Two young scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have been shortlisted for MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (TR35) China, who are the only two awardees in Hong Kong.

TR35 elects 35 leading figures under the age of 35 from all over the world who have had a profound impact on the future development of science and technology.

Dr Li Danfeng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, joined CityU in 2020. His research spans superconductor and superconductivity. In 2019, Dr Li and a research team from Stanford University set a precedent, as they successfully discovered nickel oxide thin film superconductors in the world. The team also constructed an infinite layer of nickel oxide superconducting phase diagram for the first time, resulting in a wave of research on nickel oxide superconductivity.

“I appreciate CityU’s support and will continue to work hard with my colleagues to pursue academic excellence,” Dr Li said.

Dr Wang Cheng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, joined CityU in 2018. Dr Wang and his research team successfully developed a thin-film lithium niobate (LiNbO3) platform and a supporting micro-nano processing system, that reduces the optical loss of high-speed electro-optical regulator among the optical fibre networks, and saves energy and costs effectively. It won the Croucher Innovation Award 2020.

“CityU provides great room for the development of young professors so that I can concentrate on scientific research and make a contribution to society,” Dr Wang said.

CityU has been actively recruiting professors at all levels from around the world in the past two years. There has been a net increase of about 100 new faculty, which is the largest strategic recruitment effort since the University was founded, with the highest increase and increase rate among the eight universities. Many of the new hires are young professors with excellent potential.

 In 2010, MIT Technology Review carried out a regional selection for TR35 for the first time and launched the China selection in 2017. TR35 was set up in 1999.