Ford and HKUST Award Outstanding Students with Conservation and Environmental Research Grants
HONG KONG, 6 November 2015 – Ford Motor Company today announced the recipients of the 2015-16 Ford-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Conservation and Environmental Research Grants programme. This year, 20 Master of Science students from HKUST’s School of Engineering were awarded grants.
The Ford-HKUST Conservation and Environmental Research Grants programme is a unique partnership between Ford Motor Company and HKUST to help promote environmental sustainability and research, with a focus on green technologies and transportation.
This year’s recipients will conduct research projects ranging from how to personalize ventilation in vehicles, to an examination of more efficient batteries for next generation vehicles, to the development of smart car windows to help conserve energy.
“Ford is proud to nurture and support young talent through our continuing collaboration with HKUST. The Grants programme demonstrates our shared commitment to building a better world through original ideas and new technologies,” said David Westerman, managing director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
Established in 2013, the Grants programme has now become one of the most popular and successful grant schemes for postgraduate students at HKUST, one of Asia’s leading universities. The programme has also led to employment opportunities for graduates, with 2014 grant recipient Praveen Balaj now working as a Sheet Metal Formability Engineer at Ford India.
“We highly appreciate Ford’s ongoing support, which has so far provided 42 students with valuable research opportunities and continues to drive academic excellence,” said Professor King Lun Yeung, Associate Dean of Engineering (Research and Graduate Studies), School of Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
“Our close partnerships with industry leaders, such as with Ford through this Grants programme, are testaments of our continuing efforts to build international connections and provide a collaborative learning environment.”
As with previous years, Ford contributed HKD500,000 for the graduate research grants, which was then matched by HKUST for a total grants pool of HKD1,000,000.
Ford’s Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme
Founded in 1983, the Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants programme was created to empower individuals and non-profit groups to conduct research and projects which help preserve the environmental well-being of their communities and provide solutions contributing to a sustainable planet.
Since launching, Ford has awarded more than US$5 million in grants to hundreds of environmental projects in more than 60 countries around the world.
In Asia Pacific, Ford has played a pivotal role in advancing environmental initiatives for more than a decade across multiple markets, from protecting wildlife and preventing forest fires, to funding cultural heritage projects and replenishing resources in rural communities.
For more information, please visit www.hkford.com or call 2820 4018.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class international research university excelling in science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. The University was ranked Asia’s number one by QS Asian University Rankings for the third straight year since 2011. In the field of Engineering and Technology, HKUST was ranked No. 14 in the world by QS World University Rankings by Faculty 2015 and No. 1 in Greater China and No. 21 in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014-2015.
