October saw the gathering of hundreds of dedicated scientists from around the world in Hong Kong, a sign reflecting the city’s commitment to becoming an international innovation and technology hub.

Since its inception in 2016, the Future Science Prize Week was held for the first time in Hong Kong. As part of the event, more than 100 outstanding scholars joined the inaugural Asian Young Scientist Fellowship Annual Conference, held on Oct 16 at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

The presence of a large number of scientists from different backgrounds reflects this city’s unique advantage in attracting both visitors and talent from abroad — besides its convenient geographical location, Hong Kong enjoys the unique position of being a place where East meets West.

Visitors feel at ease here, not having to worry about any language barrier since English is commonly used here, especially at major events. The mix of Chinese and Western cultures minimizes the chance of culture shock, and encourages overseas scientists to further develop their careers here.

On the science front, Hong Kong could become a magnet for talent, given the increased government support and funding for research and development, which is in line with the central government’s decision to position the city as an international innovation and technology hub, as well as the city’s increasing integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which has a stable supply chain and a solid manufacturing base.

In addition to the Research Grants Council, the Innovation and Technology Fund is a rich source of support for both technology startups and university-industry collaboration projects. That is just a part of the variety of funding programs available now.

With the continual development of adjacent cities like Dongguan, researchers in Hong Kong can also take advantage of the facilities and talent there to transform their research outputs into products, bringing benefits to society. Few places in the world have access to such a resourceful “backyard” that can facilitate the transformation of original research ideas into tangible commercial products. The market of the Greater Bay Area, with a population of around 86.6 million, also rivals that of many other regions.

Although every aspiring scientist would like to generate an impact from their research, the process in doing so takes significant effort, resources and time. One would not leave behind their family or move to a distant place without assurances of a supportive environment.

With a robust research culture and a long tradition in basic research, HKU is well-placed to attract the brightest minds from around the world. It is now moving full steam ahead with its campus redevelopment project aimed at providing more advanced facilities and space in support of research for the 21st century. In order to promote interdisciplinary research in science and engineering, the university’s “Tech Landmark” development consisting of a cluster of three buildings, is in full swing, with completion due in 2024.

Developing a critical mass of top-notch scientists is crucial for achieving ground-breaking, revolutionary research, since minds impact minds.

This year’s fellowship conference is an example of the platform that can be built, allowing promising and outstanding young researchers in Asia to engage in dialogue, exchange insights, and explore ideas.

Exchanges can pave the way for collaborative, cross-disciplinary research that has become the norm for tackling the grand challenges facing humankind today, such as climate change and aging societies. Today’s global issues are intricate and intertwined. They demand not just depth but breadth — a holistic, interdisciplinary perspective in the quest for solutions.

Young scientists, with their fresh perspectives and boundless energy, are uniquely positioned to bridge disciplines and integrate knowledge, tackling these issues with creative and transformative research. HKU is ready to provide the support needed by scientists in various fields, leveraging the large presence of experts on campus, including acclaimed researchers, academicians and laureates of esteemed prizes, such as the Nobel Prize.

One of the 12 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship 2023 recipients, Yang Yi, is an assistant professor at HKU’s Department of Physics. He was honored together with his counterparts from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the Chinese mainland, where he is originally from. His own research focusing on the interaction between light and electrons was inspired by Charles Kao Kuen, the 2009 Nobel laureate in physics.

The fellowship program establishes a communication platform for promising scientists to establish connections between different countries and fields of research for possible future collaborations.

We must not, of course, overlook our own local pool of talent. There has been a rising interest among local young people in science. Again, creating opportunities for them to know about outstanding scientists, as what happened this month, can further fuel the interest of youngsters in pursuing science as a career. Face-to-face encounters could often shape one’s study or career options.

Continued government support is indispensable. It is encouraging to see the government’s injection of more than HK$200 billion ($25.6 billion) over the years for infrastructure development, promoting research and development, nurturing talent, and supporting the industry. The series of strategies in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint creates a positive outlook for the future. 

Considering all the support in place and its unique edges, Hong Kong can expect to bring about impressive improvements to the world through its innovative research.

The author is associate vice-president (research and innovation) of the University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.