HKU Receives 46 Awards at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
The project awarded the Special Grand Prize – Prize of the Chinese Delegation and Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury: Nose-to-brain nanopowder nasal spray for rapid ischemic stroke rescue
The project awarded the Special Grand Prize – Prize of the Chinese Delegation and Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury: Nose-to-brain nanopowder nasal spray for rapid ischemic stroke rescue
A novel immunisation method and powder: Gaining immunity against the three major respiratory viruses through home-based toothbrushing
A portable device for non-invasive and rapid cancer detection using AI-powered optical sensing
AA4Sci: AI-powered platform for energy materials innovation
eCheckGo: A large defect model-driven AI system for ultra-fast and scalable building inspection in high-density cities
Rapid finger-prick blood test for diagnosis, early prediction of relapse subtypes and treatment monitoring of Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
Rapid point-of-care molecular detection of evolving mosquito-borne viruses
Rhytma: A rapid and quantitative biochemical hormone monitor for mobile and smart-devices
Universal droplet robotics for digital diagnostics
HKU received 46 awards at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, held from 11 to 15 March 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. This result reflects the University’s ongoing work in research and innovation across different fields.
The exhibition featured over 1,000 inventions from 35 countries and regions, providing a platform for presenting technological developments and encouraging international collaboration.
HKU presented 45 research inventions from various Faculties, Schools, and HKU InnoHK Research Laboratories. These projects addressed important challenges in areas including health and biomedicine, smart engineering, artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
Among the awarded projects was a nose-to-brain nanopowder nasal spray designed for early intervention in ischemic stroke. This first-aid approach uses nanotechnology to deliver neurotherapeutics via the nasal pathway, with the aim of offering immediate protection for stroke patients.
Other recognised projects included:
- A non-invasive portable device for cancer detection that uses AI-powered optical sensing to identify DNA damage in saliva within minutes, supporting routine cancer risk assessment.
- A home-based immunisation method integrated into toothbrushing powder to enhance mucosal immunity against respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
- A rapid molecular detection system for mosquito-borne viruses to assist public health monitoring.
- A biochemical hormone monitor designed for mobile devices to offering precision and convenience unmatched by current home tests.
The awards included 1 Special Grand Prize, 9 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 13 Gold Medals, 19 Silver Medals, and 4 Bronze Medals.
These results highlight HKU’s focus on interdisciplinary research and the translation of academic work into practical applications with potential benefits for global health and well-being.
Congratulations to all the winning teams!
