The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) proudly celebrated remarkable achievements at the 50^th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, held from April 9 to 13, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. Six SEE faculty members secured an impressive total of seven awards, highlighting their innovative contributions to sustainability and technological advancement.

Among the highlights was the prestigious Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, awarded to Prof. Jason Lam for his groundbreaking invention, the S.M.A.R.T. and Green System for Recycling E-waste for Valuable Metal Recovery. This innovative system is smart, portable, and cost-effective, designed to recover metals from electronic waste at room temperature and pressure using non-toxic solvents. By doing so, it significantly reduces the harmful practices of e-waste burning and landfill disposal while promoting sustainable recycling methods.

Electronic waste poses a significant threat to environmental health, but when recycled effectively, its metallic components can serve as valuable resources. This not only helps alleviate the need for metal mining, which often leads to ecological degradation, but also contributes to a circular economy. Prof. Lam's work exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to address pressing environmental challenges, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Prof. Jason Lam was awarded the Gold Medal with the Congratulations of Jury at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

Besides the award of the Gold Medal with the Congratulations of Jury, SEE also received three Gold Medals, recognizing innovative projects that demonstrate excellence in research and development. Specifically, Prof. Chunhua Liu was awarded two Gold Medals for his revolutionary innovations: “Integrated Wireless Motor” and “Portable Parallel Elastic Powered Hip–Knee Exoskeleton with Variable Stiffness and Self-alignment Mechanism”. The “Integrated Wireless Motor” combines wireless power transfer with motor drive technology to create a novel system featuring exceptional remote operability, as well as waterproof, dustproof, and maintenance-free functionality. The 'Portable Parallel Elastic Powered Hip–Knee Exoskeleton' enhances motion assistance adaptability with self-alignment and variable stiffness design, offering significant potential for gait rehabilitation and human performance enhancement. These inventions have the potential to revolutionize the motor industry and wearable robotics, creating profound impacts on related technological advancements. Prof. Liu's work demonstrates that this technology could significantly change the industrial pattern and meet the challenge of a new lifestyle in human society. 

Prof. Chunhua Liu was awarded two Gold Medals at the 50^th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions for his breakthrough inventions.

Prof. Jin Shang’s team was also awarded a Gold Medal for their innovative pulmonary hypertension treatment: a palm-sized, self-cleaning, AI-powered inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) generator. This device redefines accessibility, safety, and affordability in iNO therapy by replacing traditional bulky and hazardous NO tanks with a system powered by safe, solid reagents. The generator offers continuous therapeutic use for over 30 hours, dramatically reducing costs to less than 0.5 HKD/hour, while also ensuring clean, bacteria-free inhalation through a photocatalytic safety mechanism. Equipped with AI-powered monitoring, the device minimizes toxic NO? emissions and optimizes NO delivery accuracy. This award-winning invention has been hailed as a “paradigm shift” in respiratory care, promising to revolutionize pulmonary hypertension management by enabling safe, portable, and affordable home-based therapy. Prof. Shang’s team is actively seeking collaborations to bring this life-saving technology to those who need it most worldwide.

Prof. Jin Shang was awarded the Gold Medal at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

In addition, SEE faculty members also earned three Silver Medals, showcasing their contributions to cutting-edge solutions in various fields.

Silver Medal Winners	Project Name	Project Details
Prof. Michael Leung	Nano-Photocatalytic Coatings for Marine and Built Environments: Antifouling and Anticorrosion, Rust Removal and Lubrication, Antibacterial and Self Cleaning	CAT's coatings utilize photocatalysis to deliver multifunctional benefits, including antifouling, anticorrosion, rust removal, lubrication, air quality improvement, disinfection, and self-cleaning, offering comprehensive solutions for enhancing marine and built environments. Nano-MAP coating employs an advanced light-activated process to safeguard surfaces against rust and grime. This eco-friendly approach minimizes reliance on harsh chemicals traditionally used in cleaning and maintenance.
Prof. Patrick Lee	CRISmart – CRISPR-based Smartphone Microbial Assay for Rapid Testing	The innovative project, developed in collaboration with the Drainage Services Department, HKSAR, introduces an innovative system for rapid, on-site bacterial detection in wastewater. CRISmart delivers accurate results within one hour at a cost of just ~HK$ 8 per sample, offering a swift and practical alternative to traditional methods. This solution optimizes wastewater treatment processes and ensures compliance with water quality standards.
Prof. Wei Wu	Offshore Floating Factory for Electricity-water-food Coproduction	This invention introduces a modular floating agrivoltaics system combining a thin-film evaporator, drip-irrigation system, and floating platform. The evaporator, attached to photovoltaic panels, utilizes waste heat from solar irradiation to desalinate seawater and cool the panels simultaneously. The condensed freshwater is used for agricultural irrigation on the platform. Designed for scalability, this system enables offshore energy, water, and food production, offering sustainable solutions for coastal urban areas.

The remarkable accomplishments of SEE at this prestigious event reflect the school’s dedication to advancing innovation and sustainability. Congratulations to all awardees for their outstanding contributions to research and development.