HONG KONG, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lingnan University today (20 September) honoured the achievements of 46 faculty members at the Research and Knowledge Transfer Excellence Awards Presentation Ceremony 2024, recognising exceptional performances in academic research and knowledge transfer while highlighting the contributions of Lingnan staff in enhancing community quality of life and societal advancement.
This year, Lingnan University secured 39 Research Grants Council (RGC) competitive grant projects, totalling an impressive $24.4 million ⸻ the highest sum awarded over the years, and a 17 per cent increase over last year's HK$20.8 million. Moreover, Lingnan University obtained outstanding results in the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, with seven out of nine nominated candidates receiving offers, an impressive success rate of 78 per cent.
The awards included the Research Output Excellence Award, the Young Researcher Output Award, and the Research & Knowledge Transfer Fund Award. The Science Unit from the School of Interdisciplinary Studies won most of these, with seven awardees, including the two projects that received the highest funding from the RGC: Assistant Professor Inga Elizabeth Conti-Jerpe's "Calibrating the mixotrophy spectrum: quantifying nutrient inputs and recycling in three corals with different trophic strategies", and Assistant Professor Anthony Lau's "Demystifying the origin of tetrodotoxin in the Hong Kong newt". In addition, Assistant Professor of the School of Graduate Studies Huang Genghua's funded proposal "When digitisation encounters financialisation: divergent strategies for providing social protection for platform workers in Chinese localities" received a perfect score of 5.0 in the rigorous peer review conducted by the RGC subject panels. (Table 1)
Officiating guests included Ms Candy Kan Shuk-fun, Assistant Secretary-General (Research) of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Dr Patrick Wong Chi-kwong, Chairman of the Court of Lingnan University and Lingnan Education Organization representative, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, and Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, who were all on stage.
In his welcoming remarks, President S. Joe Qin congratulated all the award-winning scholars. He highlighted the University's continuous pursuit of innovation amidst the digital era, noting that Lingnan University has achieved several significant milestones over the past year. Achievements include the establishment of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) and the School of Data Science (SDS), as well as the appointment of 15 globally renowned scholars through the "Lingnan-60 Global Talent Recruitment" initiative, representing a quarter of the goal already reached. Additionally, 14 per cent of the University's scholars are now ranked among the top 2 per cent of scientists worldwide by the Stanford University list. Furthermore, generative AI has been introduced as a core course for all first-year students in the new academic year, enhancing their AI literacy and critical thinking skills for dealing with AI's impact in daily life and work.
President Qin said, "Lingnan University emphasises the importance of cultivating innovative capabilities and has set a new goal of becoming a comprehensive university in arts and sciences in the digital era, with impactful research and innovations. This signifies that the University not only provides a broad-based education but also strengthens research capabilities, enabling students to develop innovative thinking through academic exploration. Additionally, the University emphasises the integration of arts and sciences, offering a well-rounded education that blends humanities and scientific knowledge. This educational model not only nurtures students' comprehensive skills but also establishes a strong foundation for adaptability and innovation in an ever-changing professional landscape, contributing to the development of future leaders."
Dr Patrick Wong Chi-kwong, Chairman of the Court of Lingnan University and Lingnan Education Organization representative, who delivered the opening address, said that Lingnan will keep building on its achievements so that its research and knowledge transfer efforts have a lasting, meaningful influence on society. "We are taking bold steps toward nurturing talent and driving groundbreaking research that benefits society. Our integration of arts and sciences has begun to spark creative problem-solving and interdisciplinary insights, bringing technology closer to humanity. Our University continues to build on its strengths in the Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences, while expanding into new fields like data science, artificial intelligence, carbon neutrality, and environmental sustainability. Our scientists are dedicated to developing solutions that will shape the future for generations to come."
In his closing remarks, Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning of Lingnan University, described collaborations with strategic partners: "We have witnessed exciting developments in areas like AI and environmental sustainability. These emerging fields of research have opened the door for collaboration with partners outside the University. We have entered into strategic agreements with organisations in Shandong, and a close partnership with Northeastern University's State Key Laboratory on the Mainland. In addition, Lingnan University has been approved as a Supporting Institution for the National Natural Science Foundation of China, which presents a wealth of opportunities for our scholars. We have also saluted our first awardee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientists Fund."
He added that the University remains committed to promoting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will continue to develop inspirational academic and research initiatives that contribute to these global aims.
Please see the details for the full list of awardees: https://www.ln.edu.hk/orkt/orkt-and-committees/research-and-kt-excellence-awards/research-kt-excellence-awards2024.
Table 1.
Scholar | Project title | RGC funding amount |
Prof Inga Elizabeth Conti-Jerpe, Assistant Professor of Science Unit | Calibrating the mixotrophy spectrum: quantifying nutrient inputs and recycling in three corals with different trophic strategies | HK$1,279,540 (Early Career Scheme) |
Prof Anthony Lau, Assistant Professor of Science Unit | Demystifying the origin of tetrodotoxin in the Hong Kong newt | HK$1,254,975 (General Research Fund) |
Prof Huang Genghua, Assistant Professor of School of Graduate Studies | When digitisation encounters financialisation: divergent strategies for providing social protection for platform workers in Chinese localities | HK$881,800 (General Research Fund) |
Scholar
Project title
RGC funding amount
Prof Inga Elizabeth Conti-Jerpe, Assistant Professor of Science Unit
Calibrating the mixotrophy spectrum: quantifying nutrient inputs and recycling in three corals with different trophic strategies
HK$1,279,540 (Early Career Scheme)
Prof Anthony Lau, Assistant Professor of Science Unit
Demystifying the origin of tetrodotoxin in the Hong Kong newt
HK$1,254,975 (General Research Fund)
Prof Huang Genghua, Assistant Professor of School of Graduate Studies
When digitisation encounters financialisation: divergent strategies for providing social protection for platform workers in Chinese localities
HK$881,800 (General Research Fund)
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Lingnan University celebrates outstanding achievements in research and knowledge transfer
Lingnan University celebrates outstanding achievements in research and knowledge transfer
Lingnan University celebrates outstanding achievements in research and knowledge transfer
- Company named "Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)" and "Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company" simultaneously
- Accelerates recovery from market downturn leveraging world-class HBM leadership; Global management performance recognized
- Reflects company's technology leadership and customer-centric execution
- SK Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasizes: "Technological competitiveness must remain unwavering in challenging times"
- Commits to driving new customer value and leading global AI market growth as a "Full-Stack AI Memory Creator"
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has been named the winner of the Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)[1] and the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award[2] at the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA)[3] Awards 2025, held on December 4 PST in Santa Clara, California.
| [1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry. |
| [2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success. |
| [3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members. |
The GSA Awards, organized annually since 1996, are regarded as the most prestigious honors in the global semiconductor sector, recognizing outstanding performance in leadership, financial results and industry reputation. SK hynix secured its second win in the financial management category following 2017, and its first recognition as the top Asia-Pacific semiconductor company. The dual achievement reinforces the company's reputation as a leading global technology innovator.
While the semiconductor industry faced a severe downturn just two years ago, the company has been the fastest to rebound thanks to its advanced AI memory technologies including HBM. This performance has resulted in global recognition for its operational excellence and financial execution. SK hynix plans to continue building sustainable growth with its dominant leadership in the AI memory market.
The awards reflect the company's proactive delivery of groundbreaking HBM solutions and its steadfast commitment to customer-centric performance in surging global AI demand. SK Chairman Chey Tae-won has consistently emphasized that securing technological competitiveness must remain unwavering, especially during challenging times. This long-term focus on technology investment and global cooperation network has contributed to the company's improved performance and reinforced financial health.
Driven by this strategy, SK hynix has recorded historic performance throughout 2025. For the first three quarters, the company reported revenue of 64 trillion won and operating profit of 28 trillion won in total, positioning it well to surpass its previous full-year earnings record set in 2024 (66 trillion won in revenue and 23 trillion won in operating profit).
Financial health has also significantly strengthened. As of the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents reached 27.9 trillion won, up 10.9 trillion won quarter-over-quarter, while interest bearing debt decreased to 24.1 trillion won— successfully transitioning into a net cash position of approximately 4 trillion won.
To secure long-term leadership in AI memory, SK hynix is accelerating major investments. The Cheongju M15X fab, which opened its cleanroom earlier than planned in October, is on track to begin HBM mass production in the first half of next year. Construction of the first fab in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, launched in February, is also progressing ahead of schedule.
With its recent financial achievements and continued expansion, SK hynix is expected to further solidify its AI memory leadership going forward.
SK hynix was represented at the ceremony by Justin Kim, President & Head of AI Infra at SK hynix, and Sungsoo Ryu, President of SK hynix America. "It is a great honor to receive this award." Kim said, "We will continue to lead the market and create new value for customers as a Full-Stack AI Memory Creator, driving growth across the global AI ecosystem."
About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has been named the winner of the Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award (Achieving Greater than $1 Billion in Annual Sales)[1] and the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award[2] at the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA)[3] Awards 2025, held on December 4 PST in Santa Clara, California.
| [1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry. |
| [2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success. |
| [3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members. |
[1]The Best Financially Managed Semiconductor Company Award: A category recognizing public semiconductor companies based on financial soundness and operational efficiency. Awards are presented in two categories — annual sales over $1 billion and annual sales under $1 billion — and are considered among the most authoritative honors in the global semiconductor industry.
[2]Outstanding Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Company Award: A special category recognizing semiconductor companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region based on comprehensive evaluations including product excellence, business vision, leadership, and market success.
[3]GSA(Global Semiconductor Alliance): A global CEO-level semiconductor organization serving as a hub for technological information sharing across more than 25 countries and over 250 corporate members.
The GSA Awards, organized annually since 1996, are regarded as the most prestigious honors in the global semiconductor sector, recognizing outstanding performance in leadership, financial results and industry reputation. SK hynix secured its second win in the financial management category following 2017, and its first recognition as the top Asia-Pacific semiconductor company. The dual achievement reinforces the company's reputation as a leading global technology innovator.
While the semiconductor industry faced a severe downturn just two years ago, the company has been the fastest to rebound thanks to its advanced AI memory technologies including HBM. This performance has resulted in global recognition for its operational excellence and financial execution. SK hynix plans to continue building sustainable growth with its dominant leadership in the AI memory market.
The awards reflect the company's proactive delivery of groundbreaking HBM solutions and its steadfast commitment to customer-centric performance in surging global AI demand. SK Chairman Chey Tae-won has consistently emphasized that securing technological competitiveness must remain unwavering, especially during challenging times. This long-term focus on technology investment and global cooperation network has contributed to the company's improved performance and reinforced financial health.
Driven by this strategy, SK hynix has recorded historic performance throughout 2025. For the first three quarters, the company reported revenue of 64 trillion won and operating profit of 28 trillion won in total, positioning it well to surpass its previous full-year earnings record set in 2024 (66 trillion won in revenue and 23 trillion won in operating profit).
Financial health has also significantly strengthened. As of the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents reached 27.9 trillion won, up 10.9 trillion won quarter-over-quarter, while interest bearing debt decreased to 24.1 trillion won— successfully transitioning into a net cash position of approximately 4 trillion won.
To secure long-term leadership in AI memory, SK hynix is accelerating major investments. The Cheongju M15X fab, which opened its cleanroom earlier than planned in October, is on track to begin HBM mass production in the first half of next year. Construction of the first fab in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, launched in February, is also progressing ahead of schedule.
With its recent financial achievements and continued expansion, SK hynix is expected to further solidify its AI memory leadership going forward.
SK hynix was represented at the ceremony by Justin Kim, President & Head of AI Infra at SK hynix, and Sungsoo Ryu, President of SK hynix America. "It is a great honor to receive this award." Kim said, "We will continue to lead the market and create new value for customers as a Full-Stack AI Memory Creator, driving growth across the global AI ecosystem."
About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
SK hynix Honored with Two Major Titles at GSA Awards 2025
