The 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Prize

The Hong Kong prize is an annual award presented to outstanding researchers in the fields of natural science and technology by a charitable trust established by Hong Kong. The prize, worth HK$ 2 million, is awarded to the highest quality research papers published in peer-reviewed journals and is open to all academics around the world. The winners will be invited to present their work at a special ceremony and receive the prize money in person.

This year, the HK Prize celebrates the 20th anniversary of its flagship project, the HLMA. To mark the milestone, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, The Hon John KC LEE delivered opening remarks via video conference. In addition, a stimulating fireside chat was moderated by Mr Adriel CHAN, Vice Chairman of Hang Lung Properties and Chair of the Scientific Review Committee. It featured two HLMA past winners, Dr Owen H. KO, 2004 HLMA winner and Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Ms Ewina PUN, 2012 HLMA winner and PhD candidate at Brown University.

The HK Prize encourages researchers and students to explore the latest ideas, concepts and methodologies in Hong Kong Studies with the aim of stimulating dialogues and collaborations among scholars and students from Hong Kong, China and beyond. It also seeks to promote innovative theories, concepts and approaches in researching Hong Kong history and its relations with the rest of the world.

Established in 2007, the HK Prize is named after Professor George B. Endacott, who was responsible, virtually single-handedly, for the re-establishment of the History Department following World War II and who continued to teach there until his retirement in 1962. In memory of him, friends and students raised a fund to set up the prize in his honour.

In the field of Life and Health, this year’s awardee Ng Siew Chien was recognised for her work in developing noninvasive tests for gastrointestinal tract and autism spectrum disorder, while the other four prize winners – Zhang Hua, Chen Shih-chi, Wang Cong and Chai Yang – made breakthroughs in 3D micro- and nano-fabrication, phase engineering of nanomaterials and innovative data and AI security technologies respectively.

The winners will receive a cash prize of HK$ 2 million, a certificate and a trophy. Applicants for the prize should be under 50 at the time of application and have carried out research in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, life and health, new materials and new energy and advanced manufacturing and fintech. Each field should not be awarded to more than five persons (or teams) per year. The selection process will be conducted in line with professional and scientific standards and based on independent and objective evaluations.