Prof. To NGAI

Prof. To NGAI is a Professor of Chemistry and Assistant Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He earned his B.Sc. (1999) and Ph.D. (2003) at CUHK, specializing in polymer interactions, before postdoctoral appointments at BASF (Germany) and the University of Minnesota. Returning to CUHK in 2006, he advanced from Research Assistant Professor to Full Professor in 2017. His research spans colloids, polymers, surface chemistry, and soft matter. Prof. Ngai has published over 270 papers, with more than 12,000 citations and an h-index of 58 (Google Scholar). His achievements include the CSJ Lectureship Award (2020) and the Paul J. Flory Research Prize (2023, Polychar World Forum, Nice). Since March 2026, he has served as Senior Editor of Langmuir (ACS).

Prof. NGAI is the Director and Chief Scientific Advisor of O-Spheres Limited, a start-up he founded in 2022 with support from the Innovation and Technology Commission’s “Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU)”. The company aims to commercialise technologies developed at CUHK, offering bespoke eco-solutions to address global environmental challenges through sustainability-driven innovation in materials science. O-Spheres was admitted to the HKSTP Incubation Programme in 2022 to accelerate product development and market entry.

In 2024, Professor Ngai founded BactOPack Limited, a pioneering venture dedicated to unlocking the potential of next-generation bio-based eco-materials for use in packaging and vegan leather. Through cutting-edge eco-technological research, BactOPack is redefining sustainable packaging with scalable, low-carbon materials designed to meet the demands of a greener future.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:
1. Empower Sustainable Lifestyles: Promote widespread access to eco-friendly products in Hong Kong, helping individuals and communities make informed, sustainable choices.
2. Expand Partnerships for Impact: Grow networks to accelerate real-world innovation, delivering wider environmental and societal benefits.