The hongkong prize is an international writing competition that rewards authors who specialize in Asian culture and history. Its winner receives a cash prize and has the opportunity to spend time conducting research at top universities in Hong Kong. It is open to residents of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and the rest of the world. The competition is one of the most competitive in the world. Its judges are made up of experts in the field of Asian studies and culture.
The Hongkong Prize was founded in 1996 by friends and students of the late Professor John Young, who wanted to promote research into different aspects of Hong Kong’s unique historical development and relationships with China and Asia. It also encourages the development of new theories and concepts in studying Hong Kong history and society. The prize is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. They must conduct research into a topic of their choice and then submit the results in a written report. The reports will be judged according to their relevance to the theme, systematic use of collected materials, objectivity in analysis, and citations.
The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, launched in 2022, is a recognition award championing the mission of “Boosting Hong Kong and Serving the Country through Scientific Research”. Each year, renowned scholars and experts from home and abroad are invited to select outstanding scientific researchers/teams in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, New Materials and New Energy, Advanced Manufacturing and FinTech. The Prize aims to inspire scientists and technopreneurs to persist in innovative exploration, establish themselves in Hong Kong, serve the nation and contribute to the world.
Applicants are required to have been Academy Fellows for more than 10 years. The Prize recognises excellence in research conducted by young Fellows. The research must be of high scientific standard and relate to clinical practice or research in any discipline of medicine. The Selection Committee and the Board of Governors will review all submissions to make their final decisions.
It is also possible to nominate a person or team, but they must be able to demonstrate the impact of their work on their own fields of study as well as the potential to contribute to Hong Kong’s future economy and social development. Nominees are evaluated on their accomplishments, regardless of their race, nationality, gender or religious affiliation.
The Grand Prize went to Pakistani artist Sameen Agha for a sculpture called “A Home Is Terrible Place to Love”, which depicted a house collapsing like a cardboard box. She was praised for highlighting the hardships faced by many people in today’s society. Other winners included a founder of an NGO that shelters homeless adults and a professor who invented liquid biopsy technology, which quickly detects cancer in the body. A record number of people applied for this year’s hongkong prize, which is now in its 15th edition. The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a HK$500,000 cash prize, access to top research facilities in Hong Kong, and a trophy.