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Three scholars from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been awarded the 4th BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP). Professor Allen Chan Kwan-chee, Professor of Chemical Pathology and Chairman of the Department of Chemical Pathology; Professor Lu Yi-chun, Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, and Professor Lin Dahua, Associate Professor in the Department of Information Engineering, Medicine and Therapeutics and Director of CUHK Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IAIRI). Each awardee receives HK$2 million in prize money in recognition of their outstanding contributions to cutting-edge research and technology translation.

Professor Sham Mai-har, CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “Three CUHK professors have received this prestigious honour, which is truly inspiring. This year’s competition was intense, yet CUHK scholars secured three out of five awards across the fields of ‘Life and Health’, ‘New Materials and New Energy’, and ‘Artificial Intelligence and Robotics’. Their success highlights the University’s leading strength across diverse cutting-edge research fields and its strong alignment with the national ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ for research and development. CUHK remains committed to translating scientific achievements into tangible societal benefits, and we look forward to seeing the three professors continue to leverage Hong Kong’s unique role of connecting the Greater Bay Area with the world, and injecting strong momentum into the city’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.”

Professor Allen Chan Kwan-chee: Innovations in Non-Invasive Diagnostic Technologies for Life and Health

Professor Allen Chan Kwan-chee was honoured for his outstanding contributions to the development of non-invasive diagnostic technologies based on plasma DNA. The non-invasive prenatal testing technology for Down syndrome that he developed has eliminated the psychological stress and miscarriage risk associated with traditional invasive examinations. This non-invasive prenatal screening method has been adopted by more than 100 million pregnant women worldwide. In addition, he has developed technologies capable of detecting more than 50 different types of cancers. He also demonstrated that cancer screening using plasma DNA can effectively identify asymptomatic cancers and improve patient survival rates.

Professor Lu Yi-chun: Breakthroughs in Aqueous Battery Technology for New Materials and New Energy

Professor Lu Yi-Chun’s pioneering contributions in the field of aqueous flow batteries include developing molecular catalysts and charge-reinforced ion-selective membrane, enabling the commercialisation of sulfur-based flow batteries. Her work addresses the bottlenecks in safety and cost for large-scale energy storage, accelerating the global transition to green energy. Professor Lu Yi-Chun is also the founder and Chief Scientist of Luquos Energy.

Professor Lin Dahua: Multimodal Intelligence Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Professor Lin Dahua has made systematic innovations in the fields of computer vision and multimodal intelligence, achieving breakthroughs in areas such as image and video understanding, multimodal large-scale models, and spatial intelligence. He has promoted independent innovation in key core technologies and the construction of an open-source ecosystem, facilitating the high-level application of AI research results to industry, and making significant contributions to the advancement of AI technology and industrial upgrading in China.

About the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP), established by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation (HKATI) and sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, is a non-governmental, merit-based award. The Prize aims to reward outstanding scientists and research teams who have made significant contributions to scientific and technological innovation, as well as the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in Hong Kong. The award is divided into five fields: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, Advanced Manufacturing, Fintech, and New Materials and New Energy. The STIP will be awarded to five individuals or groups per year, with one awardee in each field. Each awardee, either individual or group, will receive a prize of HK$2 million and a trophy. The full list of STIP winners is available here.