CityUHK wins three first prizes at China Graduate Electronics Design Contest; inaugural Hong Kong and Macau division strengthens innovation collaboration
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) achieved outstanding results at the National Finals of the 21st China Graduate Electronics Design Contest (GEDC), securing three National First Prizes for its cutting-edge engineering innovations. This year’s competition marked the introduction of the inaugural Hong Kong and Macau Division, hosted by CityUHK, which enabled teams from Hong Kong and Macau, as well as cross-regional collaborations, to compete on the national stage, further strengthening innovation exchange and industry-academia-research collaboration between Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese Mainland.
Held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, from 12 to 14 August, the National Finals attracted nearly 10,000 teams and more than 40,000 teachers and students from 379 universities and institutions nationwide. Following multiple rounds of rigorous selection, 780 teams from 176 universities advanced to the finals to compete in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), integrated circuits, 6G communications and intelligent systems.
This year, the Hong Kong and Macau Division selected 12 teams from Hong Kong, Macau and joint inter-university collaborations to advance to the National Finals. Their projects covered a diverse range of frontier technologies, including wireless communications, power electronics and information sensing. CityUHK teams delivered an outstanding performance, with three teams securing National First Prizes in the National Finals.
The three CityUHK teams and projects receiving National First Prizes were as follows:
- “252-283GHz Terahertz Chipset Based on 65nm CMOS Technology and Its Dual-Mode Applications in Communications and Imaging”
Supervised by Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement) and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves (SKLTMW), together with Dr Lin Zhicheng, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Team members included Tam Hiu-lok, Mo Yingxue and Zhang Jingyuan. The project developed a highly integrated terahertz chipset capable of both high-speed communications and high-resolution imaging. - “Broadband Quad-Polarised Multi-Beam Antenna Based on Eigenvector Synthesis and Its Anti-Multipath Communication Applications”
Supervised by Professor Wong Hang, Associate Vice-President (Community Engagement) and Deputy Director of the SKLTMW, together with Dr Yang Ye, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Team members included Liu Ji, Zhang Yuxin and Teng Wenyi. The team developed a multi-beam antenna system capable of operating effectively in complex propagation environments, providing key enabling technologies for 6G communications and intelligent robotics. - “Low-Noise Terahertz Photonic Integrated Receiver Front-End for 6G Communications”
Supervised by Professor Wang Cheng, Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Dr Zeng Yuansong. The student participant was Wang Zixi. The project effectively addressed signal attenuation and noise bottlenecks in terahertz communications, significantly improving receiver sensitivity. It was also selected for the competition's prestigious “Star of GEDC” public presentation session.
Professor Wong, who also served as Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Hong Kong and Macau Special Division, said that the GEDC is an important platform for promoting innovation in electronic technologies and nurturing young talent in China.
“Hong Kong universities possess strong strengths in fundamental research,” he said. “Through participation in national-level competitions, students gain first-hand experience in the entire innovation process, from research conception and technology development to practical applications. This is of great significance for fostering cross-regional technological collaboration, facilitating knowledge transfer and cultivating future talent.”
CityUHK students who participated in the competition described the experience as highly rewarding. One team member noted that the competition provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with leading teams from across the country and explore viable pathways for translating research outcomes into practical applications. Another participant highlighted how the preparation process and project defence significantly strengthened the team’s collaboration and project management skills, while encouraging deeper reflection on the commercialisation potential of their research.
The successful debut of the Hong Kong and Macau Division marks an important milestone in integrating postgraduate students from Hong Kong and Macau into the national innovation ecosystem. Looking ahead, CityUHK will continue to leverage its unique position as a bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the international community, deepening collaborative innovation among universities, research institutions and industry partners across the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. Through these efforts, the University aims to contribute fresh momentum to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area as an international innovation and technology hub.