The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize champions the mission of “Boosting Hong Kong, Serving the Country through Technology” by attracting global top science talent, nurturing forward-looking scientists and building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. It aims to inspire young people to pursue scientific research and help them develop the right mindset and attitude in order to succeed in the era of knowledge economy.

The prize has been awarded since 2022 and this year’s ceremony will be held in October, with winners to be presented with their awards at a ceremony in Hong Kong that will bring together top scientists from around the world. This year’s prize has been expanded to include researchers from universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the news conference, leading scientist Dennis Lo Yuk-ming said that this change was made in response to feedback from industry and academia, and hoped to encourage more researchers from the region to participate in the award.

BOCHK is also supporting the development of innovative science and technology in Hong Kong by establishing the HK$100 million “Jackpot” fund to provide additional prize money for this year’s contest. In the event of no winner in either the 1st or 2nd prizes, this prize money will be added to the jackpot pool and can build up to a maximum of HK$100 million, which is equivalent to the total amount of a normal 1st division winning.

In addition to the HK$12 million for gold, HK$6 million for silver and HK$3 million for bronze medals to be awarded to athletes in the team events at the Olympics, there will be a new award of HK$4 million for the best overall performance by the Hong Kong delegation. This is the second time that Hong Kong has offered such a reward for team events.

Post editor-in-chief Tammy Tam has congratulated the prize winners, saying that they are “our city’s best journalists and the pride of our paper.” Reporter Shadow Li won first place in the category of Science News Reporting for her story series about Hong Kong’s silver-haired generation, which explores the growing trend of older individuals working past retirement age. William Xu’s work on the risks of aging buildings won merit award in the same category.

The shortlisted teams will receive a medal, a certificate and a trophy each. In addition, the School Development Fund (listed on the table below) will be allocated to each shortlisted school according to their final ranking, which can be used to support students’ participation in extra-curricular activities or to enhance teachers’ professional development. Winners must present the award notification letter and their Hong Kong Identity Document for identity verification to claim their prizes before 31 July 2017. Those who fail to claim their prize by this date will forfeit it. More details are available on the contest website.