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Hong Kong professor’s sapphire-toughened screens win top invention prize

Geneva inventions show’s Grand Prix awarded to Baptist University’s Cheah Kok-wai for new method of toughening screens of mobile phones and other devices to avoid cracks and scratches

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Hong Kong Baptist University professor Cheah Kok-wai shows off his team's work on sapphire-coated screens.
Agence France-Presse

A Hong Kong professor has won the grand prize at this year’s Geneva inventions show for a new method of toughening screens for smartphones and other devices to avoid cracks and scratches.

The announcement came after more than 750 exhibitors from 48 countries came together in Switzerland last week at the show, the world’s largest event of its kind.

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The Grand Prix was awarded to Hong Kong Baptist University professor Cheah Kok-wai, of the Cathay Photonics company, for his process of reinforcing glass screens by applying a thin layer of sapphire.

A smartphone with a broken touchscreen. The Baptist University invention prevents scratches and cracks. Photo: Corbis
A smartphone with a broken touchscreen. The Baptist University invention prevents scratches and cracks. Photo: Corbis
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“This method can be used in many different areas, but especially for smartphone screens which are vulnerable and are often scratched or broken,” the organisers of the 44th International Exhibition of Inventions said.

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