Press Release

PolyU Forms Global Partnership with ZEISS Vision Care to Expand Impact and Accelerate Market Penetration of Patented Myopia Control Technology

25 April 2024

Hong Kong, China / Aalen, Germany | 25 April 2024 | ZEISS Vision Care

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is partnering with ZEISS Vision Care, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments, to expand the global impact and speed up the market penetration of PolyU’s proprietary myopia control lens technologies through global partnership involving IP licensing and joint research and development.

Witnessed by Prof. Chea-su Kee, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry (back row, left) and Mr Timo Kratzer, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care (back row, right), Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU (front row, left) and Dr Benjamin Viering, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ZEISS Vision Care (front row, right) signed the licensing agreement.

The licensing agreement signing ceremony was held at ZEISS Vision Care’s headquarters in Aalen, Germany, and attended by distinguished representatives from both parties including Prof. Chea-su KEE, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry; Dr. Benjamin VIERING, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer, ZEISS Vision Care; Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU and Mr Timo KRATZER, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care. Inventors of the myopia control technologies from the PolyU School of Optometry, including Dr Dennis TSE, Associate Professor; Prof. Chi-ho TO, Visiting Chair Professor and Prof. Carly LAM, Adjunct Professor, were also present at this important event. Under the terms of the agreement, ZEISS will adopt PolyU’s patented myopia control technology in its specialised optical products.

The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from PolyU and ZEISS, as well as the inventors of the myopia control technologies from the PolyU School of Optometry, Dr Dennis Tse, Associate Professor (back row, centre); Prof. Chi-ho To, Visiting Chair Professor (back row, 2nd from right); and Prof. Carly Lam, Adjunct Professor (back row, 2nd from left).

Furthermore, this partnership paves the way for a long-term collaboration in research and development between PolyU and ZEISS, focusing on myopia control and other ophthalmic technologies. The close relationship between PolyU and ZEISS started some years ago when both partners began to explore collaboration on research and education.

Following the signing ceremony, the PolyU delegation toured ZEISS Vision Care’s state-of-the-art laboratories and production facilities, and held constructive discussions with ZEISS representatives on future joint research and development.

Mr Kelvin Wong expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and said, “This collaboration with a global industry leader like ZEISS Vision Care not only accelerates the market presence of our innovations but also amplifies the impact of our research and endeavours in commercialisation. PolyU innovations in the areas of myopia control and other ophthalmic issues are poised to make unprecedented societal impact.” The partnership between PolyU and ZEISS Vision Care is expected to create further innovative solutions that will enhance vision preservation and improvement for people around the world.

Dr. Benjamin Viering added, “PolyU and ZEISS have been working closely together for many years. Further research into the understanding and treatment of myopia is of paramount importance and requires intensive cooperation between academia and industry. We are therefore very pleased to deepen our cooperation to combat progressive myopia for the benefit of children around the world.”

The PolyU delegation held constructive discussions with ZEISS representatives on future joint research and development.

PolyU has been at the forefront of addressing myopia, an eye disorder that affects one-third of the global population, with a novel non-invasive solution to control the development of myopia in children. In particular, researchers from the School of Optometry have developed advanced myopia control technologies, which have been incorporated in specialised contact lenses and spectacle lenses. Since their launch in 2018, these innovative products have reached millions of people worldwide, positively impacting the lives of children with myopia and establishing PolyU as the market leader in myopia control technology.

About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU’s technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University’s unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.

Portrait Joachim Kuss
Press contact Joachim Kuss General Topics and Sustainability

ZEISS Vision Care

PRESS CONTACT Ms Idy To
PRESS CONTACT Ms Hazel Cheng

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 10 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2023).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 15 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With around 43,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 30 production sites, 60 sales and service companies and 27 research and development facilities (status: 30 September 2023). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

 

ZEISS Vision Care
ZEISS Vision Care is one of the world's leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments. The unit is allocated to the Consumer Markets segment and develops and produces offerings for the entire eyeglass value chain that are distributed globally under the ZEISS brand.

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  • PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care

    Witnessed by Prof. Chea-su Kee, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry (back row, left) and Mr Timo Kratzer, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care (back row, right), Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU (front row, left) and Dr Benjamin Viering, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ZEISS Vision Care (front row, right) signed the licensing agreement.

    File size: 1 MB
  • PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care

    The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from PolyU and ZEISS, as well as the inventors of the myopia control technologies from the PolyU School of Optometry, Dr Dennis Tse, Associate Professor (back row, centre); Prof. Chi-ho To, Visiting Chair Professor (back row, 2nd from right); and Prof. Carly Lam, Adjunct Professor (back row, 2nd from left).

    File size: 1 MB
  • PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care

    The PolyU delegation held constructive discussions with ZEISS representatives on future joint research and development.

    File size: 1 MB

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