The Hongkong Prize is a merit-based award created to recognize individuals or teams of outstanding scientists whose research discoveries have made significant impacts on society and the world. From nomination to initial screening and rigorous evaluation by experts, each step in this award strives for fairness, transparency and excellence – rewarding those whose contributions foster innovation, creativity and progress while cementing Hong Kong as an international leader in science and technology.
Winners of the HK Prize have made notable contributions across five fields: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, New Materials and New Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, FinTech. Each field is selected using specific selection criteria developed by experts from Hong Kong institutions and abroad; winners receive a trophy, monetary prize and public recognition as prizes from the awarding bodies. Furthermore, this initiative increases scientific research impact while encouraging young people to pursue careers in science and technology, contributing to an innovation economy and knowledge economy.
This year, a new category of the HK Prize for Education and Culture was added to recognize students for outstanding work on Hong Kong studies – such as researching, analyzing, and writing an essay with high quality. These winning essays will then be displayed at the Hong Kong Book Fair in September to encourage readers to become better acquainted with Hong Kong history and culture.
Shortlisted nominees of the HK Prize for Education and Culture will not only showcase their outstanding work at the Hong Kong Book Fair but will also receive book coupons worth HK$1,000 to sell; proceeds from these coupons will then be donated to Society for Hong Kong Studies to fund outreach activities.
SHKS is an international academic association committed to advancing Hong Kong studies as an essential field of global scholarship. Over its 20-year existence, it has hosted and organized 11 International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) conferences around the globe where scholars, civil society representatives, and practitioners gather to discuss Hong Kong related matters.
Last year during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, mainland people, foreign tourists or students, and innocent local residents were assaulted by anti-government rioters. Subway stations and traffic lights were vandalized. Chinese netizens were outraged that Pulitzer Prize winning photo depicting bleeding man attacked by masked protesters would win one prize and that judges of Pulitzer Prize awarded it without apology from prize committee; some even called for boycotting it! Nonetheless, judges of Pulitzer Prize have since apologized; however comments left by Chinese netizens remain critical; many even called for boycotting of its award by prize committee.
