ASPIRE 2026

2025: AI-Powered Breakthrough in Protein Design

Dr. Minkyung Baek, a computational biologist from the Republic of Korea, was awarded the 2025 ASPIRE Prize at a ceremony held in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Dr. Baek is an Assistant Professor at Seoul National University. Her research is focused on AI-powered protein structure prediction and design, with the goal of accelerating the development of medicines and sustainable materials. She developed an AI tool that enables scientists to predict the three-dimensional shapes of proteins, facilitating faster vaccine development, novel drug discovery, and the design of proteins not found in nature. Her work exemplifies the convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology in addressing real-world health and social challenges across the Asia-Pacific region.

2023: Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation for a Resilient and Sustainable Environment

Dr. Zheng Liu, a professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, was awarded the 2023 ASPIRE Prize for his groundbreaking work on two-dimensional (2D) materials. His work has been focused on enhancing semiconducting electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for sustainable energy, electronic device development and fabrication, and integrated Al. His research and its applications have the potential to reduce the risk of energy over-consumption. Dr. Liu’s innovations contribute to sustainability while promoting inclusive scientific collaboration across the APEC region.

2022: Transformation to a Bio-Circular-Green Economy

Dr Jingzheng Ren, an industrial and systems engineer from Hong King, China, was awarded the 2022 ASPIRE Prize at an in-person ceremony in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dr Ren is an Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research is focused on decision-making for economic, industrial, and social systems. He has developed new methods to promote harmonious development of the economy, environment, and society. He has collaborated with scientists in 12 APEC economies and has been published in over 183 scientific journals.

2021: Diverse Knowledge for a Sustainable Future

Dr Jessica Bogard, a dietitian and public health nutritionist from Australia, was awarded the 2021 ASPIRE Prize, for her research focusing on boosting the potential of underutilized local and indigenous food to reduce malnutrition, particularly among pregnant women and young children. Dr. Bogard pioneered the development of a database of nutritional quality of more than 50 species of fish and aquatic food and found that certain indigenous species of fish are rich sources of a multitude of micronutrients, but their availability is declining. She is a research scientist at the  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australia.

2020: Biodiversity for a Prosperous Economy

Dr Huai Chen was awarded the 2020 ASPIRE Prize at an online ceremony by Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Secretary General, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia.

Dr Chen is a professor at Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research is focused on wetland biodiversity and nature’s contribution to people. Dr Chen’s findings lead to a better understanding of these wetlands including protecting, developing new generation models for methane emissions and enhancing assessment of carbon storage and ecological value.

2019: Smart Technolgies for Healthy Societies

Dr Yun Hau NG was awarded the 2019 ASPIRE Prize in Puerto Varas, Chile by Dr Nicole Ehrenfeld, Director, Scientific Initiative Millennium, Ministry of Economy, Chile. Dr Ng is an associate professor at the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, China. His research is focused on the development of highly efficient photocatalytic systems to mimic natural photosynthesis to produce clean hydrogen from water. In short, he uses sunlight to split water into clean hydrogen.

2018: Smart Technologies for Healthy Societies

Dr Madhu Bhaskaran of Australia was awarded the 2018 ASPIRE Prize in Port Moresby by Hon. Pila Niningi, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of Papau New Guinea. Dr Bhaskaran is a professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia where her work transforms the way we imagine, use and interact with electronic devices and sensors. She has developed ways to combine functional oxide materials processed at high temperatures with elastic and plastic materials. Her work has led to the development of wearable elastic electronics and sensors, including gas and UV sensors and flat optical devices—all of which are stretchable, optically transparent and as thin as a nicotine patch.

2017: New Material Technologies

Dr Yanwu Zhu of China was awarded the 2017 ASPIRE Prize in Ha Noi by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Viet Nam, Tran Quoc Khanh. Dr Zhu is a Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China where he researches the fields of nanomaterials and specifically new carbon materials. His publications have been widely cited and his research with other APEC scientists has been applied in large-scale production of graphene materials.

2016: Technologies for Food Security

Dr Hua Kuang of China was awarded the 2016 ASPIRE Prize in Lima by Dr Gisella Orjeda, President of the Peruvian National Council for Science, Technology and Technological Innovative (CONCYTEC). Dr Kuang is a Professor at Jiangnan University’s School of Food Science and Technology in Wuxi, China, where she works with researchers in other APEC economies to develop low-cost biosensors that detect food sanitation hazards. Her patented technologies have been used to improve food safety for millions in China and elsewhere.

2015: Disaster Risk Reduction: Understanding the Role of Climate Change and Variability

Dr Jong-Seong Kug of Korea was awarded the 2015 ASPIRE Prize in Manila by Secretary Mario Montejo of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. Dr Kug is an Associate Professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology’s School of Environmental Science and Engineering in Korea, and his El Niño prediction model has helped the Korea Meteorological Administration better understand tropical climate dynamics, and forecast and track extreme weather—an area that addressed Philippines’ theme of “Disaster Risk Reduction: Understanding the Role of Climate Change and Variability.”

2014: Intelligent Transportation

Dr Agachai Sumalee, a Thai professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was awarded the 2014 ASPIRE Prize by Cai Jianlin, China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology.  China selected the theme of “Intelligent Transportation”to reflect China’s interest in facilitating green and sustainable growth, environmental protection and low-carbon economies. Dr Sumalee designed a model in collaboration with researchers from across the APEC region that allows highway managers to predict traffic conditions and prevent congestion. This led to ground breaking road traffic management system that slashed commuting times in the greater Bangkok area.

2013: Sustainable Ocean Development

In 2013 the ASPIRE Prize was awarded by Gusti M. Hatta, Indonesia’s Minister of Research and Technology, to Dr Carissa Klein of Australia. Dr Klein’s research with the University of Queensland uniquely addressed the 2013 ASPIRE nominating theme of “sustainable ocean development” by striking a balance between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic viability. Her work has helped two APEC member economies—Malaysia and the United States—sustainably zone the ocean for fishing and conservation.

2012: Health Innovation

Dr Rossa Wai Kwun Chiu of Hong Kong, China was awarded the 2012 ASPIRE Prize. Russia selected “health innovation” as its ASPIRE nominating theme, building on it desire that APEC actively foster cooperation among economies in major innovation areas, such as human health, to support healthy lifestyles, productivity and economic growth.  Dr Chiu’s groundbreaking research and innovations in chemical pathology has brought non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal genetic diseases into routine clinical use around the world.

2011: Green Growth

In 2011 the ASPIRE Prize was awarded by Nobel Laureate and U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to Dr Ali Javey of the United States.  The United States selected “green growth” as its ASPIRE nominating theme, building on its desire that APEC actively promote environmentally sustainable economic growth and development, and help our economies successfully transition to a clean energy future.  Dr Javey’s innovative work with nanomaterials has made great strides in developing a new generation of solar energy technology and reducing energy consumption in “green electronics.”