CityU Inauguration of Institute for Advanced Study

The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) aspires to be an international centre of excellence promoting interdisciplinary and team-based research to address the global challenges of today. The inauguration of IAS was held on 22nd Nov 2015 and I attended the event for supporting my alma mater.

I met Prof. Michael Lam (BCH Dept., CityU) in the hall and took a photo for memory.

Prof. Way Kuo (President, CityU) gave an opening remark. He said that IAS would be the perfect platform for spearheading the University’s drive for excellence in interdisciplinary research through our faculty and students under exciting environment that advance their work and benefits society

Professor David Yao (IAS Director, CityU) gave a speech and he told us some stories about Einstein that he did four experiments. Einstein said the fourth experiment was daydreaming. He also quoted Abraham Flexner (Founding director of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study) that “When the minds of scholars are liberated, they will be free to take advantage of surprises, and someday an unexpected discovery, apparently leading nowhere, will be found to be an indispensable link in a long and complex chain that may open new worlds in theory and practice.” Prof. David Yao explained in the other words that “the fruits of deep scientific discovery can only fall from the tree of liberated minds and unbounded imagination.”

President introduced senior fellows and presented souvenir to each member. Member accomplishments had been recognized by national academies and they had received prestigious awards such as the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal and the Shaw Prize.
Prof. Serge Haroche is Nobel Laureate in Physics and member of French Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn is Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and member of French Academy of Sciences.

Group photo taken

After the inauguration, we had light buffet.

At the end, I meet former RA in SEEM and participants. We took a photo for memory.
(Left: Mr. Raymond Lo (former RA in SEEM), Prof. T Wing Lo (Head & Professor, Dept. of Applied Social Science, CityU), Ir. Dr. C.K. Hung (Director, Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Ltd.)

Reference:
CityU’s Institute for Advanced Study will champion bold new research initiatives - http://wikisites.cityu.edu.hk/sites/newscentre/en/Pages/201511221300.aspx

CityU Institute for Advanced Study (IAS)
VisionCityU IAS aspires to be an international centre of excellence promoting interdisciplinary and team-based research to address the global challenges of today. It brings together research expertise and integrates research capabilities informed by the sciences, technology and the humanities to extend the frontiers of knowledge and contribute to the solutions of real world problems.
Mission
CityU IAS aims at driving and supporting cutting-edge, discipline-based research while at the same time creating an innovative framework for seeding and developing interdisciplinary problem-based research of significant economic and social impact. It provides an exciting platform for global talents to engage in pioneering research and contribute to postdoctoral/postgraduate/undergraduate training, with the goal of strengthening global connectivity, problem-solving capability, team-work and research impact to respond to academic and societal challenges.
Initial Three Themes
- One Health
- Digital Society
- Smart CityU

CityU EngD Society 10th Anniversary Dinner 2015

This year is CityU Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Society established for 10 years since 2005. Therefore, EngD Society arranged the 10th Anniversary Dinner with guests talk on 21st Nov 2015. The mission of the society is to gather and connect all the graduates and students of CityU Engineering Doctorate Program. We organize activities, forum and conferences regularly to get our members connected. Before the seminar, we took a photo with Prof. Way Kuo (President, CityU) and Prof. K.L. Tsui ((Head & Chair Professor, SEEM).

(Left: Ms. Pheony Tsang (Alumni Relations Manager), Dr. Rocky Lam (Chairman, EngD Society), Prof. K.L. Tsui, Prof. Way Kuo, Dr. Peter Ho (CityU Distinguished Alumni), Mr. Aiden Ho (Brand Director, SwitchMap), Ms. Jenny Chan (Chairman, CityU Eminence Society) and I (Secretary, EngD Society))

In the beginning, Dr. Rocky Lam (Chairman, EngD Society) gave welcome speech and he appreciated Prof. Way Kuo and Prof. K.L. Tsui joined us and gave us talks. Moreover, he also appreciated to Dr. Peter Ho for his enthusiastic contribution to the Society as well as all cohorts and guests participated this 10th anniversary dinner.

So many cohorts joined the dinner.

Prof. Way Kuo (President, CityU) gave an opening speech and told us some stories such as drive after drank. His stories told us the distance between “Imagination” and “Reality”, distance between “Degree” and “Knowledge”. Both gap we needed to fill it through education. Prof. Kuo added we got degree that aimed to use our knowledge to benefit the society.

Finally, Prof. Way Kuo reminded us that CityU’s Engineering was ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong in Best Global Universities 2016 and our Business School Research ranked No. 2 in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2014. It was only aware in the academic world but not aware outside. So he asked us to spread these status to others. (I took a photo about this information in the tunnel connected to CityU.)

After President’s speech, we took a group photo.

Prof. K.L. Tsui ((Head & Chair Professor, SEEM) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “Big Data Opportunities in Hong Kong”. He would like to share “What is New with Big Data Analytics?” “What is Simulation?” “Infectious Disease Spread Simulation” and “Simulation in MTR Stations and SimHK”.

Firstly, Prof. Tsui briefed five myths about Big Data that was “new”, “clear definition”, “revolutionary”, “better” and “the end of scientific theories. Then he reviewed the evolution of Big Data Analytics. He said the first wave was Data Mining in 90’s and the second wave was Big Data Analytics in 2010’s.

After that Prof. Tsui introduced simulation and his research. He said that we used simulation to describe, mimic, and analyze a complex system and ask “what if” questions about the system. The key reason to simulate was to quantify the potential impact and risk such as infection disease spread simulation modeling (e.g SARS in Hong Kong). Finally, Prof. Tsui introduced his recently research named SimHK for Public Safety and Disaster Management. Under this research, he got theme-based research scheme upto HK$40M from 2015 to 2020 for “Safety, Reliability, and Disruption Management of High Speed Rail and Metro Systems”.

I (Former Chairman, HKSQ) was the second speaker and my topic named “A Study on Transforming Quality Innovation in Hong Kong: Recommendation to the Innovation and Technology Industry. The report was prepared by me and the study was surveyed HKSQ members and oversea quality professionals on their view to give suggestion for Innovation and Technology industry in Hong Kong.

Firstly, I briefed the executive summary and there were 5 suggestions to the government below.
i) Leverage stakeholders of the local Innovation and Technology (I&T) sector and associated organizations, including universities, R&D Centres and Statutory Bodies; as well as establishing a platform that will facilitate collaboration amongst industry practitioners, business partners, scientists and researchers of State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong.
ii) Foster the strategy of “Quality Innovation in One Belt One Road” through the Asian Network for Quality (ANQ) and the leading quality management authorities in Hong Kong (including HKSQ).
iii) Establish the Cross-University Knowledge Transfer Platform (XUKTP) to enhance performances of R&D and commercialisation processes for the I&T sector in Hong Kong and a wider global context.
iv) Develop a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor the I&T process and accomplishments in quality innovation in Hong Kong
v) Promote best practices with an Innovation and Technology Policy Implementation Model (ITPIM)

I explained how HKSQ could contribute in One Belt One Road through the connection in the Asian Network for Quality (ANQ).

Finally, I mentioned the report had positive feedback from CE office, Mr. Nicholas W Yang and Mrs. Fanny Law Fan. Mrs. Law Fan also asked us to spread the message that “Culture and Mindset” was put at the top of the obstacles for innovation and technology (I&T) development in Hong Kong. She said “Unless people see the importance of I&T for HK’s sustainable development, and are willing to devote their career to R&D, invest in technology, work together in concert, and put aside politics, we do not have a chance.” So that I hoped other professional bodies would also contribute to I&T industries in term of their professional perspective.

After my presentation, we had dinner and took table photos for memory.

The third speaker was Mr. Aiden Ho (Brand Director, SwitchMap) and his presentation title was “Wireless Smart Building Control Technology”. From his introduction, they focused on lighting control in office and home.

Then it could be extend to Smart Homes and Smart Building. After installation, user would change their setting and control anytime they wished. So that we used electricity when was needed. You could maintain and edit your own system which reduced heavy installation cost.

The last speaker was Mr. Ben Chan (VP of international sales, AlTai Technologies Co. Ltd.) and his topic named “Powerful Wifi Technology for Developing Countries of One Belt One Road”. Firstly, he briefed that his company was incubated by ASTRI in 2002 and then spun off in 2006 to become a privately held Hong Kong based company. Our cohort Dr. Raymond Leung was the investor!

Altai products were mainly on Wifi wireless technology and the following diagram showed their One Belt One Road strategy.

At the end of dinner, we had a lucky draw. The first winner was Dr. Tommy K.L. Choy (Asso. Professor, ISE Dept., PolyU) who was our guest tonight.

The second winner was Dr. Walter Fung (Teaching Fellow, Dept. of Computing, PolyU & Former Vice Chairman, CityU EngD Society). Our chairman Dr. Rocky Lam and former chairman of CityU Eminence Society (CES) Dr. Peter Ho presented a gift to him.

I took some photos with cohort for memory.
(Left: Dr. Szeto Wing Hong, Dr. Danny Tang and I)

(Left: Dr. Herbert Yeung and I)

(Left: Dr. TW Liu, I, Dr. Amie Lai and Dr. Rocky Lam)

(Left: Mr. Aiden Ho, Dr. Peter W. Tse (Director, Smart Engineering Asset Management (SEAM) Laboratory), Prof. K.L. Tsui and I)

(Left: I, Ms. Jenny Chan (Chairman, CityU Eminence Society), Ms. Pheony Tsang, Dr. Peter Ho and Mr. Aiden Ho)

Reference:
CityU Engineering Doctorate Society - http://www.engd.org/
Engineering Doctorate (Engineering Management) - http://www.cityu.edu.hk/seem/prg-engd.htm
CityU Eminence Society - www.cityues.org
HKSQ Report to I&T Industry - http://www.hksq.org/HKSQ-Recommendations-to-ITB-20150901-Final.pdf

HKSQ Seminar on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO/CD 45001 New Requirements & Implementation

The seminar entitled “ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO/CD 45001 New Requirements & Implementation” was co-organized by Hong Kong Society for Quality (HKSQ), BSI, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), PolyU and ASQ Hong Kong (ASQ-HK) on 20th Nov 2015. The seminar aimed to explain the key changes to the requirements of the new standards and implementation tips for an effective transition. Before the seminar, we took a group photo for memory.

(Left: I, Mr. Michael Li (Client Manager, BSI), Mr. Coleman Tse (Sales & Marketing Director, BSI), Mr. Peter Fung (Chairman, HKSQ) and Mr. Ben Chiu (Senior Business Development Manager, BSI))

In the beginning, Mr. Peter Fung (Chairman, HKSQ) introduced HKSQ Vision, Mission and Values as well as World Quality Month activities in November 2015.

Mr. Coleman Tse (Sales & Marketing Director, BSI) was the first speaker. Firstly, Mr. Tse briefed the background of BSI which has a Royal Charter Status to focus on the development of standards, training and certification activities designed to improve performance, manage risk, reduce cost and enable sustainable growth.

Then he mentioned BSI is pioneer for different ISO standards such as ISO 9001 (BS 5750), ISO 14001 (BS 7750), OHSAS 18001 (BS 8800), ISO/IEC 27001 (BS 7799), etc. He also introduced their transition package and training courses for new standards.

Mr. Michael Li (Client Manager, BSI) was the second speaker and he introduced the main changes of those standards. All new standards would adopt New High Level Structure (HLS).

For ISO 9001:2015 standard, the new changes were identified as “Leadership”, “Risk”, “Context of Organization”, “Quality Importance”, “Process Approach” and “Documented Information”. The implementation of this new standard was followed PDCA cycle where Plan included clauses 4, 5, 6 & 7; Do included clause 8; Check was clause 9 and Act was clause 10.
Some points were elaborated as below.
“Leadership” – more top management involvement
“Risk thinking” – prioritize process and proactive for prevention
“Quality Importance” – strategy direction
“Planning of changes” – using systematic approach

Mr. Li said there were 3 year transition period upto September 2018.

For ISO 14001:2015, it was same as ISO 9001:2015 using PDCA cycle. New ISO 14001 focused on three purposes: i) Enhance Environmental Performance, ii) Fulfill and compliance the obligation and iii) Achieve Environmental Objectives. Moreover, one of new concepts was to consider product life cycle perspective. It was not talking about standards for Product Life Cycle Assessment (e.g. ISO 14040 & ISO 14044).

Then Mr. Li briefed the OHSAS 18001 transform to ISO 45001 (CD). It was also adopted to the High Level Structure (HLS)

Mr. Li showed the ISO 45001 timeline but he received a updated schedule that the standard would be delayed to 2017.

The ISO 45001 (CD) Process Model was showed and discussed. It was similar to both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015.

Q&A

At end of the seminar, Mr. Peter Fung (Chairman, HKSQ) presented a souvenir to Mr. Michael Li.

Reference:
HKSQ - www.hksq.org
HKSQ World Quality Month - http://www.hksq.org/world_quality_month.htm

HKSTP Seminar – Formulating Strategy for Sustainable Growth

The seminar named “Formulating Strategy for Sustainable Growth – From Ideas to Start-up to Sustainable Growth” was organized by Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) on 19^th Nov 2015.  This seminar aimed to share successful entrepreneur’s experience about the strategy for sustainable growth through successful entrepreneurs’’ cases.

The guest speaker was Mr. Cary Tu (Founder and Director, CWN Connsulting Ltd.) who was successful entrepreneurs, non-executive diretors and board member of number of companies in China, the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service – HK SME Development in 2014, as well as Committee and advisor to the Centre for SMEs under Trade and Industry Department, HKSARG.  He asked 8 questions which startup or SME usually faced to and shared some cases in each question.  I would like to summarize what Mr. Cary Tu shared to us below.

1.      Big idea but limited resource

Mr. Cary Tu told us must to “Focus” for a quick startup.  He would ask some questions such as “How many clients do you need to breakeven?” or “Do you product/service only one thing and the best in Hong Kong?” He advised to be focused on one thing first and to be the number 1 in the market.

2.      Big market but limited marketing budget

Mr. Tu said to sell your product to the market leaders that used to “leverage our top clients”; even though unreasonable due but it could be considered as Marketing Budget.  Because you earned the reputation and it could sell to the top client’s competitors.  One example he said a 17 years old boy, he knew nothing but drawing Cartoon/Comic.  He found the boss of top one in the market and showed his comic to him.  The boss asked what is different to others.  The boy said I am free to draw it for you.  So that boy worked in the company for 3 months and then become one of staffs in that comic company.  Then he changed different companies and finally built his own comic empire.

3.      Big demand but limited R&D resources

Mr. Tu said “Ride on market leader for products/services development and performance standards”.  It was because market leader had well-established system and provided guideline for their suppliers.  The strategy was leverage your tough customer to enhance your product quality as R&D resources.

4.      Survive but barely profitable

He also mentioned that we needed to be market leader and strike for process efficiency. He added there were three types of clients.  A) Market Leader (Profit is low!); B) Market Leader’s competitors (Some profit made) and C) Followers (More profit).  For followers, we needed to take care that didn’t over production to kill the market.  On the other hand, you don’t over price for your excellence product otherwise it could loss contract and create competitor.

5.      Stable business but lack of growth

He also said it needed to extend product and market.  “One at a time and Focus”

6.      Crisis and opportunities

Mr. Tu told us to “Ride on the changes to enable new products and services development”.  He also told us that market crisis was a signal for market change.  So you cut expenses during crisis but excluded R&D resource because it was the time for new products and services.

7.      Investors (Angels or Devils)

One of participants said both.  Mr. Tu explained there were two types of investors that one was Financial/Professional Investors and the other was Industry Investors.  For Financial/Professional Investors, they were clear cut, target and money oriented.  For Industry Investors, they understood what you were doing.  However, two engineers discussion were never end!  Mr. Tu advised to talk to investors whatever you needed money or not, because they were clever man to sharp your idea.  (But he alerted that “Don’t go to investor if you haven’t any money!”)

8.      Dreams vs Realities

He shared some cases people was successful in business but not happy because it was not his dream.  He added dream keeping you survive when crisis come.  Sometime you need to face yourself, to face your fail.  Everything is skill including Engineer, Boss and Entrepreneur.

Reference:

HKSTP - http://www.hkstp.org