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The following is issued on behalf of the Institute of Philanthropy

Presentation ceremony in Beijing marks expansion of collaborative initiative, with broader university participation and programme scope for the 2025/26 cohort

In collaboration with the National Health Commission (NHC) and funded by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the second cohort long-term programme scholarships and fellowships of the Institute of Philanthropy Medical and Health Scholarship-cum-Fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland were officially announced at a presentation ceremony held on 19 August 2025 at the Beijing Hong Kong Jockey Club Clubhouse. The event celebrated the selection of 31 top medical and health professionals from the Mainland, who underwent a rigorous two-tiered selection process conducted by expert panels from both the Mainland and Hong Kong. They will undertake master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral studies at seven universities in Hong Kong and overseas starting from September 2025.

Established in March 2024, the initiative has expanded significantly in its second year. The number of host universities has increased from three to seven, and the number of academic programmes has grown from seven to 14 to meet diverse needs in human resources in health in the Mainland. The selection of programmes was guided by four national priority areas: medical research, public health (including global health), life sciences and health administration/management.

Lester Huang, Chairman of IoP, stated: “The expansion of this scholarship and fellowship initiative underscores our deep commitment to supporting the development of medical and health talent in alignment with national priorities. By harnessing Hong Kong’s academic excellence and global connectivity, we are proud to contribute to the cultivation of professionals who will lead the future of healthcare in China.”

The presentation ceremony was jointly officiated by senior representatives from the NHC and IoP.  Officiating guests from NHC included Liu Hongtao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Personnel of NHC; Li Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of NHC; and Fang Jianning, Deputy Director-General (Acting Chief), Health Human Resources Development Centre of NHC. They were joined by Dr Gabriel Leung, Director of IoP; Dylan Lu, Chief Mainland Representative of IoP; and Ada Chu, Senior Advisor at IoP. Together, they celebrated the achievements of the second cohort and reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing top-tier talent in the medical and health sectors.

The Institute of Philanthropy Medical and Health Scholarship-cum-Fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland is funded by a donation of around HK$300 million from IoP, which was established jointly by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. The initiative focuses on the development of top professional talent in clinical service and health management, demonstrating IoP’s strong support for the “Healthy China 2030 Blueprint” and the “14th Five-Year Plan on health-talent development”.

About The Institute of Philanthropy
The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a seed grant of HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. Established as an independent “think-fund-do” tank for China, Asia and beyond, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies everywhere.