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Published: 15:10, November 29, 2022 | Updated: 20:04, November 30, 2022
Xplorer Prizes for 2021, 2022, sees first winner from Macao
By Zhou Mo in Shenzhen
Published:15:10, November 29, 2022 Updated:20:04, November 30, 2022 By Zhou Mo in Shenzhen

Xplorer Prizes

One hundred young Chinese scientists received awards at the ceremony recognizing winners of the 2021 and 2022 Xplorer Prizes, an event held online over the weekend.

Having the first Macao scientist win the award underscores the fact that academic exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the SARs of Hong Kong and Macao are enhancing and producing increasing achievements. Two scientists from Hong Kong were also honored with this year’s prize

An electrical engineering professor became the first resident of the Macao Special Administrative Region to receive one of the 50 2022 prizes, which sponsor young talent in science and technology.

Mak Pui-in, an electrical engineering professor from the University of Macau, received the award for his scientific research in chips. Apart from conducting his work in the SAR, he is also leading a study in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone, in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

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“The starting point for Macao’s scientific research is not high,” Mak said. “But thanks to the national support and frequent interaction with other parties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the city is progressing very fast in the field.”

Mak’s award-winning project is “Battery-less Intelligent Electronic Chips”, which is expected to solve two technical bottlenecks in the country’s development of the internet of things — manual battery replacement, and batteries not being environmentally friendly.

Having the first Macao scientist win the award underscores the fact that academic exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the SARs of Hong Kong and Macao are enhancing and producing increasing achievements. Two scientists from Hong Kong were also honored with this year’s prize.

Fan Zhiyong, a professor of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who won the prize in the field of advanced interdisciplinary studies, said he and his students are working on how to simulate human’s and animal’s senses to design and produce various bionic vision and olfaction devices, with the aim of helping blind people see the world and protect the public from the threat of poisonous and harmful gases.

“There are still many challenges in this new field waiting us to address. Hopefully, more young scientists can work together to overcome these difficulties and bring benefits to people,” he said at the award ceremony.

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The 50 awardees of this year’s prize come from 18 cities and regions, with the youngest of them 31 years old. Among the 50 recipients of the 2021 prize, eight are women, the most ever.

The Xplorer Prize, which was jointly initiated in 2018 by Tencent Chairman and CEO Pony Ma Huateng and 14 renowned scientists, aims to encourage Chinese scientists younger than 45 years old to pursue their scientific studies.

The prize covers 10 areas of basic research and cutting-edge technologies, ranging from mathematics to environmental sciences. Each winner will be granted a total of 3 million yuan ($419,000) over the next five years to support their work.

Since its launch, 200 Chinese scientists have received the prize, including nine from Hong Kong and Macao.

sally@chinadailyhk.com


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