HKAE and PolyU PReCIT co-organise the Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology Award Ceremony cum Distinguished Lectures, celebrating excellence in engineering innovation
23 May 2025
The ceremony was officiated by Prof. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (front row, centre), along with Ir Dr Alex Chan, President of HKAE (front row, 7th from right), and Ir Dr Humphrey Leung, Chair of the HKEST Award Selection Committee and Court Member of PolyU (front row, 7th from left). In attendance were Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President of HKAE, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT (front row, 6th from right); laureates, the HKEST Award Selection Committee, HKAE fellows and members of HKAE Young Member Section.
Ir Dr Alex Chan, HKAE President delivered the welcoming speech.
Prof. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks.
A group photo of Prof. Sun Dong (6th from left), Ir Dr Alex Chan (6th from right) and Ir Dr Humphrey Leung (5th from left), Prof. Christopher Chao (5th from right) and the laureates, including Prof. Allen Au Man Ho, Professor and Associate Head (Research and Development) of Department of Computing of PolyU (4th from right); Prof. Jonathan Choi Chung Hang, Professor and Vice-Chairman (Undergraduate) of Department of Biomedical Engineering of CUHK (3rd from right); Prof. Kevin Tsia Kin Man, Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Program Director of Biomedical Engineering Program, and Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning - UG) of Faculty of Engineering of HKU (2nd from right); Ir Prof. Edwin Tso Chi Yan, Associate Dean (Internationalisation and Outreach) and Associate Professor of School of Energy and Environment of CityUHK and Co-Founder of i2Cool Limited (1st from right); Prof. Wang Han, Professor and Associate Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Director of Center for Advanced Semiconductors and Integrated Circuits of HKU (1st from left), and Airport Authority Hong Kong (Team) - Ms Nicola Lu Yuk Ying (4th from left); Mr Jeff Lai Tsz Fai (3rd from left) and Mr Tom Mok Ying Yiu (2nd from left).
All guests, laureates and attendees gathered for a group photo at the HKEST Award Ceremony.
The Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award Ceremony cum Distinguished Lectures, organised by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) and co-organised by the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was successfully held at PolyU campus yesterday. The ceremony was officiated by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, along with Ir Dr Alex CHAN, President of the HKAE and Ir Dr Humphrey LEUNG, Chair of the HKEST Award Selection Committee and Court Member of PolyU, and was attended by Ir Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President of the HKAE, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, and Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT. The event brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, and research sectors to celebrate the awardees’ achievements in the field of engineering science and technology.
The third HKEST Award has attracted broader support than in previous years with government departments and more R&D institutions joining as nominating organisations. The number of nominations reached a record high this year, reflecting the growing recognition and interest that the Award has received from the engineering and technology community. Following a rigorous review process conducted by the Selection Committee, six outstanding individuals and teams were recognised for their significant contributions to engineering science and technology.
Ir Dr Alex Chan officiated at the ceremony and delivered the welcoming speech. He emphasised the exceptional talent and dedication of this year’s laureates, adding, “It is our hope that the HKEST awards gain more recognition within industry and academia, enhancing competitiveness and fostering a more productive environment.”
Prof. Sun Dong then expressed his pleasure in celebrating the success of the laureates during his opening remarks and noted that “This award is much more than just recognition. It plays a pivotal role in identifying the engineering and technology talent and strengthening Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) landscape. This mission aligns seamlessly with the government’s strategic vision of creating a vibrant I&T ecosystem and expanding our talent pool, thereby developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre.”
Following the award presentation, each laureate delivered a Distinguished Lecture, showcasing their innovative work and its impact in their respective fields. The event concluded with closing remarks by Ir Dr Humphrey Leung, who thanked the nominating organisations, selection panel and supporting partners for their contributions to the success of this year’s Award.
Winners of the HKEST Award 2024-25
| Winners (in alphabetical order) | Organisations |
|
Prof. Allen AU Man Ho |
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
| Prof. Jonathan CHOI Chung Hang Professor and Vice-Chairman (Undergraduate), Department of Biomedical Engineering |
The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Prof. Kevin TSIA Kin Man Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Program Director, Biomedical Engineering Program; Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning - UG), Faculty of Engineering |
The University of Hong Kong |
| Ir Prof. Edwin TSO Chi Yan Associate Dean (Internationalisation and Outreach) and Associate Professor, School of Energy and Environment; Co-Founder, i2Cool Limited |
City University of Hong Kong |
| Prof. WANG Han Professor and Associate Head, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Director, Center for Advanced Semiconductors and Integrated Circuits |
The University of Hong Kong |
|
Airport Authority Hong Kong (Team) Mr Jeff LAI Tsz Fai Mr Tom MOK Ying Yiu |
Airport Authority Hong Kong |
For more information on the HKEST Award 2024-25 and laureate bios, please visit: https://hkestaward.hkae.hk/.
About the HKEST Award
The Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award was established in 2022 to recognize and honour the exceptional accomplishments of young scientists, engineers, and technologists (aged 45 or below) who have demonstrated remarkable talent, dedication, and influence in the field of engineering science and technology within Hong Kong. With the support of the Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR, the award has now entered its third round, with a total of 14 outstanding laureates recognized since 2022. All laureates are emerging leaders, talented scholars, engineers, and industrial experts who have made profound impacts in engineering science and technology across various sectors.
About the Organiser — HKAE
Founded in 1994, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) is a prestigious organisation dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the field of engineering in Hong Kong. HKAE aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in engineering, contributing to the advancement of society and the development of Hong Kong and our Nation. It comprises a distinguished group of Fellows from various disciplines, recognized as leaders in their professions, with remarkable achievements in engineering sciences and applications. For more information, please visit the HKAE website: https://hkae.hk.
About the Co-organiser — PReCIT, PolyU
The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for impactful research in innovation, technology and policy, recommending actionable solutions to significant societal challenges. This synergises with the HKEST Award’s commitment to honoring young scientists and engineers whose achievements align with HKAE's mission of advancing engineering excellence to create real-world impact. For more information, please visit the PReCIT website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/.
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