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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have received a total of HK$50 million donation from GS Charity Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Glorious Sun Group.  This contribution is intended to support academic research and talent cultivation in pure mathematics over the next five years.

Acknowledging the pivotal role and boundless potential of fundamental mathematics in driving technological innovation, the donation from GS Charity Foundation seeks to empower these top universities to spearhead initiatives in nurturing talent, fostering academic exchange and promotion international collaboration.

The donation ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including Dr Charles Yeung, Chairman of GS Charity Foundation and Glorious Sun Group, and Mrs Yeung; Mr Ong Siew Gay, Consul General of Singapore in Hong Kong; Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Professor Nancy Ip, President of HKUST; Professor Zhang Xiang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU; Mr Clarence Ti, Deputy President (Administration) of NUS, among others.

Dr Charles Yeung said, “Since its establishment in 2005, the GS Charity Foundation has been dedicated to giving back to the community through the promotion of Buddhist studies and the conservation of Chinese cultural heritage, and advancing education is a key priority for our Foundation. Pure mathematics is a specialized research area that often described as a rigorous, abstract, and beautiful discipline. We hope that Glorious Sun’s participation in this Talent Development program would provide mathematicians with an interactive exchange platform and nurture young mathematicians, allowing this fundamental subject to be passed on and continuously seek breakthroughs.”

Speaking on behalf of the four recipient universities, Professor Nancy Ip conveyed her deepest gratitude to the GS Charity Foundation for its generous support of higher education and fundamental research. “Pure mathematics is the bedrock of scientific innovation. Today’s ceremony not only marks a significant milestone in advancing pure mathematics and the nurturing of I&T talents in Asia, but also represents a profound recognition of the research excellence of the four universities. Through collective efforts, we aim to drive cutting-edge research in pure mathematics and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong and across Asia in this domain,” she said.

The “Glorious Sun Postdoc Research Scheme” and “Glorious Sun Visiting Scholar Scheme” will be launched following the signing of the agreement.  The former will enable the annual recruitment of two postdoctoral students for each university, supporting their progression to full-time research or teaching positions while engaging in ongoing research in pure mathematics. The latter initiative will back the four institutions in tackling the world’s unresolved mathematical mysteries in partnership with mainland and overseas mathematicians through short-term visits or collaborations funded by the scheme. Additionally, each university is encouraged to host or co-host at least two academic conferences every year to promote knowledge exchange amongst local, mainland and international scholars.

About GS Charity Foundation

With a steadfast will to repay society and to create greater benefit for all, Glorious Sun Group established “GS Charity Foundation” in 2005.  Through its own programs and by supporting other charitable organizations, the Foundation strives to achieve its objectives of poverty and disaster relief, building schools, nurturing talents and promoting Chinese culture.

About The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1963, CUHK is a leading comprehensive research university with a global reputation and world-leading rankings.  Located in the heart of Asia, CUHK has a vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West.  Under the University’s unique collegiate system, the programmes and activities offered by its nine colleges complement the formal curricula by delivering whole-person education and pastoral care. The University has eight faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science. Together with the Graduate School, the University offers over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All faculties are actively engaged in research in a wide range of disciplines, with an array of research institutes and research centres specialising in interdisciplinary research of the highest quality. CUHK focuses on four strategic areas of research: innovative biomedicine, information and automation technology, environment and sustainability, and China research. Seeking to optimise opportunities to generate more impactful outcomes, the University sets its aim in the five-year plan “CUHK 2025” to integrate research, innovation and enterprise into a dynamic and productive continuum, a superhighway along which research is translated into tangible benefits and innovation delivered to the world. The University currently has more than 2,000 granted patents in different jurisdictions worldwide. Some of these patents have been licensed to relevant industries that help bring these innovations to the market to benefit society. In academic year 2023-24, CUHK has received 349 granted patents and filed 537 patent applications for inventions developed in the areas of medical technology, biotechnology, information technology, telecommunications, and materials science.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of June 2024, HKUST members have founded 1,747 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).

About The University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1911, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is the first and oldest institution of higher education in Hong Kong. For over a century, the University has dedicated itself to creating knowledge, providing education, and serving society. Today, HKU has an established worldwide reputation for being a research-led comprehensive University with ten Faculties and a strong commitment to intellectual freedom, liberty and diversity. HKU has a proud record of academic recognition in research through honours and awards received from both local and international bodies. It has 51 academics named on the list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2023” from Clarivate, ranking 13th globally among all institutions. The University strives to attract and nurture outstanding scholars through excellence and innovation in its research and knowledge exchange activities. Its research areas cover a wide range of issues with the aim of benefitting industries, businesses and the community. Regarded as Asia’s Global University, HKU brings together experts from diverse disciplines, partnering with prestigious universities and research institutes around the world. For more information about the University, please visit www.hku.hk.

About The National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 16 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world. Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, research centres of excellence, corporate labs and more than 30 university-level research institutes focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity. For more information on NUS, please visit nus.edu.sg.