3 Scientists Awarded 2026 Future Science Prize, Prize Week to Bring Science Events to Hong Kong Community in November

The Hong Kong Future Science Prize Foundation announced the laureates of this year’s Future Science Prize (the “Prize”) for Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics and Computer Science today via a live-streamed press conference held simultaneously in Beijing and Hong Kong. A total of 3 outstanding scientists will be honoured this year. They include Hong Zhang for the Life Science Prize, Dongyuan Zhao for the Physical Science Prize, and Xinyi Yuan for the Mathematics and Computer Science Prize. Since 2016, the Prize has recognised a total of 49 outstanding scientists.

In his speech, Professor Dong Sun, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, noted that this year marks the start of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and that hosting the Future Science Prize not only aligns precisely with the national strategy for innovation and technology development, but also helps elevate the level of self-reliance and strength in science and technology. He added that now is also a critical moment, as the HKSAR Government is pressing ahead with the formulation of its first Five-Year Plan, and that holding the Future Science Prize Week in Hong Kong again provides an ideal opportunity to bring worldclass scientific dialogue directly into the I&T development process we are actively advancing. He said he believes that the Prize Week, which includes high-level academic exchange platforms such as the Science Symposium, will play a major role in accelerating Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub, as well as attracting top international talent.

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From left to right: Hong Zhang for the Life Science Prize, Dongyuan Zhao for the Physical Science Prize, and Xinyi Yuan for the Mathematics and Computer Science Prize. Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Laureates of the 2026 Future Science Prize are announced in the presence of Professor Dong Sun, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (Third Right); Professor Dennis Yuk-Ming Lo, President of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (Third Left); Professor Vivian Wing-Wah Yam, Co-Chair of the 2026 Future Science Prize Week Program Committee and Vice-President of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (Second Left); Mr Yichen Zhang, Rotating Chairman of the Council of Future Forum 2026 (First Right); Professor Ngai Ming Mok, Member of the Selection Committee of the Future Science Prize and Member of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (First Left); and Mr Victor Wang, Foundation Donor, Future Science Prize (Second Right). Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Professor Dong Sun, Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Professor Vivian Wing-Wah Yam, Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Mr Yichen Zhang, Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

The Hong Kong Future Science Prize Foundation today announced the laureates of this year’s Future Science Prize in the categories of Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics and Computer Science at a press conference broadcast live simultaneously in Beijing and Hong Kong. A total of 3 scientists are to receive the 2026 Future Science Prize. Photo source: Hong Kong Academy of Sciences

Professor Kun-Liang Guan, Rotating Chairman of the 2026 Selection Committee of the Future Science Prize, mentioned at the press conference that the core value of the Future Science Prize lies not only in recognising top-tier scientific achievements, but also in upholding the purity of the scientific spirit and building an international platform for scientific exchange. He added that each selection result must stand up to professional scrutiny, industry examination, and the test of time. Moving forward, the Prize will continue to promote internationalisation, institutionalisation, and sustainability, stepping steadily towards its long-term goal of becoming a “centennial science award”. Through the power of science, it will provide impetus to the development of global scientific research, advance the frontiers of international academia and nurture the next generation of researchers.

Professor Vivian Wing-Wah Yam, Co-Chair of the 2026 Future Science Prize Week Program Committee and Vice-President of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, extended her warm congratulations to the awarded scientists. She stated that holding the Future Science Prize Week in Hong Kong for the fourth consecutive year is of profound significance; it not only underscores Hong Kong’s status as an international hub for scientific communication, but also highlights the strong global competitiveness of local basic scientific research. Prize Week and its related events bring activities to the public of Hong Kong that combine science popularisation with academic engagement. During this year’s Prize Week in November, nearly 100 worldrenowned scientists–including Professor Omar YAGHI, laureate of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Professor Thomas SÜDHOF, laureate of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and several Future Science Prize laureates – will gather in Hong Kong for events such as the Science Symposium.

Professor Yam emphasised that the future of science lies in passing on knowledge. Prize Week is not only a gathering of scientists, but also an event for the general public. To bring science into the community and into people’s daily lives, this October – for the third consecutive year – the Prize will host a month-long exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum, along with numerous science outreach activities for secondary school students. Furthermore, this year’s Awards Ceremony and Concert will take place at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, and is expected to be the largest event held there since its inauguration. The organiser will collaborate with worldclass performers and Hong Kong school orchestras to present a spectacular cross-generational, audiovisual feast that weaves together science and music.

Mr Yichen Zhang, Rotating Chairman of the Council of the Future Forum 2026, stated that
2026 is a pivotal year for the Future Science Prize in advancing its international strategy. Guided by its positioning of “rooted in Hong Kong, connected to the Mainland, and engaging the world”, he expressed the hope that the Prize will continue to serve as a bridge connecting Chinese scientists with the world’s foremost scientific stage.

The annual scientific mega event – The Future Science Prize Week 2026 – will be held in early November, when a buzz of scientific excitement will sweep across the city. The series of events includes a two-day Science Symposium on 6 and 7 November; a Science and Technology Forum focused on artificial intelligence on 6 November; the Future Science Prize Laureates’ Dialogue with the Youth and the 2026 Future Science Prize Awards Ceremony and Concert on 8 November, and the 2026 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship Annual Conference on 9 November. A number of globally renowned scientists have been invited to participate in these events. In addition, the Hong Kong Science Museum will host a month-long public exhibition starting 16 October, showcasing the history of the Future Science Prize and detailing the awarded scientists’ achievements and global impact, with select exhibits featuring interactive elements.

The Future Science Prize Week 2026 will be livestreamed on its official website
(https://www.futureprize-hk.org) and the social media platforms of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences.

Secretary for Health leads delegation to commence visit to Hainan Province

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (August 13) led a delegation to commence their visit to Hainan Province to meet with local health officials and visit the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (Pilot Zone) in Hainan.

Professor Lo met with Deputy Director of the Hainan Medical Products Administration Mr Wang Gang in the morning, and highlighted the important measures put forward by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in the aspect of developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.

Professor Lo said, “Hong Kong is proactively aligning with the direction of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and pressing ahead with the development of Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub by complementing technological innovation with institutional innovation. We are enhancing the regulatory standards for drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong on all fronts, including the implementation of the ‘1+’ drug approval mechanism, the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year, and the implementation of the ‘primary evaluation’ mechanism for new drug registration since March this year. In addition, Hong Kong is actively taking forward the standardisation of clinical data in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a view to expediting the registration and launch of innovative drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas markets.”

At his subsequent meeting with the Director of the Health Commission of Hainan Province, Mr Li Wenxiu, the two sides had a detailed exchange on issues including the development of Chinese medicine (CM), the high-quality development of public hospitals, and information sharing on the prevention and control of diseases.

Professor Lo said, “The HKSAR Government has long been actively promoting the development of CM, including the release of the first Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint last year, and the commissioning of the two flagship projects for CM development, namely The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the permanent premises of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute. These measures will further consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a bridgehead for the global expansion of CM, to better serve and contribute to the overall national development of CM.”

Regarding the high-quality development of public hospitals, Professor Lo emphasised that the HKSAR Government will continue to actively promote the accreditation of more public hospitals under the China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version), with a view to ensuring the management and healthcare quality of local hospitals are on par with international standards while demonstrating the excellence of the national healthcare standards to the international community, thereby facilitating the national standards to go global.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Boao Hope City Ever Lasting International Innovation Medicine Exhibition, Ruijin Hainan Hospital (Boao Research Hospital), affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,and the Boao Yiling Life Care Centerlocated in the Pilot Zone, and met with the Chief Director of the Administration of the Pilot Zone, Mr Fu Sheng. Professor Lo said, “Serving as an important strategic node of the country’s healthcare reform, the Pilot Zone is the only special medical zone on the Mainland benefitting from preferential policies. Focusing on introducing innovative drugs and medical devices from around the world and developing medical tourism, the Pilot Zone is a pioneer of the country’s efforts to promote real-world data studies and a testing ground for major national projects of innovation in new drugs and healthcare technologies. Hainan Province’s accumulated experience in areas such as the approval of drugs and medical devices for clinical use and the development of cross-boundary healthcare serves as a valuable reference for Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong and Hainan Province enjoy a close co-operative relationship. On the basis of complementarity and mutual benefits, we will further promote exchanges and mutual learning of experiences between the two places in the healthcare field, and jointly promote the development of ‘Healthy China’.”

Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health’s Office), Dr Joe Fan; the Director of the Real-World Study and Application Centre, Professor Cheung Ching-lung; as well as officers of the Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. They will visit a local pharmaceutical enterprise tomorrow before returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon.