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HKUST 2011-2012 Annual Report
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
Water Association; his team collaborates with Delft
University of Technology, University of Cape Town,
Hong Kong Airport Authority and government
departments.
Wi-fi data access boost
A multi-hop wireless mesh network developed by
Prof Gary Chan (Computer Science and Engineering)
and his team has greatly improved Wi-fi data access
performance even in the most challenging network
environments such as container terminals, airports,
indoor complexes, and cities. The software developed
— known as LAviNET — implements innovative
channel selection and routing algorithms to effectively
eliminate blind spots, avoid traffic congestion and
reduce signal interference. The research has been
successfully transferred to industry. Project sponsors included Boeing Company, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company,
Modern Terminals Ltd, OpenPlatform Technology, Ruckus Wireless and Altai Technologies.
Engineering the future
In addition to the Huawei-HKUST Innovation Laboratory, jointly set up by HKUST and global telecommunication giant
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a joint research laboratory with Xilinx Inc, the global leader in all programmable technologies
and devices, was officially opened in June 2012. The facility includes Xilinx’s advanced technologies to support cross-
platform and cross-disciplinary research.
Knowledge Transfer at a Glance (2011-12)
Invention Disclosures
Invention Disclosures
(Cumulative)
New Patent
Applications Filed
New Patents Granted
78
788
142
33
New Patents & Patent
Applications (Cumulative)
Active Patents & Patent
Applications Managed
Patent Grant
Success Rate
Inventors
1695
633
76%
139
(515 faculty members)
Patent Review (Faculty)
Engaged
Collaboration Exploration
(by organization)
Project PI Involvement
Frequency
Funds from Industry through
KT(’000)
308
Man-times
256
Contacts
133
Man-times
HK$46700
(128 collaboration and services)
As a measure of innovation capacity, HKUST has filed 788 invention disclosures (since 1991) and the total number of new
patents and patent applications (cumulative) stands at 1,695. In 2011-12, 33 new patents were granted and a total of
142 new patents application were filed.
