Dr Can Li, Assistant Professor in Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) was presented with the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards 2023 by the Croucher Foundation at an Award Ceremony held on December 8. Professor SUN Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was the Guest of Honor at the ceremony.

Dr. Li's research aims to address the challenges faced by digital computers in performing tasks at which the human brain excels, including face recognition, reasoning based on vague information, and learning from experience. These tasks require algorithms that can process analogue signals at the exact location where the information is stored, which is not possible with digital computers. To address this limitation, Dr. Li and his team explore the potential of memristors, a promising memory device that can emulate the behavior of biological synapses and neurons. By harnessing memristors' full analog signal processing and rich nonlinearity, Dr. Li's work seeks to create brain-inspired circuits and systems, fostering advanced artificial intelligence applications beyond the scope of conventional computers. (Click here for Dr. Li’s full biography)

About the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards
The Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards represent one of the Croucher Foundation’s most prestigious awards, granted only after a robust process involving a paper selection exercise, detailed international peer review and long discussions between Governors. The total value of each Innovation Award is HK$5 million.

Media enquiries
Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: ngjaymee@hku.hk)
Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 2859 2607 / Email: khkchoi@hku.hk)