The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Zhejiang Qiangnao Technology Co. Limited (Qiangnao Technology) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Cyberport to explore the establishment of the "PolyU-Qiangnao Joint Research Centre for Brain-Computer Interface". The two parties will also collaborate on promoting the deployment scheme of Qiangnao Technology's intelligent bionic limbs in Hong Kong, accelerating the translation and application of medical technology, and benefitting people with disabilities.
Witnessed by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; and Mr Bicheng HAN, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qiangnao Technology, the MoU was signed by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing of PolyU, and Ms Nyx HE, Partner of Qiangnao Technology.
"The landing of Qiangnao Technology in Hong Kong and its collaboration with PolyU mark a significant milestone in Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem in the field of smart rehabilitation technology," said Prof. Jin-Guang Teng. "For half a century, PolyU has nurtured over 50,000 healthcare professionals. The University has long been dedicated to deepening medicine-engineering integration and advancing AI-empowered medical development, while actively promoting medical innovation. PolyU is now making every effort to establish Hong Kong's third medical school, further leveraging its strengths in research and talent development. PolyU's Department of Biomedical Engineering stands out as the only provider in Hong Kong offering undergraduate education and training Prosthetists and Orthotists accredited by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Since the graduation of the first cohort in 1999, we have consistently provided the local healthcare system with professionals equipped with both expertise and practical skills. This collaboration with Qiangnao Technology will align with the recent Policy Address, in which the Government announced plans to introduce a two-year scheme: through the Innovation and Technology Fund, it will grant full subsidies to amputees in Hong Kong for the configuration and use of high-tech prostheses free of charge. We will actively participate in this scheme, carrying out installation of intelligent bionic limbs and evaluation in line with professional standard, thereby enabling amputees to benefit from innovative rehabilitation technologies."
Mr Bicheng Han said, "Qiangnao Technology is committed to developing non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) and intelligent prosthetic technologies. Our team developed the world's first mass-produced intuitive-controlled intelligent prosthetic bionic hands, as well as innovative application solutions in rehabilitation, sports health, and education. We're thrilled to partner with PolyU on this exciting initiative to expedite the validation and application of our technologies in clinical and real-life scenarios, enabling the technologies to serve the public. We hope to combine strengths from industry, academia, and research institutions to drive product innovation, industry standardisation, and internationalisation leveraging the platform of this research centre. Our ultimate goal is to provide a wider range of affordable, sustainable, and diverse innovative solutions for users in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and around the world."
Founded in 2015, Qiangnao Technology is a leading technology company in the field of non-invasive BCI in China. As the first Chinese team selected by Harvard Innovation Lab and the first unicorn in the field of BCI in China, it has made numerous breakthroughs in the research and development of products such as intelligent prosthetic bionic hands. With a portfolio of over 420 patents, Qiangnao Technology has achieved notable progress in the fields of rehabilitation for the disabled and assistive therapeutic technology for patients suffering from brain diseases. Its technologies and products have been successfully launched in multiple markets around the world.
With PolyU's academic excellence, professional talents and research capabilities and Qiangnao Technology's expertise in product development, commercialisation, and cutting-edge technologies, the two parties will collaborate on research, development, application, clinical studies, and technology upgrade for BCI-related products, establishing the next generation BCI technology platform. The partnership will also encompass education and training initiatives, including curriculum design, student competitions for different age groups, and training facilities. This programme will be jointly executed by PolyU's Department of Biomedical Engineering and Qiangnao Technology in collaboration with other departments.
The PolyU team for this collaboration will be led by Prof. Zheng Yongping. With a long-standing focus on ultrasound imaging, medical-engineering integration, intelligent rehabilitation, and smart ageing technologies, Prof. Zheng's team has pioneered novel BCI signalling technologies based on ultrasound imaging of the brain and muscles. In 2024, Prof. Zheng achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva for ProRuka—a groundbreaking prosthetic hand controlled by sonomyography and AI algorithm developed by PolyU. As a seasoned expert in medical device invention and commercialisation, Prof. Zheng has successfully brought to market two ultrasound-based medical devices, namely Scolioscan (a device for scoliosis assessment) and Liverscan (a portable device for screening liver fibrosis and fatty liver). These solutions have been deployed in 15 countries and regions, providing services to more than 100,000 patients. Building on this success, Prof. Zheng will lead the establishment of a BCI platform for new generation research, development, application, evaluation and technology transfer in collaboration with Qiangnao Technology. The team will also coordinate clinical evaluation, installation, training, and follow-up assessment in relation to intelligent bionic limbs, as well as establish a standardised and scalable deployment systems.
