hongkong prize is an award for promoting the development of Hong Kong in international cooperation and shaping the city’s future role on the world stage. The prize is awarded by Generocity, the foundation for philanthropy in Hong Kong, to individuals or groups that demonstrate innovative ideas and initiatives to strengthen the community through international collaboration. The prize includes a cash award of HK$5,000 and the opportunity to present their ideas at an international conference in Hong Kong.
This year’s BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize attracted a record number of applications from HKUST researchers in various fields, including artificial intelligence, life and health, new materials and energy, advanced manufacturing, and FinTech. The winning entries demonstrated the high level of research excellence and cutting-edge discoveries made by HKUST scientists, as well as their ability to translate the findings into benefits for society through scientific popularization activities.
In the News and Features category, Li Bingcun from the News Department received a merit award for her two in-depth articles on cross-border organ transplantation and fertility perseverance, respectively. She also won the second runner-up in the Best News Page Design (series) category. Meanwhile, Zhang Tianyuan from the Business News Department won the third runner-up for her series of reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hong Kong tourism.
The HK Phil’s win is testament to its magnificent achievements in 2018, which captivated music-lovers around the world. In particular, the HK Phil’s performance and recording of Wagner’s Ring Cycle under Jaap van Zweden was nothing short of spectacular and deserved this top honour. We are extremely grateful to our supporters, principal patron the Swire Group, and all the discerning listeners who have voted for the HK Phil for this prestigious accolade.
Besides the above prizes, some finalists will be offered support to implement their projects or ideas, such as funding for further research or dissemination of their work. Moreover, they will be given opportunities to join a global network of fellow award winners, allowing them to exchange best practices and share their ideas for future development.
The BOCHK HK Prize Secretariat is operated by the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, which shoulders the duties of coordinating and liaison between the Board, Review Committee and Compliance Oversight Team; organizing the evaluation activities; arranging the awards ceremonies and interdisciplinary academic activities; and holding science popularization activities. It is supported by a professional Secretariat, comprising experts in law, finance, auditing and public affairs.