Secretary for Innovation and Technology Mr Alfred Sit Wing-hang visited Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) today (12 April) to learn about the recent research achievements of HKMU and exchange views on innovation and technology development with HKMU’s senior management and researchers.

During the visit, HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing shared with the guests the research achievements of the University and its collaboration with industry partners, including the development of the proprietary technology C-POLAR in which the University has been involved.

HKMU’s School of Science and Technology was invited by C-POLAR Biotech Limited earlier to design a technical solution for conducting testing to verify the effectiveness of its technology and to assist in applying the technology into products such as face masks, air conditioning system and other devices.

The HKMU researchers and representatives of C-POLAR Biotech also presented to Mr Sit the research findings, the products and the benefits that the technology will bring to Hong Kong society as well as overseas users.

In this collaborative research, the HKMU research team discovers that strong positively polar polymeric filter can effectively arrest and inactivate viruses and bacteria including the SAR-Cov-2 virus in a short period of time. Further, no cytotoxic effect was found and the filter is safe for human use. The effectiveness has also been validated by several overseas virology laboratories. In the United Kingdom, the national medical service has applied this technology to the manufacturing of its FFP3 face masks.

Moreover, many Grade-A office buildings, shopping malls and hospitals in Hong Kong have installed filters with this technology. In addition to the antimicrobial activities, the utilization of this filter can lower the pressure drop which will further enhance the energy efficiency. This air filtration technology was awarded the Smart Living Grand Award of the 2021 Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards organized by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. The HKMU research team will continue to further their research so that the technology can be applied to medical and other daily use products to protect public health.