Research Grants Council hosts Theme-based Research Scheme Public Symposium 2024 (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (December 8) held the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) Public Symposium 2024 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, showcasing the groundbreaking discoveries of the 10 project teams funded in the eighth and ninth rounds of the TRS exercises. The event attracted over 250 participants, including members of the research community and industry professionals.
 
     The Symposium provided a valuable platform for the project teams to share their research outputs and achievements, as well as exchange ideas and insights with participants through presentations, posters and demonstrations. A wide range of cutting-edge and impactful topics were covered in the symposium, including "A Stem Cell Approach to Dissect the Molecular Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases", "Control of Influenza: Individual and Population Immunity", "A Paradigm-shifting, Fully-integrated, Compact Wastewater-to-resource Facility" and "Image-guided Automatic Robotic Surgery". 
 
     The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong, commended the outstanding research efforts of the universities and expressed enthusiasm for the diverse range of innovative discoveries by the project teams. The achievements included significant advancements in influenza research and disease treatments, and creation of frontier knowledge and innovative technology aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability, emergency responses and financial resilience.
 
     "We are thrilled to witness how the innovative ideas from these proposals have come to fruition, generating significant societal and economic impacts locally, nationally and internationally. Many of these projects have made significant achievements and technological breakthroughs that have been translated into real applications, licenses and patents, contributing to the betterment of our society," said Professor Tong.

     The TRS aims to focus academic research efforts of the University Grants Committee-funded universities on four themes of strategic importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong, i.e. understanding and prevention of diseases; development of a sustainable environment; enhancing Hong Kong's strategic position as a regional and international business centre; and advancing emerging research and innovations important to Hong Kong. More than 80 projects have been supported by the RGC with a total funding close to $3.4 billion in the past 14 rounds of the exercise. 
 
     Details of the event and research projects are available on the RGC website (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/symposium/symposium24.html).