Launch of People-oriented Technology Programme to Provide High-Tech Prostheses for Amputees in Hong Kong

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi; and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, attended the Kick-off Ceremony of the People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (May 26) to witness a major milestone in the application of intelligent bionic hands and smart bionic knee joints in Hong Kong, through the collaboration between Qiangnao Technology and PolyU. The ceremony also marked another innovative technological achievement to benefit the public. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qiangnao Technology, Mr Han Bicheng; representative of Qiangnao Technology Ms Sienna Xu; the President of PolyU, Professor Teng Jin-Guang; the Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, Professor Christopher Chao; and the Henry G Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, Professor Zheng Yongping, also attended the ceremony.

The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address announced that the Government would support people-oriented scientific research through the Innovation and Technology (I&T) Fund to introduce prostheses built with new research and development technologies. Qiangnao Technology is a leading global enterprise in the field of brain-computer interfaces and is also one of "Hangzhou's Six Little Dragons", representing China's breakthrough development in this cutting-edge field. PolyU, meanwhile, has a strong research foundation and international influence in prosthetics and orthotics, rehabilitation sciences and biomedical engineering. With funding support from the I&T Fund, the two sides earlier launched a collaborative project. In the first phase of the programme, 60 amputees in Hong Kong will be provided with the new high-tech prostheses free of charge, together with professional assessment and rehabilitation support services by a PolyU team to help recipients gradually adapt to and master the use of prosthetics, thereby comprehensively improving their daily living abilities and quality of life.

In his speech, Professor Sun said that today's I&T initiatives respond to the National 15th Five-Year Plan, which calls for the full implementation of the "AI+" action plan to empower public well-being through AI. Hong Kong possesses strong research capabilities, with five universities ranked among the world's top 100 and two medical schools in the global top 40. It has a solid foundation in life and health technology, AI, and robotics, and is well positioned to put into practice the principle of technology for the benefit of people. The launch of the programme also embodies the original intent of using technology for good and being people-oriented, bringing cutting-edge technologies into real-world applications, to the lives of citizens in need.

Mr Han said: "Over the next two years, with the support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Qiangnao will work with PolyU and partners from all sectors of society to diligently implement the project and provide service support, so that more eligible amputees in Hong Kong can receive high-tech prostheses free of charge. We will also continue to enhance product experience and rehabilitation support services."

Professor Teng said, "Advanced scientific research must ultimately benefit society. The vision for developing people-oriented technology, as outlined in the Chief Executive's Policy Address, aligns perfectly with PolyU's motto, 'To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind'. This Programme holds immense significance: Qiangnao brings world-leading core technologies in intelligent bionic prostheses, while PolyU provides local implementation, promotion, and scientific research support. The team will evaluate the effectiveness of the technology based on clinical application scenarios, collect user feedback for timely adjustments and optimisations, and continuously improve the overall user experience. With the support of the I&T Fund, this initiative ensures that cutting-edge technology truly serves public livelihood and benefits society."

At the ceremony, amputees who had been fitted with the high-tech prostheses under the programme shared their experience and stories. The high-tech prostheses used in this collaboration do not require any implantation. Through non-invasive brain-computer interface technology, they use the wearer's myoelectric and neural signals to enable natural, precise, and flexible motion control, opening up a new direction for the development of rehabilitation technology.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, speaks at the Kick-off Ceremony of the People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University today (May 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kick-off Ceremony of People-oriented Technology Programme by Qiangnao Technology and Hong Kong Polytechnic University marks implementation of smart prosthetic technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB announces Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors for 2027/28 cohort - undergraduate programmes

The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (September 21) that the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 4 711 places in 59 undergraduate programmes, covering 3 390 places in 59 first-year-first-degree (FYFD) programmes and 1 321 places in 47 top-up degree (TUD) programmes of eight post-secondary institutions for the cohort to be admitted in the 2027/28 academic year.

The programmes of the SSSDP fall under 10 disciplines that have been identified as having keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, healthcare, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality. The programmes include 20 applied degree programmes, which will receive additional subsidies, with a view to further strengthening the vocational and professional education and training progression pathway at the post-secondary level.

The programmes and numbers of subsidised places under the SSSDP are determined by the EDB in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments. Details of the participating institutions, the programmes and the numbers of subsidised places are listed in the Annex.

In the 2027/28 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for laboratory-based programmes and non-laboratory-based programmes will be at $81,450 and $46,780 respectively. For applied degree programmes, including the additional annual subsidies, the total annual subsidy amounts will be at $89,620 for laboratory-based programmes and $51,880 for non-laboratory-based programmes.

The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

The subsidised FYFD intake places are mainly allocated through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System to ensure that eligible students are selected on a merit basis, whereas the subsidised places of the TUD programmes are allocated in accordance with the existing admission arrangements of the self-financing TUD programmes, i.e. through direct admission by institutions. Students can apply for admission to the programmes directly through the institutions concerned.

The SSSDP was launched in the 2015/16 academic year to subsidise students to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate programmes in selected disciplines. The objectives are as follows:

(1) to increase the supply of subsidised undergraduate places by leveraging the supply of the self-financing post-secondary education sector;

(2) to nurture talent in support of specific industries with keen demand for human resources;

(3) to encourage the self-financing post-secondary education sector to offer programmes in selected disciplines that meet Hong Kong's social and economic needs by providing targeted financial support; and

(4) to support the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector to complement the University Grants Committee-funded sector in broadening and diversifying study opportunities.

The SSSDP has been expanded to include TUD programmes with effect from the 2023/24 academic year. As for the designated sub-degree programmes, the relevant details for the 2027/28 cohort, including the participating institutions, the sub-degree programmes, the numbers of subsidised places and the subsidy amounts, will be announced in due course.

Details of the SSSDP are available on the EDB website (www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp).

Source: AI-found images