|
Theme-based
Research of the Research Grants Council (2) |
(28-07-2011) |
The Research Grants Council funded six projects of Theme-based
Research Scheme with a total of some $248 million in July. Last
week two of the funded projects were instroduced. This article introduces
the other two projects (supported with a total of 70 million) of
which research findings will greatly benefit the local logistics
industry and development of renewable energy.
Transform Hong Kong's Ocean Container Transport Logistics Network
The logistics industry plays a critical role in Hong Kong's economy.
Ocean container logistics is the lifeline of global supply chains,
accounting for the majority of cargo throughput. Recent trends of
increasing fuel costs and global warming concerns underscore the
importance of ocean transport. In recent years, Hong Kong's leading
position as a logistics hub is under serious threat from neighboring
port cities. Against the manufacturing base of the Pearl River Delta
(PRD) as a backdrop, we believe that Hong Kong should transform
and strengthen its ocean container transport logistics network,
using logistics as the foundation to promote new commercial opportunities.
Despite the importance of ocean container transport, this sector
has been understudied by the academic community. Traditionally,
academic research on ocean container logistics has mainly focused
on improving efficiency of container terminal operations. How ocean
container logistics is embedded in global supply chain networks,
which is the core focus of our project, has been largely ignored.
For an illustrative example, shipping lines tend to reduce vessel
speeds (slow-steaming) in attempt to reduce fuel costs and carbon
emissions in recent years. It is important to investigate the impact
of slow streaming on shippers and consignees, as well as the global
supply chain network as a whole. Given this network relationship,
a critical question to explore is whether it is possible for a shipping
line to choose the optimal speed such that all parties, not only
itself, may benefit.
The proposed project has two major goals.
1) To establish Hong Kong as the research hub for maritime logistics
and supply chain management. A team of world-class researchers with
extensive knowledge in this area, led by Chair Professor Chung-Yee
Lee of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management
of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is geared
toward generating state-of-art research on ocean container logistics
networks, which is a very important emerging area in academia.
2) To develop an in-depth understanding of Hong Kong's role as
a port city and its future direction. This proposed project will
contribute to the transformation of Hong Kong's ocean container
transport logistics network in the city's quest to remain and grow
as a regional and international business center.
Challenges in Organic Photo-Voltaics and Light-Emitting Diodes-
A Concerted Multi-Disciplinary and Multi-Institutional Effort
With the huge and fast-growing population and an upcoming depletion
of fossil fuels, there is an urgent need and pressing demand for
a low carbon or carbon-neutral energy economy. Development of clean
renewable energy and new measures for reducing the energy demand
are definitely needed to meet the grand challenges. Organic light-emitting
diodes (OLEDs) are recognized as a viable candidate for the launching
of a more efficient solid-state lighting system, while the discovery
and development of efficient organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices
for solar energy conversion will have a major impact in addressing
the energy issues. However, low power efficiencies, materials and
device stability and relatively high manufacturing cost of OLEDs
and OPVs present a major challenge for commercialization, and new
breakthroughs in the development of new materials and fabrication
processes that are much cheaper and more processable for efficient
OLEDs and OPVs are highly desirable. This project integrates multi-institutional
and multi-disciplinary efforts from The University of Hong Kong,
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Baptist
University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and City University
of Hong Kong, and the complementary expertise of chemists, physicists,
materials scientists, and device engineers to form a team, in order
to meet the grand challenges related to energy. With the funding
support of the RGC Theme-Based Research Scheme, this project targets
to develop libraries of robust, industrial competitive phosphorescent
materials and OPV materials, coupled with the optimization of device
architecture and fabrication processes, to improve the power efficiencies
of OLEDs and OPVs. Particularly, our team members are holders of
a number of innovative US and PCT patents, providing the basis for
the development of new classes of patentable materials. The success
of the proposed project would not only generate Hong Kong- and China-owned
intellectual property (IP) rights, patents and technological know-how,
but also creates new opportunities for knowledge and technology
transfer to national and international industrial partners. These
would definitely promote Hong Kong towards a low carbon economy
and the development of a sustainable environment.
Research Grants Council
|