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HONG KONG, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) is dedicated to advancing creative arts education, providing an international platform for animation talent to connect and exchange ideas, unlocking boundless opportunities in the creative industries, and contributing to Hong Kong's development as a vibrant East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The inaugural World University Animation Awards (WUAA) ceremony was proudly hosted by HKMU on 16 September, at The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District. The event celebrated exceptional animated works selected from over a thousand entries across 96 countries and regions. The works demonstrate artistic vision, technical excellence and originality. The ceremony brought together elite leaders and industry luminaries to witness the creative brilliance of emerging animation talent.
The WUAA featured six prestigious awards, which were presented in the ceremony to recognise the following animation works:
- the Grand Prize: The Shyness of Trees from France;
- the Best Artistic Award: Urban Duo from China;
- the Best Narrative Award: Tapir Memories from Switzerland;
- the Jury's Award: Still Here from Ecuador;
- the Hong Kong Next Generation Award in Animation: Pink Pupil; and
- the HKMU Special Talent Award: My Friend's Last Wishes.
Additionally, the Rainbow Horizon Award was presented to honour emerging animators from countries and regions such as Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Morocco, and Moldova, whose works were not shortlisted but demonstrated outstanding creative potential. (Please refer to the Appendix for the full list of awardees)
Ir Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, HKMU Council Chairman, said, "HKMU is deeply honoured to host the inaugural World University Animation Awards, which have received an extraordinary response. By bringing together industry elites, we have witnessed the outstanding performance and creativity of emerging stars in animation, as well as active support from leading figures across the global industry, fully embodying HKMU's mission to foster future talent."
"The WUAA is a platform to spark collaboration, fuel innovation and encourage young animators to go beyond limits and reimagine possibilities," he added. "This brings to life HKMU's strengths as a university of applied sciences while advancing Hong Kong as an international education hub and strengthening its role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange."
Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU President, said, "The WUAA has celebrated not only the art of animation but also the spirit of connection, innovation and boundless imagination. I hope the friendships, collaboration and inspiration fostered here will flourish, leading to even greater achievements in the years ahead. HKMU is committed to strengthening exchanges and partnerships with all participating institutions to further our shared commitment to advancing animation and the other creative arts."
Hon Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Legislative Council Member, commended HKMU's efforts in launching the awards. "Animation, as an art form, is a universal language that transcends barriers, uniting communities and inspiring shared aspirations," he said. "The WUAA not only highlights this dynamic art form but also strengthens Hong Kong's position as a leader in cultural innovation, using creativity to build meaningful connections worldwide."
In addition to Ir Dr Wong, Prof. Lam and Hon Kenneth Fok, the officiating guests included Mr Raistlin Lau Chun, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan, Vice Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and Chairman of M+ Board; and Dr Hon Allan Zeman, Member of WestK Enterprise Limited and Chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group. Mr Louis Koo Tin-lok, a special distinguished guest renowned for his contributions to advancing the Hong Kong film and animation industry, was invited to present the Grand Prize together with Prof. Lam.
The panel of adjudicators comprised distinguished figures, including Mr Mark Jones, Dean of the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design at Sheridan College in Canada, who served as one of the final round adjudicators. He praised the exceptional creative quality of the shortlisted works, stating, "Every shortlisted work showcases unique originality and exquisite animation techniques, displaying a distinctive style that injects vitality into the global animation industry. The WUAA has not only inspired the creative potential of emerging artists but also highlighted the boundless possibilities of the creative industries."
The ceremony featured an array of performers from diverse artistic fields, showcasing the vibrant and multifaceted nature of the creative industries. Highlights included an excerpt from the martial arts dance drama "Storm Clouds", presented by the Hong Kong Dance Company; a piano performance of four iconic animation theme songs performed by Hong Kong pianist Ms Joyce Cheung Pui-chih; two songs from classic Disney animation films sung by Hong Kong artist and singer Miss Ashley Lin Kae-ning; and two iconic pieces from popular animations performed by internationally acclaimed composer and erhuist Mr Chu Wan-pin and his ensemble.
The WUAA has ushered in a new era for the animation industry, uniting global emerging talent and showcasing the multifaceted and creative potential of animation arts. It also marks a significant milestone in advancing creative arts education at HKMU.
Prof. Eva Man Kit-wah, Chief Organiser of the WUAA and Chair Professor of Humanities in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, said, "The success of the inaugural World University Animation Awards has opened a new direction for HKMU in creative arts education and laid a crucial foundation for promoting local and international animation exchange. The WUAA serves as a platform to showcase animation artistry and also further solidifies Hong Kong's position as a global animation arts and education hub." She emphasised that HKMU will continue to create platforms to connect the younger generation with international cultures, fostering creativity and innovation, and solidifying its position as a global hub for creative education.
About Hong Kong Metropolitan University:
Established by the Government in 1989, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) is the largest self-financed university and the first university of applied sciences in Hong Kong designated by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Today, HKMU is a comprehensive university offering full-time undergraduate, master's and doctoral programmes, with a strong commitment to advancing research while continuing its historical mission of providing distance education for aspiring learners.
Through its seven Schools, HKMU offers professional programmes tailored to society's needs, including high-demand fields, such as nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, creative arts, testing and certification, early childhood education, and corporate governance. HKMU's dedication and achievements in providing professional education are reflected in its holding the largest share of subsidised places under the Government's Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions and Sectors (SSSDP) in Hong Kong.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HKMU's Inaugural World University Animation Awards Ceremony gathers global animation elites and ignites creative possibilities
- 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
