Media

HKU signs agreement with TCL on
Innovative Research Fund for Science 80th Anniversary

29 Jan 2018

 

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and TCL Corporate Research (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd (TCL) officially signed an agreement today (January 29) to establish the “TCL Innovative Research Fund for Science 80^th Anniversary” with a donation of HK$3.2 million to be deposited in 2 phases, in support of PhD students in HKU Faculty of Science to develop innovative research projects. Professor Matthew Evans, Dean of Science of HKU and Dr Jay Liou, General Manager of TCL Corporate Research (Hong Kong) Co. Limited represented both institutions at the signing ceremony.

The Fund celebrates HKU Science’s moving forward to its 80^th anniversary by enhancing its competitiveness globally across research in diverse disciplines, funding innovative research projects of 10 PhD students in biomedical science, big data analytics, artificial intelligence and material science in 4 years. While realizing the vision and strategy of TCL in pursuing innovation and translating advance technology to solutions for daily life, the fund also demonstrates the Faculty’s determination in becoming a pioneer in scientific research.

Professor Evans expressed his gratitude to the philanthropic donation from TCL, stressing that only driving innovative research can lead the Faculty to frontiers. “While strengthening our research leadership and be pre-eminent in Hong Kong, we also aim high to be leading in Asia and highly competitive among renowned institutions in the world. Developing the aforementioned areas is not merely for catching up with the trends, we also expect the research outputs can be applied to daily life and foster the developments of the community. Other than riding on our own research advantage, we would also like to this opportunity to nurture talented young scientists,” Professor Evans remarked. Professor Billy Chow, Associate Dean (Development and External Relations: Local) of the Faculty also echoed with Professor Evans, “Creativity and innovation are the basis of research. This fund can facilitate us to mobilize more resources on new research topics and development of skills and technology, allowing the next generation of scientists to explore more possibilities concerning their own areas of research.”

On behalf of TCL Corporation, Dr Liou expressed his enthusiasm of collaboration with HKU to establish this “TCL Innovative Research Fund”. “As a MNC with 17 million US dollars annual revenue, TCL is competing furiously in worldwide market. Innovation of researches and technologies is one of the essential competitive edge, we are looking for the technology partners continuously and globally. Establishment of this fund will enable TCL to leverage HKU’s leading research capability by providing and guiding the research directions base on TCL’s worldwide market and users’ requirements. It nurtures young talented PhD students and fosters them to become next generation of scientists to be innovative and creative with practicality mindset, and be able to create world-class research with commercialization impacts,” said Dr Liou.

TCL Corporate Research (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd

TCL Corporate Research (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd has set up an international R&D in the Hong Kong Science Park; where TCL occupies an approximately 130 thousands sq. ft entire building and becomes one of the three largest tenants of the Hong Kong Science Park to date also one of the biggest R&D private R&D centers in Hong Kong. TCL aims to attract global R&D experts and further its reach into the major global markets, and plans to collaborate with universities and research institutes within Hong Kong as well as worldwide in the area of technology and product innovations.

Media enquiry:
Ms Cindy Chan, Faculty of Science (tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk);

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