Jul 2026
Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2026 (Hong Kong) by Tatler
“His Hong Kong start-up Agilis Robotics pioneered the Intilume system—ultra-thin, flexible robotic instruments that operate through the body’s natural openings without incisions.” Link
[Justin Di-Lang Ho]
Jul 2025
Finalist for the Lotfi Zadeh Best Paper Award in International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics (ICMLC) 2025
L. Lin, J. Lam, Z. Zhong, X. Yuan, K.W. Kwok, G. Chen, “Robust Stability of Perturbed Continuous-Time Markov Chains,” International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics (ICMLC), 2025 PDF
May 2025
Best Design Award – Surgical Robot Challenge 2025 in The Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics 2025
Project topic: An Adaptable, Multi-indication Robotic System for Endolunminal Surgery Link
Apr 2025
Best Paper Award for abstract submission by collaborators at Cleveland Clinic to the Engineering and Urology Society (EUS) meeting at the American Urological Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting
“Robotic Transurethral Bladder Tumor Resection: A New Era Of Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery,”
Pre-clinical experience study using robotic system developed by Agilis Robotics
May 2024
Best Poster Award in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation Workshop: 2nd Robot-Assisted Medical Imaging (ICRA-RAMI)
Yifeng Hao, Jing Dai, Zhiyi Jiang, Xiangkai Ouyang, James Lam, Ka-Wai Kwok “A Tensegrity Joint with Variable Stiffness for Robot-assisted Ultrasound Scanning”
Best Application Award in Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC) Symposium 2024
Xiangkai Ouyang, Jing Dai, Zhuoliang He, James Lam, Ka-Wai Kwok “Compact Robotic Positioner for Intra-operative MRI-guided Bilateral Stereotactic Neurosurgery”
Oct 2023
Best Technical Experimental Paper 2022-2023, Society for Cardiac Robotic Navigation (SCRN)
Z. Dong, X. Wang, J.D.L. Ho, Z. He, G. Fang, W.L. Tang, X. Xie, C.K. Ching, K.W. Kwok, “Shape Tracking and Feedback Control of Cardiac Catheter Using MRI-guided Robotic Platform – Validation with Pulmonary Vein Isolation Simulator in MRI,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics (TRO), 38(5), 2781-2798, 2022
Apr 2023
Silver Medal, the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
“Ultra-thin Flexible Robotic Instruments for Endoluminal Surgery”
[Dr. Ka Wai KWOK, Dr. King Man Joe FAN, Mr. Zhuoliang HE, Dr. Kui WANG, Mr. Justin Di-Lang HO, Dr. Jason Ying Kuen Chan, Mr. Ka Ming HUI, Mr. Sheung Man WONG, Mr. Chi Hin MAK, Mr. Hon Sing TONG]
Jan 2023
Research Output Prize, by HKU Excellence Awards
G. Fang, M.C.K. Chow, J.D.L. Ho, Z. He, K. Wang, T.C. Ng, J.K.H. Tsoi, P.L. Chan, H.C. Chang, D.T.M. Chan, C. Holsinger, J.Y.K. Chan, K.W Kwok, “Soft Robotic Manipulator for Intra-operative MRI-guided Transoral Laser Microsurgery”, Science Robotics, 6(57), 2021
Feb 2023
Best Thesis Award 2020-21, by Department of Mechanical Engineering, HKU
G. Fang, “Soft Robotic Manipulation for Intraoperative MRI-guided Non-contact Laser Surgery”
[Dr. Ge Fang]
Mar 2021
Silver Medal, by Special Edition 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days
“Magnetic resonance (MR)-safe actuation system”, developed by Momentus Robotics
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok, Dr. Ziyan Guo, Dr. Ziyang Dong, Dr. Kit-Hang Brian Lee, Mr. Justin Di-Lang Ho,Mr. Wai Lun Tang]
Jan 2021
IROS Toshio Fukuda Young Professional Award,by International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2020)
“For contributions to the advancement of MRI-guided robotic systems”
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
HKU Young Innovator Award 2020 by HKU Excellence Awards
“To recognise outstanding faculty members whose innovations, demonstrate exceptionally high potential impact (legacy or projected legacy) with transformative results to foster development.”
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Outstanding Young Researcher Award (OYRA), by HKU Excellence Awards
“Giving recognition to young researchers who are demonstrating extremely high quality research (applicants must be below the age of 40).”
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Actuators 2020 Young Investigator Award, by editorial board of an international peer-reviewed journal – Actuators
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Innovator Under 35 for the Asia Pacific Region, by MIT Technology Review.
The 2020 regional awardees were selected from a pool of 200 exceptional candidates.
[Dr. Ziyan Guo]
Best Workshop Paper Award (Second Place) in the 2019 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’19) workshop on Surgical Robots
First Place Prize Paper Award in the 2017 IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (TPEL)
[789 papers published in 2017]
S. C. Tang, T. L. T. Lun, Z. Guo, K.W. Kwok and N. J. McDannold, “Intermediate-Range Wireless Power Transfer With Segmented Coil Transmitters for Implantable Heart Pumps,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 3844-3857, 2017. PDF
May 2018
Best Conference Paper Award in the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’18)
[2,539 papers presented in ICRA 2018]
Finalist for ICRA Best Medical Robotics Paper Award in the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’18) [sponsored by Intuitive Surgical Inc.]
Z. Guo, Z. Dong, K.H. Lee, C.L. Cheung, H.C. Fu, J.D.L. Ho, H. He, W.S. Poon, D.T.M. Chan, K.W. Kwok,“Compact Design of a Hydraulic Driving Robot for Intra-operative MRI-guided Bilateral Stereotactic Neurosurgery,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 2515-2522, 2018. PDF
Jul 2017
Best Conference Paper Award in the 2017 IEEE International Conference on Real-time Computing and Robotics (RCAR’17) [100 papers presented in RCAR 2017]
K.H. Lee, M.C.W. Leong, M.C.K. Chow, H.C. Fu, D.K.C. Fu, Wayne Luk, K.Y. Sze, C.K. Yeung, K.W. Kwok, “FEM-based Soft Robotic Control Framework for Intracavitary Navigation,” IEEE International Conference on Real-time Computing and Robotics, pp.11-16, 2017. PDF
Jun 2017
Best Poster Paper Award (Merit prize) in the 2017 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’17) workshop on Surgical Robots
[sponsored by Intuitive Surgical Inc.]
Best Live Demonstration prize in the 2016 Surgical Robot Challenge, organised by EPSRC UK-RAS Network
Project topic: MR-conditional Catheter Robot for MRI-guided Cardiac Electrophysiological Intervention
May 2016
King’s/HKU Fellowship Awards 2016/17, supporting research at King’s College London
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Oct 2015
Early Career Award 2015/16, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Sep 2014
Outstanding Alumni Award, in the 20th Anniversary of Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, CUHK
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Jun 2014
Finalist for ICRA Best Medical Robotics Paper Award in the 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA’14) [sponsored by Intuitive Surgical]
K. Leibrandt, H.J. Marcus, K.W. Kwok, G.Z. Yang, “Implicit Active Constraints for a Compliant Surgical Manipulator,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp.276-283, 2014. PDF
Nov 2013
Finalist for Best ICROS Application Paper Award in the 2013 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Systems (IROS’13)
C.J. Payne, K.W. Kwok, and G.Z. Yang, “An Ungrounded Hand-Held Surgical Device Incorporating Active Constraints with Force-Feedback,” IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Systems, pp. 2559-2565, 2013. PDF
Apr 2013
Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships 2013/2014, supporting research at the Harvard Medical School and the University of Georgia
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]
Best Oral Paper Award in the 2012 Hamlyn Symposium for Robotic Surgery
S.L. Lee, K.W. Kwok, C. Riga, C. Bicknell, and G.Z. Yang, “Improved Visualisation with Shape Instantiation for Robot-Assisted Catheter Navigation,” oral paper at Hamlyn Symposium for Robotic Surgery, Royal Geographical Society, London.
May 2011
HiPEAC (High-Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation) Paper Award in the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Field-Programmable Custom Computing Machines (FCCM’11) [Acceptance rate: 16.9%]
G.C.T. Chow, K.W. Kwok, W. Luk, P. Leong, “Mixed Precision Processing in Reconfigurable Systems,” IEEE International Symposium on Field-Programmable Custom Computing Machines, pp.17-24, 2011. PDF
Best Poster Award (1st prizes), in Inaugural Workshop for The Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery
[Dr. Ka-Wai Kwok]