Hong Kong hosts Future Science Prize Week
Hong Kong played host to the Future Science Prize Week and its associated symposium on 14-17 October, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held in the city.
The Future Science Prize is an annual, privately funded prize awarded to scientists who have made outstanding scientific achievements in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. It’s goal is to attract private funding for basic science research and promote scientific innovation, as well as build public enthusiasm for science, influence social trends, and attract young people to pursue careers in science.
The Future Science Prize recognises achievements in three categories: life science, physical science, and mathematics and computer science. Nominees are not restricted by nationality, but their work must have been conducted predominantly in Greater China. Each prize consists of Rmb6.5 million (US$1 million).
Sir Gregory Winter FRS, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in phage display of peptides and antibodies, and the Chairman of the Croucher Foundation, was one of the keynote speakers at the symposium.
Sir Gregory said, “The Future Science Prize plays an important role in building awareness and support for scientific innovation in China, and recognising the achievements of the Laureates should inspire generations of new scientists. Hosting this event in Hong Kong also helps nurture our local scientific research and talent development, and builds on Hong Kong’s existing strengths as a base for scientific research.”
The event drew about 100 scientists, researchers and industry experts from around the world to collaborate and exchange knowledge and ideas.
Professor Dennis Lo FRS, a Croucher trustee and President of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences co-chaired the event. Professor Tak Wah Mak FRS, Professor of Medical Biophysics and Immunology at the University of Toronto and University of Hong Kong, and a former Chairman of the Croucher Foundation, also made a keynote presentation.
Hong Kong was chosen to host the event due to its growing status as an international hub for scientific research and innovation, its R&D capabilities, technology infrastructure, legal system and intellectual property protections.
The University of Hong Kong, a strategic partner of the event, hosted the inaugural Asian Young Scientist Fellowship Annual Conference on 16 October to coincide with the prize symposium. The event attracted about 300 young scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and educators. Twelve laureates of the Asian Young Scientists Project Fund from universities in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China were invited to present their research findings. The fellowship encourages and supports outstanding young researchers in Asia to conduct pioneering research.
Professor Richard Wong, Acting Vice-Chancellor of HKU, said, “This conference provides a platform for intellectual exchange, where brilliant minds can share insights, discoveries, and visions for the future. Through collaboration and discussion, we can address complex global challenges and advance scientific knowledge.”
The 2023 Laureates:
The Life Science Prize
Dr. Jijie Chai and Dr. Jian-Min Zhou, for their collaborative work in the past 19 years that led to the discovery of resistosomes and elucidation of their molecular structures and functions in plant immune responses against pathogens.
The Physical Science Prize
Zhongxian Zhao and Xianhui Chen, for their seminal breakthroughs in the discovery of high-temperature superconducting materials and systematic advancements in elevating the transition temperature.
The Mathematics and Computer Science Prize
Kaiming He, Jian Sun, Shaoqing Ren, and Xiangyu Zhang, for fundamental contributions to artificial intelligence by introducing deep residual learning.