CUHK LAW’s New Ventures Legal Team (NVLT), led by Professor Jyh-An Lee, visited the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) on 20 January 2026 for a programme centred on a patent search workshop organised by the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre (HKTISC), which was preceded by an immersive tour of HKPC’s technology laboratories.
The session opened with remarks from Ms Patricia Fong, Head of Intellectual Property Management at HKPC. She introduced HKTISC, Hong Kong’s first TISC, jointly recognised by WIPO and CNIPA and hosted by HKPC, and outlined its mission to support researchers and innovators at different stages of the innovation cycle. The core IP services of HKTISC—including patent search services, IP consultations and IP training—empower local researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to unlock their innovation potential while protecting and managing their IP.
Building on this introduction, a practical workshop was carried out on patent searches using an AI-powered patent analytics platform featuring company profiling, technology landscape mapping and solution discovery. A standout capability was a Q&A-style search feature, in which an AI agent draws on a large body of global patents and scientific literature to surface existing solutions, potential improvements and novel ideas for both broad and specific queries. Guided by a live demonstration from Mr Yannick Tang, an HKTISC consultant, students explored practical applications—including mapping a company’s patent portfolio and evolving areas of focus, identifying top patent holders in specific domains and surveying country-level patent activities across selected technologies—yielding insights essential for advising clients on IP strategy.
This hands-on workshop introduced core search strategies and tools and taught students how to locate, interpret and analyse technical information in patent databases, strengthening their capabilities in prior art analysis and due diligence.
The visit also included tours of two HKPC laboratories: the Circulatory Research Centre and the Centre of Advanced Power and Autonomous Systems (APAS). At the Circulatory Research Centre, the Green Materials Development Laboratory showcased a thermal management system enabling heat exchange between fuel cells and hydrogen storage in commercial vehicles. Students also explored phase-change materials, learning how a paraffin emulsion can act as a thermal storage and transfer medium. At APAS, experts introduced the New Energy Hall, highlighted clean-energy solutions in hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage, autonomous driving and super-fast charging, and demonstrated an off-grid hydrogen fuel-cell electric genset with zero direct emissions of pollutants or greenhouse gases.
By engaging directly with patent-search professionals and technology experts, students deepened their appreciation of the interplay between technological innovation and legal frameworks while sharpening their proficiency in evaluating patent information. Professor Lee and CUHK LAW’s New Ventures Legal Team express their sincere gratitude to the HKPC and HKTISC teams for organising and delivering this invaluable programme and for their insightful guidance and warm hospitality throughout the visit.
