The Hongkong Prize for Science and Social Impact

The Hongkong prize is an independent merit-based award that acknowledges scientific research with societal benefits. Its selection process is conducted by an expert panel free from sponsorship and personal interests. Past winners have included journalists who expose human rights abuses, activists fighting for democracy in their home countries, and social justice and community service workers empowering marginalized communities.

The awards are open to residents of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and the rest of the world. Submissions are judged on their ability to address a relevant theme, research methods, objectivity, and footnotes. The winning team will receive a cash prize of up to HK$25,000 and an opportunity to present their ideas to stakeholders in the development sector.

This year’s hongkong prize winner was a Pakistani artist named Sameen Agha, who won the Grand Prize for her sculpture A Home is Terrible Place to Love. It was carved out of red marble and depicted a house collapsing like a cardboard box. Agha’s work was a stark reminder of the hardships that people in modern society face, and it earned her a $30,000 cash prize along with a commission to design a new piece for the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong.

Other winners include the HK-based film director Ng Ka-leung, who won best script for his tense police thriller Port of Call. The film was praised for its realistic depiction of life in the city, and for its use of Hong Kong’s distinctive cultural heritage. Other notable films include the satirical comedy Little Big Soldier, which won a special award for its portrayal of social injustice in modern Hong Kong.

The HK Prize also gives students the opportunity to participate in international research projects and exchange programs. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of up to HK$25,000, and the second and third-place teams will win up to HK$10,000 and HK$5,000, respectively. In addition, the top three teams will be given a chance to participate in an internship program in Shanghai, Beijing, or Shenzhen.

In 2024, HKUST won the Gold Medal with congratulations of the Jury for its groundbreaking research into therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The findings are expected to lead to new ways of treating AD and improve patients’ quality of life.

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is an independent merit-based award established in 2022 by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and title sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. It recognizes outstanding scientists or research-related institutions established in or located in Hong Kong or the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for their significant achievements in scientific and technological innovation and transformation, as well as their contributions to society. The Prize is a motivation for scientific researchers and innovators to persist in creative exploration, establish themselves in Hong Kong, serve the nation, and contribute to the world. The Prize is supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the academic community and renowned scholars from around the globe.