As a flagship event for the city’s innovation sector, the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 will return from Nov 5 to 8, connecting over 200 of the world’s most promising young scientists with 12 preeminent Shaw Prize laureates.

The four-day event, to be held at venues including Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong Science Museum, will bring together young scientists from over 25 countries and regions.

The forum will “surely once again elevate Hong Kong's profile as a global hub for scientific excellence and innovation” following the first edition in 2023, which welcomed over 2,400 participants, Hong Kong SAR government Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong told a press conference on Monday.

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Organized by the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum (HKLF) and fully sponsored by the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, the forum aims to foster cross-generational, cross-cultural, and cross-disciplinary exchange under the theme “Meeting of Inspirational Minds”.

Designed to maximize interaction, the forum features a diverse range of programs, including plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and poster presentations by the young researchers. Attendees will also visit top local research facilities like the InnoHK research clusters, blending academic discourse with cross-cultural experiences.

To bridge the gap between science and the community, the forum will also extend its role as an interaction platform with members of the public. An open seminar at the Hong Kong Science Museum will allow residents to engage directly with the distinguished scientists.

In partnership with the Shaw Prize, an international award founded by the late entertainment tycoon Run Run Shaw in 2004 to honor distinguished scientists, this year’s Laureate Forum features the “School Dialogue: Inspiring Young Future” initiative, inviting Shaw Prize laureates to visit three local secondary schools to inspire the next generation with their personal research journeys.

Officiating the press conference, Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, chairman of the HKLF, said the forum aligns with Hong Kong's aspiration to serve the global scientific community and become an international innovation and technology hub.

“The forum helps attract start-ups, research institutions, and enterprises to grow here. It turns aspiration into action, and action into lasting impact,” he said.

Tong said he had felt a positive effect about the inaugural forum on young people, adding that he hopes this year's event will inspire more young people to develop a passion for science through communication.

Sun said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has made innovation and technology the cornerstone of the city’s economic transformation.

“The Hong Kong Laureate Forum is more than a scientific gathering; it is an investment for the youth in curiosity and inspiration that will echo for decades. As we prepare to welcome the world's brightest minds, this event will elevate Hong Kong's profile as a global hub for scientific excellence and innovation,” he said.

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Martin Lee Ka-shing, chairman of Henderson Land Group and director of the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, emphasized the power of knowledge and the importance of innovation and new ideas in his address.

Chair of The Shaw Prize Foundation Raymond Chan Wai-man also affirmed that the forum is a natural extension of the prize itself, which “invests in the future”.

Raphaela Iris Lau, a young microbiome scientist who participated in the inaugural forum shared her experience, saying she learned from the laureates the resilience needed to overcome research challenges and hopes to once again “stand on the shoulders of giants” this year. Beyond collaboration, Lau also aims to showcase Hong Kong's scientific capabilities to overseas participants.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com