Draft:Cliff Chan

Early Life and Career

Chan earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1977 and 1978, respectively ^[2]. He completed his PhD in Electronics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 1984 ^[2].

Afterwards, Chan developed his career as a professor in the Electronic Engineering Department at City University of Hong Kong for over fifteen years ^{[1] [2]}. He mentored Mr. Po Man Lai ^[5], who became the university's first doctoral graduate in 1991.

Pioneer of University Academic Research into Commercialisation

In 1994, Chan created Signal Communications Limited at the City University of Hong Kong to translate research in signal and image processing into commercial applications, which became the foundation for TeleEye's surveillance technology ^[1]. TeleEye Group emerged as a university spin-off venture, producing remote video monitoring systems that introduced capabilities such as remote management and security functionality during the 1990s ^[6].

Chan's scientific research contributions at City University earned him the Grand Award at the Second Applied Research Excellence Award in 1998, with TeleEye being featured in local media as an exemplary case of successful technology transfer in Hong Kong ^{[7] [8]}. He subsequently was recognised with the Distinguished Alumni Award from CUHK's Faculty of Engineering in 2010 for his innovations in video surveillance and technology commercialisation ^[9].

First University Business Went on IPO in Hong Kong

TeleEye Holdings Limited went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in April 2001, with Chan as the founder and Chief Executive Officer; the company is recognised as Hong Kong's first university-originated business to achieve public listing status ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. Video surveillance products of TeleEye were exported to more than 50 countries. Over HK$400 million revenues were brought in, with clients including multinational brands such as Coca-Cola, HSBC, and Bank of America ^{[2] [10]}.

Advocate for University Research Funding & Knowledge Transfer

Throughout the late 1990s, Chan's achievements were regularly featured in Hong Kong media as a model and new trend for commercialising publicly funded academic research ^{[3] [4] [8]}. Some commentators placed TeleEye's innovations amongst Hong Kong's "four great inventions" and advocated for enhanced government support for university-based research and entrepreneurship ^{[4] [10]}. Media reports at the time also emphasised that TeleEye's products had reached more than 30 markets, including Australia, Japan, Germany, UK and Singapore ^[11]. Together with other early stage university-spinned companies, the early startup trend led to the implementation ^[12] of a five billion government fund towards high technology product innovation ^[13].

Later Life into Arts

In 2015, Chan divested his entire stake in TeleEye and withdrew from active leadership of the organisation ^[2]. After leaving the corporate world, he devoted himself to long-held passions in fine arts and photography, and developing a practice as a contemporary painter with exhibitions in Hong Kong and overseas ^[14].

Chan's paintings have garnered multiple honours in international juried art competitions hosted by Camelback Gallery in the United States ^[14]. In 2022, he received Bronze Awards for "The Rock" in the "Land and Sea 2022 International Juried Competition". “There is a sense of calmness from Dr Chan’s work,” reported by ETNET ^[15]. Chan transformed from academia to entrepreneurship to art, and his life philsophy was reshaped, in which new meaning and fulfilment are found through art.

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