the same year. It is second to the state top science and technology awards in recognition of personal accomplishment in science and technology. In 2019, Prof. Chen received a Gold Award, the highest honor at the Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards. Prof. Chen’s trajectory of success has shown that innovation incubated locally can bring great impact to the rest of the world, and resilience can reward you with the solution you seek. His achievements are a testament to the power of scientific enquiry, focus, and collaboration, and they serve as a reminder that there are remarkable, sometimes unexpected, stories and roles awaiting every new generation of HKUST graduates. In 2013, the SANI process went global, with HKUST and UNESCO IHE (now IHE Delft) signing a cooperation plan to introduce the technology worldwide. The first trial took place in Cuba, with other regions running short on fresh water, including the Middle East, India, and island nations, sure to be close behind. Prof. Chen’s pioneering work has earned him multiple international accolades, and he remains an international leader in water management and wastewater treatment technologies — all thanks to his passion for an unglamourous, but essential, part of our daily lives. In 2017 he was the first Hong Kong recipient of the National Innovation Pioneer Award, established by the Central Government of China in 107
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