Shun Hing 10M Donation to Support HKUST Nano Research

Abstract

[evdate 2004-04-14]

14/04/2004 Shun Hing 10M Donation to Support HKUST Nano Research

The Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund has donated HK$10 million to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to support its research in nanoscience and technology.

Cheque presentation: Prof Chu, Miss M Y Cheung, Vice-Chairman of the Fund, and Mr David Mong

A donation ceremony was held on campus today (14 April 2004), officiated by Dr John C C Chan, Chairman of the University Council, Prof Paul Chu, President of HKUST, and Mr David Mong, Chairman of the Fund.

The donation will be used to establish an endowed chair professorship program in nanoscience and technology, under which two chair professors will be recruited. It will also attract an additional $10 million subvention under the Government's dollar-for-dollar Matching Grant Scheme.

"The Shun Hing donation is a recognition of HKUST's achievements in scientific research, and underlines a unity of purpose between Shun Hing and HKUST: to improve people's quality of life through science and technology," said Prof Chu at the ceremony.

"We hope our endowment to HKUST will not only enhance its search for excellence in nanotechnology, but also expand Hong Kong's horizons in scientific discovery beyond the local community," said Mr Mong.

Dr William Mong, Chairman of Shun Hing Group, tries his hand at an electrorheological (ER) fluids damper developed by HKUST researchers

HKUST stands at the vanguard of progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In 2003, the University founded its HK$100 million Institute of NanoMaterials and NanoTechnology to develop new nanotechnology products in collaboration with local industries; HKUST's researchers have succeeded in fabricating the world's smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes, the diameter of which measure only 0.4 nm; they have also developed a new generation of electrorheological (ER) fluids with a high yield stress of 200 kPa, breaking the world record for the solid strength of ER fluids.

These two world-class scientific breakthroughs were made at the HKUST William Mong Solid State Clusters Laboratory, established in 1993 with the first donation of HK$10 million from the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund.

A staunch supporter of HKUST, the Fund also provides annual scholarships to HKUST science and engineering students and today sponsored a visit to HKUST by Prof Anthony J Leggett, 2003 Nobel Laureate in Physics, together with the Croucher Foundation.

Recently, Shun Hing Group and Matsuishita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd also donated an innovative eco-friendly lamp to HKUST, which has been installed at the north entrance of the campus. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, the lamp is generated by wind and solar energy.

For media enquiries: Jacky Tsang Tel: 2358-6306 Email: patsang@ust.hk