On February 17 2023, the 2021 and 2022 Annual Award Conference of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation was held at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Professor XIA Guihua from the College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering at Harbin Engineering University clinched the Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation in 2021. This time, 112 exemplary scientific and technological professionals received recognition.

Introduction to Professor XIA Guihua:

Professor XIA Guihua stands as a trailblazer in the realm of ship digital and intelligent control technology in China. His groundbreaking research has garnered him 13 national and provincial science and technology progress awards, including one second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award and four first prizes of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Progress Award. Over the past five years, he has secured 35 invention patents, 13 software copyrights, and published 57 papers. Notably, he spearheaded the project “Overall Scheme and Major System Performance Simulation Verification and Evaluation Research”, addressing the challenge of high-precision real-time simulation for large ships. This endeavor significantly contributed to China’s maritime power and earned him the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress in 2017.

In 2022, Professor XIA led the development of China’s first “Triple Redundancy (DP3) Dynamic Positioning System”, securing the top spot and the first prize in technological progress from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This system successfully tackled the bottleneck issue in key equipment for special maritime operations—the dynamic positioning system—in Chinese ships and ocean engineering, yielding substantial economic and social benefits. He also headed the creation of the world’s first integrated physical experiment database and parallel computing numerical tank virtual experimental system. This innovation addressed precision calculation challenges in hydrodynamic performance for Chinese ships and resolved issues with simulation software, offering an integrated solution for the precise calculation and simulation of hydrodynamic performance in ship and ocean engineering design, trial navigation, and operation. Currently, Professor XIA is leading the research on ship digital twin systems, achieving significant progress.

The Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation was conferred upon 66 outstanding scientific and technological professionals who made major scientific discoveries or outstanding contributions in various fields such as mathematical mechanics, life sciences, and engineering technology.

Established in 1994 by Hong Kong patriots in finance—Ho Shun Hang, Leung Chak Kui, Ho Tim, and Lee Kwok Wai—the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation aims to recognize exceptional Chinese scientists contributing to the country’s modernization. Over 29 years, the foundation has identified and honored 1,526 outstanding technologists, serving as a successful model of social initiatives promoting scientific awards in China. It has played an active role in boosting the vitality of China’s technological development and fostering independent innovation talents.