Event Highlight | 16th International Invention Fair at the Middle East (IIFME) (8

The 16th International Invention Fair of the Middle East (IIFME) was organized from the 8th - 11st of February 2026 by Kuwait Science Club under the Patronage of His Highness, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and in collaboration the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), UNESCO, and the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.

This year, CUHK’s innovation projects have achieved remarkable results at the 16th International Invention Fair in the Middle East (IIFME), taking home ten accolades for four projects and scooping the event’s Grand Prize. These included four Gold Medals with the Congratulations of the Jury. Additionally, the four CUHK innovations received six special prizes: one Grand Prize, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) National Award for Inventors, the Prize of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), the Special Prize Awarded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and two FIRI Awards. This remarkable achievement highlights the University’s powerful research capabilities and commitment to innovation on the global stage.

The award-winning projects were contributed by research teams from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Engineering, covering a wide range of disciplines. The award-winning innovations were all developed by CUHK startups, a testament to the strength of the University’s signature startup ecosystem. This reflects the University’s diverse academic strengths and its leadership in driving technological progress to foster that ecosystem. (Please refer to the appendix for project details)

Research team from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Dr LIU Wai Shing (left) and Ms PENG Yusong (right). (Photo: KTO)

Research team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Dr SHI Xiangqian. (Photo: KTO)

Research team from the Department of Paediatrics. Professor LEUNG Kam Tong (right) and Dr NG Wing Hei (left). (Photo: KTO)

Research team from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Dr SHI Yang (left) and Dr WANG Zengyue (right). (Photo: KTO)

Developed by Professor Zhang Li from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Professor Philip CHIU Wai-yan, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Professor of Robotic Surgery in the Department of Surgery, and their team, the project “Magnet micro-/nano-robot for endovascular treatment” garnered the IIFME Grand Prize, a FIRI Award and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury. As traditional surgical tools have limited adaptability and are not small enough to reach many of the human body’s tiny, torturous and distal locations, their invention allows surgeons to access these locations and deliver treatment using magnetic micro-/nano-robots. (Photo: Kuwait Science Club)

Group photo of CUHK teams with Mr HU Hanming, Counselor (Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait (6th right), Dr Mohammed Alsaffar, Head of Development and Competitiveness Programs Sector of the Higher Committee (middle), Mr Alireza Rastegar, IFIA President (6th left) and Ms Guo Yan, Director of the International Department of the China Association of Inventions (1st left). (Photo: KTO)

CUHK winning medals and awards. (Photo: KTO)

Group photo of the KTEM team including Ms Ariel YUEN (KTEM Officer, KTO), Dr Gene MAN (Head of KTEM, KTO) and Ms Joyce MAK (Assistant Manager (KTEM), KTO) (Photo: KTO)

CUHK awarded projects in the 16^th International Invention Fair in the Middle East

No.	Awards	Principal investigator and team members (Department)	Project Title
1.	IIFME Grand Prize, FIRI Award and Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury	Professor ZHANG Li, Dr JIN Dongdong, Dr LIU Wai Shing, Ms PENG Yusong (Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering) Professor CHIU Wai Yan Philip (Department of Surgery) Professor CHAN Kai Fung (Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine) Professor YU Chun Ho Simon (Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology)	Magnetic micro-/nanorobots for endovascular treatment
2.	Prize of the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA) Award, FIRI Award and Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury	Professor TONG Kai Yu, Dr SHI Xiangqian, Dr XIE Disheng, Dr TONG Shuk Fan (Department of Biomedical Engineering)	Bionic artificial muscle for robotic systems: XoMuscle and XoBrace
3.	World International Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) National Award for Inventors and Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury	Professor LEUNG Kam Tong, Dr CHAN Yuen Yee Kathy, Dr NG Wing Hei, Ms YANG Yunni, Professor LI Chi Kong (Department of Paediatrics)	Next-generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Therapies for Blood Cancers
4.	Special Prize Awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury	Professor LU Yi-Chun, Dr WANG Zengyue, Dr YAO Yanxin, Dr SHI Yang (Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering)	Safe, low-cost and sustainable sulfur-based flow battery

About the International Invention Fair at the Middle East (IIFME)

The International Invention Fair at the Middle East (IIFME) is recognized as the largest specialized exhibition of inventions and innovations in the Middle East, as well as the second largest international invention exhibition in the world. With the collaboration with the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the event aims to promote the culture of invention and innovation while strengthening connections among inventors, enterprises and investors worldwide.

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Event Highlight | 16th International Invention Fair at the Middle East (IIFME) (8 – 11 Feb 2026)