Hong Kong R&D achievements shine at international I&T arena (with photos/videos)

     In recognition of the outstanding research and development (R&D) achievements of Hong Kong's talent in the field of innovation and technology (I&T) on the Mainland and overseas in the past year, the Innovation and Technology Commission organised the Reception for I&T Awards 2024 today (July 15). With the theme of "Hong Kong's Innovation and Technology Achievements Shine in International Arena", the reception gathered more than 300 representatives from the local I&T sector, including academics, scientists, and representatives of institutes and government departments who were commended for bringing glory to Hong Kong by showcasing Hong Kong's I&T strengths and telling Hong Kong's good stories to the world. The reception is also one of the events for celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     Addressing the reception, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, congratulated the award winners and said that their remarkable achievements not only reflected the international recognition of Hong Kong's R&D outcomes, but also exemplified the profound strength of Hong Kong's I&T sector, laying a solid foundation for developing the city as an international I&T centre with the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

     He added that the award-winning individuals and teams straddle various sectors, including the Government and industry, academic and research sectors, covering fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, medical science, green technology, polymer science, electronic and electrical engineering, and architectural engineering, which demonstrated Hong Kong's fervent I&T atmosphere. The Government will continue to promote full co-operation with all sectors to boost I&T development in Hong Kong, and support the industry to achieve greater success in the future.

     In the past year, representatives from Hong Kong have stood out in a number of I&T competitions or exhibitions globally and on the Mainland, including the Edison Awards 2024, the 2023 R&D 100 Awards and the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (the Exhibition). The Hong Kong delegation won a record high number of over 350 prizes at the Exhibition where government departments performed tremendously, with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department receiving Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury.

     Moreover, local scholars and scientists received a number of globally renowned individual awards and made significant contributions to the country, with their achievements in respective R&D expertise areas fully acknowledged, including the following:

Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering and Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Yung Kai-leung, led a space instruments development team to participate in various national space missions, including developing and manufacturing the "Surface Sampling and Packing System" for the Chang'e-6 to assist the nation in completing the world's first lunar far-side sampling mission;

Honorary Professor, Department of Pathology of School of Clinical Medicine at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Mak Tak-wah, won the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic & Tumor Immunology;

Associate Dean (Research) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Dennis Lo, given the Jiménez Díaz Commemorative Lecture Award;

Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Vice-President and Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Anthony Chan, given the European Society for Medical Oncology Lifetime Achievement Award;

Dr William M W Mong Professor of Nanoscience and Chair Professor of Physics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Dai Xi, given the State Natural Science Award (First Class) and Tan Kah Kee Science Award in Mathematics & Physics;

Chairman of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Professor Liao Wei-hsin, given the 2023 Leonardo Da Vinci Award;

Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Francis Chan, given the 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize;

Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Hu Jinlian, given the 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize;

Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Anderson Shum, given the 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize; and
Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics and Assistant Dean (Mainland Affairs) at the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Yu Jun, given the Wu Jiepeng – Paul Janssen Medical and Pharmaceutical Award.

By showcasing some of the award-winning research and inventions, the reception not only demonstrates Hong Kong's remarkable I&T achievements, but also provides a platform to stimulate interaction and experience sharing among attendees on their R&D breakthroughs.

The Government has been actively fostering the development of the I&T industry. The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau launched the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint in 2022 to lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T centre, and to encourage a vibrant environment for R&D and promote commercialisation of R&D outcomes through various measures, including the launching of the InnoHK research clusters, the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme, with an aim to promote Hong Kong's high-quality economic development and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.