Twenty-five students from Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions were awarded scholarships on Tuesday for their outstanding academic performance and passion for innovation and technology.

Organized by The Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, the “For Our Future Scholarship” entered its sixth edition this year, honoring undergraduates with academic excellence and a passion for community service.

The foundation also dedicated the “For Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship” to PhD students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for a second year.

The awards aim to encourage more local youth to pursue careers in the innovation and technology sector, aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) to establish Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.

Nearly 280 students from 14 local tertiary institutions applied for the two scholarships. Of them, 15 undergraduate students were awarded HK$50,000 ($6,383) each, while each of the 10 PhD students received HK$80,000.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Daryl Ng Win-kong, chairman of the foundation, said the “two sessions” held in March not only set out a visionary blueprint for the country's future development, but also defined a new strategic role for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

“As the HKSAR government’s Five-Year Plan is set to launch, I encourage you, as Hong Kong’s future elite, to take the initiative and harness your distinctive strengths to contribute to the continued progress of both Hong Kong and the nation,” he said.

Highlighting that the nation stood at the forefront of global scientific research and development, the foundation’s Executive Vice-Chairman Kenneth Fok Kai-kong encouraged the younger generation to actively engage with the nation’s future development and work together in contributing to the shared progress and long-term success.

Zara Chui, one of the 10 awardees of the “For Our Future Innovation and Technology Scholarship” and a PhD student of the University of Hong Kong, shared her enthusiasm for biomedicine research instead of clinical practice.

Leading a research team to develop a fatty liver diagnostic system assisted by artificial intelligence to analyze liver biopsies from patients, Chui said, “A doctor saves individual patients, but developing significant research breakthroughs has the potential to help millions.”

Andie Wong, an awardee of the “For Our Future Scholarship” and a nursing undergraduate from the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, said he firmly believes that true nursing was not found in textbooks, but in the willingness to provide extra care and love.

“Details make all the difference. Patients can tell whether you are just doing the job, or doing the job well,” said Wong.

Established in 2019, The Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation is a charitable organization supporting Hong Kong youth in their study and career, as well as their personal and professional growth, and leveraging on the employment opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area.