SSE Dean Tang Benzhong Honoured with Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Outstanding Contribution Award
Professor Tang Benzhong, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (SSE) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has been awarded the 2024 Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Outstanding Contribution Award. The announcement, released recently by the People's Government of Guangdong Province, identifies Professor Tang as one of only two recipients of this prestigious accolade among the 227 distinctions conferred this year.
Source:?http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/qbwj/yf/content/post_4802458.html ?
An authority in material science, macromolecular chemistry, and biomedical theranostics, Professor Tang is best known for pioneering the concept of "Aggregation-Induced Emission" (AIE). This ground-breaking discovery, pioneered by Chinese scientists, has opened a new frontier in research and is widely regarded as a phenomenon that has "rewritten photophysics textbooks." His seminal work in this field previously garnered the State Natural Science Award (First Class).
Professor Tang describes AIE as the "all-around athlete" of the new materials arena. Under his leadership, his research team has continuously bridged the gap between fundamental theory and practical application. They have expanded the utility of AIE materials across diverse fields, including bio-imaging, optoelectronic devices, cancer theranostics, nano-drug delivery, and low-carbon urban planning. These innovations are paving the way for a new cluster of original industries, ranging from the visual monitoring of tumour treatment efficacy to advanced food safety detection.
In a significant recent milestone, Professor Tang’s team contributed to the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft mission, which launched successfully in July 2025. Addressing the critical challenge of microbial control in space, the team employed AIE technology to achieve real-time, in-situ monitoring and rapid elimination of microorganisms within the unique environment of the China Space Station. This achievement marks a key advancement in the nation's aerospace capabilities regarding active biological protection.
Reflecting on the research ecosystem in the region, Professor Tang once remarked, "Shenzhen is an emerging metropolis free from constraints. It empowers us to seize opportunities, make bold breakthroughs, and carve out new frontiers for Chinese scientists."
About the Award
Established by the Provincial Government and organised by the Department of Science and Technology, the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award represents the region’s highest scientific accolade. Its prestigious "Outstanding Contribution" category is bestowed exclusively upon individuals who have spearheaded autonomous innovation and played a transformative role in cementing the province’s status as a technological powerhouse.
About Prof. Tang
X.Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries, AIMBE College of Fellows
Prof. Tang received his BS and PhD degrees from South China University of Technology and Kyoto University in 1982 and 1988, respectively. He worked as a Senior Researcher at the Central Research Laboratory of NEOS Company (Japan) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto. He served at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology from 1994 to 2021. He was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2009, the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries in 2020, and the AIMBE College of Fellows in 2025. In 2021, he joined The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, as Dean of the School of Science and Engineering and X.Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor.
Prof. Tang has published over 2,000 scientific papers, with over 242,000 citations and an h-index of 215. He has delivered more than 500 invited talks at international conferences and holds over 100 authorised patents. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of?Aggregate?(published by Wiley) and sits on the advisory or editorial boards of more than 20 scientific journals.
Prof. Tang is mainly engaged in the study of materials science, macromolecular chemistry and biomedical theranostics. He coined the concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and is recognised as the pioneer and leader of AIE research globally.
Since 2014, Prof. Tang has been listed as a Highly Cited Researcher in both materials and chemistry consecutively. His numerous honours include the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Award (2007), the Khwarizmi International Award (2014), Honorary Citizen of Guangzhou City (2015), the National Natural Science Award (1st Class, 2017), the Scientific and Technological Progress Award (Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, 2017), the Nano Today Award (2021), the Biomaterials Global Impact Award (2023), and the CCS–SINOPEC Award (2024).
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Sources: SSE / Shenzhen Special Zone Daily
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