A prestigious award newly set up by the School of Engineering (SENG) to recognize business leadership and creativity was awarded to Mr Pony Huateng Ma, Chairman and CEO of Tencent Holdings Ltd. The first HKUST Technology Industry Innovation Award was presented to Mr Ma in December for his success in commercializing innovative ideas and their positive impact on society. 

As one of the world's leading engineering schools, SENG established the high-level accolade to recognize the efforts of a top technology leader who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technological innovations that have had a global impact on improving people's lives. It will also encourage greater interaction between the School and industry.

At the award presentation ceremony, held during the major HKUST Forum on Innovation for the Future of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, Mr Ma gave a speech on "Reflections on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the IT Industry in China". He said that Tencent was committed to innovation in its business model and put a strong focus on user experience. Recently, it had assisted other companies' innovation and growth through open platform strategies.

Mr Ma believed that the training of innovative talents was another key success for corporate development. He said HKUST and Tencent shared the same vision on innovation and he hoped Tencent and HKUST would continue to promote innovative technology through research and business development.