Dr Thein Swee Lay of Universiti Malaya has become the first Malaysian ever to win Hong Kong’s renowned Shaw Prize (Life Science and Medicine), setting an unprecedented young laureate record at 32 years of age. Dr Lay and her American co-author received this honour for discovering mechanisms underlying fetal-to-adult haemoglobin switch that allows revolutionary therapies for sickle cell anaemia and thallasemia; fellow Malaysian alumni living in Hong Kong came together on Thursday evening for dinner celebrations of her success with fellow Malaysian alumni living here gathering to UM alumni as well as her fellow Malaysian fellow Malaysians living here UM alumni to celebrate her victory gathered to honour her win at UM alumni dinner celebrating Dr Lay’s achievement along with fellow Malaysians living there!
Established in 2002, this prize is an international honour that recognizes outstanding scientific accomplishment. Administered by Hong Kong-based Shaw Prize Foundation and offering a cash award of US$1.2 Million US dollars.
BOCHK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PRIZE has been created to recognise outstanding scientists and research teams working at universities, industry-education-research bases or institutes set up by Hong Kong higher education institutions or located within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for significant breakthroughs and contributions to scientific and technological innovation and transformation. Eligible applicants include researchers who support Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People’s Republic of China as well as hold up high social morality and professional ethics.
Applying applicants must work in one of five fields – artificial intelligence and robotics, life and health, new materials and energy, advanced manufacturing or FinTech – including artificial intelligence and robotics, life and health, new materials and energy, advanced manufacturing or FinTech. Each prize field will award no more than five researchers or teams annually who were under 50 at nomination date; winning researchers will be honored at an awards ceremony and received both a certificate and trophy as prizes.
Additionally, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will conduct extensive inspection and testing of all materials used in its draw process – from boxes and balls – in order to ensure their safety for use. Security and customer service personnel from the HKJC will supervise this entire draw event so as to guarantee its fairness.
Winners will receive a prize pool cheque of HKD 2,000,000, along with certificates and trophies. At nomination, each prize field winner should be under 50 years of age; they may reapply within five years if their research achievements remain outstanding.
Organisers of the prize have stated their hopes to encourage young scientists to contribute to Hong Kong’s technological development, helping make its Special Administrative Region one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Furthermore, they encouraged local institutions to provide resources and support for young researchers. Lo, who serves as president of the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and creator of the BOCHK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Innovators Prize, stated that young researchers represent the future of technological innovation for Hong Kong as well as contributing significantly to its growth as an independent nation and region. BOCHK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY innovating prize is organized and sponsored by Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. For more information, please visit their website.
