Professor Hu Jinlian, Chair Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), received the 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize from the Chinese Academy of Engineering in recognition of her highly innovative work in advancing shape-memory polymers and textiles.

The Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize has been presented every two years since 1996 to commend Chinese engineering science and technology experts and scientists who have made important contributions and outstanding achievements. This year, 41 awardees were selected. Professor Hu is one of three awardees from Hong Kong institutions.

“Winning this esteemed engineering award is a significant source of encouragement for me. This recognition will motivate me to continue my research, particularly in solving practical engineering problems,” said Professor Hu, who is also Director of the Laboratory of Wearable Materials for Healthcare Engineering.

She also viewed the award as both a personal achievement and acknowledgement of the exceptional support she has received from CityUHK and Hong Kong. As a scientist based in Hong Kong for nearly three decades, she is grateful for the opportunities and support she has received throughout her career. She also expressed hope that this recognition would inspire her students and other young researchers while contributing to the city's reputation in the scientific community.

Professor Hu is a pioneer in shape memory polymer materials for textiles and medical devices. She studies how polymers change shape in response to external stimuli, like temperature and humidity, for the development of clothing that reacts to the wearer’s environment. Innovative textile structure engineering can help make more comfortable clothes, which suit different needs and weather conditions.

Professor Hu also applied the principles and structures of shape memory materials in the field of spider silk, unlocking the exceptional properties of high strength, biodegradability, and environmental responsiveness. This has opened up numerous development opportunities and potential applications. “Leveraging these technologies, we can explore a wide range of possibilities in the areas of smart and high-performance textiles, making modern life more comfortable and convenient,” she said.

Beyond her strong research skills, Professor Hu excels at translating complex scientific concepts into practical engineering solutions, effectively demonstrating how her research meets industry needs. A prime example is her research on smart textiles, which led to the development of a memory fabric—an innovation long sought after by the textile industry. This process of continuous engagement with industry partners has allowed her to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications. Many of her innovations have been commercialised and have attracted collaboration requests from numerous companies from mainland China and Hong Kong and from multinational corporations specialising in consumer goods, chemicals and medical equipment.

Professor Hu’s achievements have been widely recognised. She was ranked among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists (all available years) in a report published by Stanford University. She received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the US-based Fibre Society, the China Textile Academic Leader Award, the National Talent Award and the First-Class Sang Ma Textile Science and Technology Award. In addition, she is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Textile Institute, UK, and the Hong Kong Institution of Textile and Apparel. She also serves as the President of the Hong Kong Federation of Invention and Innovation.