Professor Chen Shih-Chi, Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering has been honoured with the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP) 2024 for his outstanding scientific research achievements in the field of “Advanced Manufacturing”. The awardee will receive a prize of HK$2 million. Professor Chen Shih-Chi has revolutionised the field of 3D printing with his innovative nanoscale 3D printer, achieving unprecedented speed and resolution across various materials.

Professor Chen Shih-Chi: Pioneering nanoscale 3D printing technology

Professor Chen has made breakthroughs in the field of 3D micro-nano manufacturing. By leveraging spatial and temporal focusing techniques, along with digital holography, he has developed a suite of innovative methods to parallelise the 3D printing process, achieving significant improvements in printing speed (466 mm³/hour), resolution (20 – 100 nm) and yield, while reducing costs by 95%. His work applies the high-speed printing process to a wide range of materials, including metals, alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers and bio-materials, through self-assembly without compromising resolution.

These advances enable the mass production of functional micro- and nanostructures, such as mechanical and optical metamaterials, micro-optics, bio-scaffolds, electrochemical interfaces and flexible electronics. Their applications span numerous industries, including electric transportation, healthcare, clean energy and water, computing and telecommunications.

About the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP), established by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation (HKATI) and sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, is a non-governmental, merit-based award. The Prize aims to reward outstanding scientists and research teams who have made significant contributions to scientific and technological innovation, as well as the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in Hong Kong. The award is divided into five fields: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Life and Health, Advanced Manufacturing, Fintech, and New Materials and New Energy. The STIP will be awarded to five individuals or groups per year, with one awardee in each field. Each awardee, either individual or group, will receive a prize of HK$2 million and a trophy. The full list of STIP winners is available here.

Appendix

Professor Chen Shih-Chi’s biography

Professor Chen Shih-Chi is a Professor in CUHK’s Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, and joined the University in 2011. His primary research interests include nanomanufacturing, ultrafast laser applications, biophotonics and precision engineering. He was the recipient of the 2013 and 2018 R&D 100 Awards; the 2023 Falling Walls “Science Breakthroughs of the Year” Award; a China’s Top Ten Optical Breakthroughs in 2023 Award; and Gold Medals in the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2022), International Invention Fair in the Middle East (IIFME) (2023) and more. He is presently a Fellow of Optica, Fellow of SPIE, Fellow of ASME, Fellow of HKIE and member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Engineering hosted earlier the 2024 CUHK Conference on Financial Technology, attracting nearly 300 attendees, including government officials, regulators, industry practitioners, academics, researchers and students, to delve into the transformative world of fintech. Sponsored by IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd., Hang Seng Bank and Deloitte China, the conference was themed “The Booming Green FinTech Sector”, highlighting innovative strides to merge financial technology with sustainable practices and discover cutting-edge solutions. It also served as a networking platform for industry leaders to drive a greener, more sustainable future.

The officiating guests included Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong government; Professor Tsang Hon-ki, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering; Ms Mimi Poon, General Manager, IBM China/Hong Kong Limited; Ms Nancy Cheng, Head of Partnership and Innovation, Hang Seng Bank; and Mr Robert Lui, Hong Kong Digital Asset Leader, Deloitte China. 

Mr Joseph H. L. Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong government, delivered the keynote address.

During the conference, experts from the banking, technology and legal sectors, together with CUHK scholars, participated in four panel discussions and a series of featured talks, sharing insights on integrating financial technology with environmental responsibility.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Tuan said: “Green fintech is paving the way for a more sustainable economy. To support sustainable development, Hong Kong needs skilled fintech professionals. CUHK is proud to offer the city’s first bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fintech, and we work closely with regulators and industry partners to offer real-world experience to our students.”

Mr Chan remarked that the government aims to attract and rapidly develop talent: “It is important to groom talents to support the sustainable development of fintech and green finance. We have launched the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme to encourage eligible local and prospective practitioners to participate in training related to green and sustainable finance. Additionally, the Talent List of Hong Kong, which covers experienced financial professionals in environmental, social and governance (ESG) and in fintech, can attract them to come and settle in Hong Kong.” He concluded by emphasising the importance of developing green fintech for the future growth of the financial sector.

Ms Cheong said: “The Hong Kong government is dedicated to supporting the development of green fintech through strategic policies, investments and collaborations. Such measures will enable us to embrace the ample employment and business opportunities arising from the huge market potential. By leveraging our collective strengths, we can address the pressing environmental challenges and create a more sustainable and resilient financial ecosystem.”

Professor Tsang stated: “The CEFAR Academy (CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Academy) seeks applied research projects in various domains of financial technology and engages our professors and students to tackle real-life problems provided by sponsoring organisations. This year, with support from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Cyberport and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, we received enthusiastic responses from sponsoring organisations and collected about 80 thematic case studies for the projects undertaken by our students in the fintech MSc programme.” He highlighted that the collaboration would benefit both sides, offering students valuable experience and providing industry practitioners with potential solutions and new business opportunities.

For more details about the conference, please visit: https://conference.cefar.cuhk.edu.hk.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is hosting the “Pushing the Frontiers of AI: CUHK’s Journey Through Innovation” exhibition from today until 17 November 2024 at the University Library’s Learning Garden and MakerSpace. The exhibition highlights the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology across various fields, including health, visual arts, smart living and education. The opening ceremony, along with a choreographed drone show, took place on 14 October and attracted an impressive turnout of over 100 attendees.

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of several distinguished guests, including Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President; Ir Alice Chow, Senior Vice President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers; Professor Tsang Hon-ki, Faculty Dean of Engineering at CUHK; Mr Benjamin Meunier, CUHK’s University Librarian.

Professor Tuan said: “This exhibition at CUHK Library represents not just a showcase of technological advancements but also a celebration of CUHK’s pioneering role in the field of AI. Through collaborative efforts between our Faculty of Engineering and the Library, we aim to present the evolution of AI in an accessible and engaging manner, allowing audiences from both the University and the wider community to discover the innovations that are shaping our world.”

Professor Tuan took a moment to pay tribute to the late Professor Tang Xiao’ou, an important member of CUHK and a pioneer in the field of AI, “Professor Tang was instrumental in advancing computer vision and deep learning technologies, and his groundbreaking research has had a profound impact on both academia and industry. Professor Tang’s intellectual legacy continues through the work of his students and colleagues, as well as through the innovative spirit that he instilled in our academic community.”

Professor Tsang said: “The recent announcement of the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry was timely recognition of the importance of AI. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Professor John Hopfield from Princeton University and Professor Geoffrey Hinton from the University of Toronto for their research underpinning artificial neural networks. Half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper from Google DeepMind. They developed the AI model AlphaFold to accurately predict the structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences, and solved a problem that had existed for half a century in chemistry. AI will continue to make impactful advances in science and engineering, so it is very timely for CUHK to showcase our contributions pushing the frontiers of the subject.”

Mr Meunier said: “The Library is a place that brings together people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, and this event exemplifies the role of our university library in facilitating and hosting meaningful conversations. Today, we are honoured to welcome guests from various academic institutions, disciplines, industries, as well as from around the world. I hope this event serves as a meeting place for discussion and the exchanges of ideas on topics related to AI, technology and ethics.”

The exhibition features several zones, each dedicated to different applications of AI:

Zone 1: Health
Explores AI’s role in healthcare, showcasing technologies that assist in diagnosis and treatment.

Zone 2: Visual Arts and Creativity
Highlights the intersection of AI and the arts, with computer algorithms creating art and brick designs.

Zone 3: Education
Provides educational toolkits designed by CUHK researchers and scholars for hands-on AI practice.

Zone 4: Technology Advancement and Smart Living
Demonstrates AI’s practical applications in everyday tasks, including weather forecasting and household robotics.

Zone 5: Digital Assistants and Interactive Technologies

Features advanced chatbots and language models showcasing natural language processing advancements.

“Pushing the Frontiers of AI: CUHK’s Journey Through Innovation” exhibition details

Date: Now until 17 November 2024
Time: 11am to 6pm
Venue: Learning Garden and MakerSpace, LG/F, University Library, CUHK

Remarks: Free admission for visitors