2025 Future Science Prize Week: Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) Annual Conference honours twelve outstanding Asian young scientists – Nobel Laureate shares breakthrough insights

The 2025 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) Annual Conference, one of the highlights of the 2025 Future Science Prize Week, was held on 23 October at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Twelve outstanding young scientists from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore were awarded the “2025 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship”. They gathered at today’s Annual Conference, which featured Professor Randy SCHEKMAN, laureate of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who shared his scientific journey and insights with the young scientists.

Approximately 100 young scientists, researchers from various regions, and members of the public participated in the Conference. The event aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among emerging scientists and spark innovation through meaningful exchange and collaboration.

Professor Jay SIEGEL, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) of HKU, along with Professor Tim Kwang Ting CHENG, Chair of the 2025 Steering Committee of the Asian Young Scientists Fellowship, and Vice-President for Research and Development at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, delivered the opening remarks. Committee representatives, including Hee-Sup SHIN, Honorary Fellow, Institute for Basic Science (IBS); Professor Hongming WENG, Professor of Physics at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Jong Hae KEUM, Professor at the School of Mathematics, Korea Institute for Advanced Study; and Professor Akihiro NAKAO, Professor at the Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, presented awards to the 12 awardees of the 2025 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship across three major fields: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics and Computer Science.

In his opening speech, Professor Siegel welcomed attendees to the 2025 Future Science Prize Week: Asian Young Scientist Fellowship  Annual Conference, congratulating the twelve outstanding young scientists whose innovations are advancing their fields. As HKU approaches its 115th anniversary, it is worth reflecting on its century-long legacy as a beacon of intellectual curiosity, inspiring generations and nurturing exceptional talent. At a time when the world faces pressing challenges—from climate change to global health crises—open collaboration has never been more crucial. The exchange platform created by this event fosters favourable opportunities for interdisciplinary and transnational cooperation, paving the way for innovative solutions to some of the world’s most urgent problems.

The award ceremony was followed by a panel discussion to explore the theme "Building the Asian Scientific Research and Innovation Ecosystem." The session was moderated by Professor Stephanie MA, Vice President of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences and Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU. The distinguished panelists included Professor Randy SCHEKMAN; Professor Tim Kwang Ting CHENG; Professor Wanjin HONG, Chief Business Development Officer of the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) at A*STAR; Ambassador George HARA, Group Chairman and CEO of DEFTA Partners; and Jenny ZENG, Founding Donor of the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship and Founder and Managing Partner of MSA Capital.

This year, the twelve awardees of the "Asian Young Scientist Fellowship" were recognised for their remarkable achievements in a variety of research fields. Among them, Professor Danfeng LI, Associate Professor at City University of Hong Kong, was honoured for his discovery of the first nickelate superconductor, becoming the sole local scholar to receive the award. Professor Jun LIU, Assistant Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Peking University, was recognised for revealing the regulatory mechanisms by which RNA modifications modulate chromatin function – such as gene transcription and genome stability –and their critical roles in early embryonic development, stem cell fate determination, and cancer. Professor Wenya WANG, Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, was recognised for her contribution to the integration of symbolic logic and deep learning, with the aim to build more robust artificial intelligence models. Professor Seongjun PARK, Associate Professor at Seoul National University, Korea, was honoured for his pioneer work in developing generation biomedical and neural interfaces that connect living systems with non-living systems.

The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) Annual Conference aims to encourage and support promising and outstanding young researchers in Asia, supporting creative and transformative research, fostering cross-disciplinary innovation and international exchanges. Each of the 12 awardees will receive USD$100,000 in funding over two years.

About the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF)

The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) was launched in 2022 by the founding members of the Future Science Prize, which is established to reward young scientists who have made outstanding scientific achievements and encourage more private funds to promote basic science research in Asia. The AYSF provides a funding of USD$100,000 to each selected young fellow in life science, physical science, mathematics and computer science for their research, and creates a community that promotes explorative thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, international exchanges and mentorship.

The AYSF has partnered with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to co-organise a series of collaborative events, such as the AYSF Annual Conferences and Webinars.  These initiatives aim to promote scientific and technological innovation, entrepreneurial incubation and public-private partnership, and drive innovation and entrepreneurship through research and talent development.

About The Future Science Prize

The Future Science Prize is a privately funded science prize jointly established by scientists and entrepreneurs. It is established by the Future Science Awards Foundation Limited, which was incorporated in Hong Kong in 2016. Each prize carries a monetary award of one million US dollars, with three award categories: life science, physical science, and mathematics/computer science. The Prize aims to recognize scientific breakthroughs that are original, innovative, and have long-term significance. Regardless of the researcher’s nationality, the nominated work should be completed mainly in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Through awarding those who have made great contributions to society, the Future Science Prize expects to enlighten the spirit of science, to arouse enthusiasm for science, to influence social trends, and to attract more young people to pursue science as their own career.

Future Science Prize website: https://www.futureprize.org/

About The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (ASHK)

The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (ASHK) was established by a group of the most distinguished scientists in Hong Kong in 2015 to promote the development and advancement of science and technology in Hong Kong, and to raise Hong Kong’s profile as a centre of scientific excellence. The Academy brings together leading scientists in Hong Kong as well as from overseas who have contributed significantly to promoting science and technology in Hong Kong. With the vision that “The Academy [thrives/strives?] to provide leadership in developing Hong Kong as a centre of scientific and technology excellence”, the Academy and all its Members have worked unceasingly for the mission that “The Academy promotes the development and advancement of science and technology in Hong Kong and informs the public on relevant issues”.

To recognise the indispensable contributions of young scientists in Hong Kong and to leverage their enthusiasm for promoting science and technology, the Academy set up the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK) as an autonomous chapter in 2018.

Members of ASHK and YASHK are now working together complementarily in science popularisation, deepening cooperation between scientists and industrialists, nurturing talents, advising the public and the authority on matters relating to science and technology, recognising outstanding scientists and other aspects, and promoting and advancing science and technology.

The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences official website: http://www.ashk.org.hk/

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