Hong Kong prize is one of the biggest and most prestigious competitions in the world. In the past, it has awarded winners with cash prizes, scholarships, and access to Hong Kong research facilities. It has been seen as a way to encourage students who excel in academics and extracurricular activities.
The BOCHK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PRIZE is open to all fields of scientific and technological innovation in Hong Kong, such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, New Materials and New Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, FinTech etc. Only individuals (or teams) with a scientific or technological breakthrough that is innovative, has been transformed into practical applications, and has created social value are eligible to apply for this award. No more than 5 persons or teams per year will be awarded in each of the award fields.
The prize was established with a donation from Professor Wang Gungwu, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. It is a gift of HK$100,000, matched by the sixth round of the Government matching scheme, to support two prizes in History at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
This year, the prize was renamed after Professor John D. Young, who was an ardent promoter of local history and believed that a thorough education should include a thorough knowledge of Hong Kong history. The award is presented annually to a student of at least 48 credits who achieves outstanding results in History studies.
In this year’s contest, more than 1,200 submissions were received, including proposals from a wide range of sectors, such as business, community development, the environment, and cultural and creative industries. The winning proposals were judged by a panel of experts from various sectors, who assessed the proposals on their innovative and impactful potential. The judges also took into account the creativity, sustainability, and feasibility of the proposals.
The top four projects each won a cash prize of HK$100,000, with the first place winner receiving a bonus of HK$300,000. The money will be used to boost the Make It Better program run by the Society for Arts Foundation to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds express themselves through art.
In the 2024 Hong Kong Art Prize, Pakistani artist Sameen Agha won the grand prize with her sculptural installation A Home is a Terrible Place to Love, which depicts a house in disrepair. Other shortlisted artists included Michelle Fung for her mixed media work Red Bean Stalk and Demet from the Philippines for his PPE Paint Palette Emulation. The award logo, which is echoed in the trophy conferred to winners, juxtaposes two precious elements: a pearl and a pierced jade amulet. It has happy connotations in both Chinese and Western cultures. The prize ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong on May 17.