risk assessment.” He added that the invention is a wearable device that seamlessly integrates energy harvesting and motion sensing into a single unit, marking a significant breakthrough in piezoelectric technology and kinetic energy harvesting.

Pathway ahead to impactful application

The battery-free wireless keyboard and smart insole have received prestigious awards at the 50^th IEIG. Professor Liao said: “These awards recognise our team’s dedication to developing sustainable and innovative technologies. We aim to continue refining these innovations, exploring broader applications and promoting environmental protection and sustainability in everyday electronic devices. We are eager to bring these inventions to market, aiming to deliver practical, sustainable solutions that enhance people’s daily lives and promote environmental responsibility.”

Source: Media release from CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office)

Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, in collaboration with Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine), performed the world’s first robot-assisted en bloc resection of bladder tumour (ERBT) in December last year using a locally developed endoscopic surgical robotic system. As of today, the team has completed eight clinical trials, which have shown promising outcomes, removing bladder tumours in a single piece with greater precision than traditional ERBT and with enhanced safety.

The flexible dual-arm endoscopic surgical robotic system allows precise tumour resection

Bladder cancer is a major urological disease and among the top 10 most common cancers in the world. Last year, CU Medicine proved that ERBT performs better in reducing tumour recurrence than conventional transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) by 40%, suggesting ERBT should be the first-line surgical treatment for bladder cancer patients with a non-muscle-invasive tumour of 3cm or smaller. However, ERBT is highly dependent on the surgeon’s expertise, as it carries risks of bleeding or bladder perforation.

Since the cystoscope used in a conventional manual ERBT procedure only has one arm, resection can only be performed from a single angle and direction. Due to the limitation of dexterity, urologists have to constantly adjust the cystoscope lens at the tip to maintain a good view of the surgical field. Therefore, there is a long learning curve to master the skills of ERBT which could take 30-50 cases to become proficient using the conventional approach.

The locally developed endoscopic surgical robotic system with fully flexible robotic arms, the Agilis Robotics Intilume^TM System, consists of an endoscope holder, a robotic positioning cart and a surgeon control chair, compatible with a variety of commercial endoscopes for endoluminal endoscopic surgeries. The system comes with a pair of flexible and compact robotic instruments of 2.8mm to 3.5mm in diameter to achieve tissue retraction and dissection. Each instrument can move in more than five different directions and enable en bloc tumour resection within a tiny space. Doctors operate the system with a pair of remote controls configured for robotic positioning and manipulation, enhancing procedural stability.

Professor Kwok Ka-wai, one of the developers of the surgical robotic system and Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at CUHK, worked along with research team from the Department of Surgery at CU Medicine to conduct clinical trials with the surgical robotic system to test out its clinical performance. Professor Kwok said: “Our locally developed endoscopic surgical robotic system with fully flexible robotic arms is a rare kind in the market that fits for a range of endoscopic surgeries and is directly compatible with standard endoscopes used by hospitals. We expect the system can soon adopt to treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, uterine conditions, and biliary diseases, where high precision and minimally invasive treatments are essential.”

Endoscopic surgical robotic system enhances success rate and safety of ERBT

The urology team at CU Medicine’s surgery department performed the world’s first robotic-assisted ERBT from December last year to April this year on eight bladder cancer patients using the flexible dual-arm endoscopic surgical robotic system. All procedures were successfully completed, with tumours completely removed from the surgical margins. All patients were discharged within 1-2 days after surgery, six of them have completed clinical observation of 30 days post-surgery with satisfactory recovery.

Dr Peter Chiu Ka-fung, Associate Professor, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, CU Medicine, said: “The robotic system increases the stability of ERBT operations, reducing the risks of bleeding and perforation, and enhancing surgical precision. It helps lower the risk of recurrence due to residual tumour tissue and speed up patient recovery.”

Professor Ng Chi-fai, Tzu Leung Ho Professor of Urology, CU Medicine, said: “The novel robotic system is simple to learn, aiding young doctors in mastering ERBT and accelerating the learning process. More trained doctors will be able to perform ERBT in the long run, allowing bladder cancer patients to receive treatment earlier.”  

(extracted from the press release issued on 22 May 2025 by CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office)

The Faculty of Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), through its Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, is partnering with the Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) to launch a new undergraduate dual degree programme in Finance + Financial Technology, starting from the 2025-26 academic year. This interdisciplinary programme aims to cultivate fintech leaders equipped with a solid foundation in economic and financial theory, engineering and technical thinking, and financial data modelling and analytical skills, as well as a strong sense of social responsibility.

The programme adopts a “2+2” joint education model. Students will study core finance courses at SJTU in their first and fourth years, and specialise in fintech at CUHK during their second and third years. This arrangement offers students a diverse academic environment and cross-cultural experience, living and studying in both locations. Those who meet the graduation requirements will be awarded a Bachelor of Engineering in Financial Technology from CUHK and a Bachelor of Economics degree from SJTU, as well as a Finance undergraduate certificate from the latter.

Professor Chen Nan, Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, and Director of the Centre for Financial Engineering at CUHK, said: “CUHK’s cutting-edge research in fintech complements SJTU’s strong foundation in economics. Through the deep integration of economics and engineering, we aim to nurture globally minded talents capable of mastering fintech and driving economic development.”

Professor Liu Shaoxuan, Associate Dean of the Antai College of Economics and Management and Executive Dean of the Bank of China Institute of Technology and Finance at SJTU, said: “This collaboration highlights the synergistic development of higher education between the Yangtze River Delta and the Greater Bay Area. The two universities will jointly establish a new model for cross-regional and interdisciplinary talent cultivation to meet the challenges of rapidly evolving international financial markets and the digital economy era.”

The dual degree programme integrates the academic strengths of both institutions. Its curriculum spans four key areas: mathematical foundations, computer science, economics and finance, and financial technology. It promotes the exchange of engineering and economic thinking, enabling students to acquire solid theoretical knowledge, enhance problem-solving skills and apply what they learn in practice. The programme emphasises both theoretical study and professional development through diverse learning modes such as general education, research and practice, and personalised learning, laying a strong foundation for students’ future careers.

Admissions Information:

Applicants can apply for the Financial Technology programme via CUHK’s JUPAS code JS4428. A joint admissions committee of the two universities will select candidates based on academic performance and interview results. Minimum entry requirements include Level 4 or above in Chinese Language, English Language and the compulsory part of Mathematics in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), with a total score of at least 14 points. Candidates must also reach the “Attained” level in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 3 or above in two elective subjects (priority subjects include Mathematics Extended Modules 1 and 2, Biology, Business, Accounting and Financial Studies, Chemistry, Combined Science, Economics, Information and Communication Technology, and Physics).

(extracted from the press release issued on 19 May 2025 by CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office)

Professor Alan Li from Department of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Fei Chen from Department of Mechanical & Automation Engineering have received the Strategic Partnership Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) 2025.

Professor Li is awarded for the project 'Harnessing In Situ Organoidogenesis in 30 Bioprinted Dynamic Hydrogels for Regeneration of Critical-Sized Bone Defects', collaborating with The University of Sydney, Australia. Professor Chen is awarded for the project “Learning Cross-embodiment Loco-manipulation from Human Demonstrations for Humanoid Robots”, under collaboration with University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

As part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s global engagement effort, the Strategic Partnership Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) was established in 2021 to build joint research programmes with some of the University’s priority partners. The award supports 12-month joint research collaborations with top-tier overseas institutions in the four strategic research areas identified in CUHK 2025, which are China: Tradition and Modernity; Innovative Biomedicine; Information and Automation Technology; and Environment and Sustainability.

More details about SPARC: https://www.oal.cuhk.edu.hk/sparc/