HKU IMPACT (Jun 2025)
Event Highlights
Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province Delegation Visit
On 13 May 2025, a delegation from the Hunan Province Department of Science and Technology visited HKU to assess technology transfer opportunities. The HKU reception team, headed by Associate Vice President Prof. Xiaobo Yin, greeted the delegation. This team comprised Associate Dean Prof. Xuechen Li, Associate Department Head Prof. Wendi Li from Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Ji Chen from Civil Engineering, Dr. Howard Cheung from the Department of System Engineering, and Edmund Wong from the Technology Transfer Office & Versitech Ltd. They cordially welcomed Ms. Zhu, the Director of the Hunan Province Department of Science and Technology, along with her team. The visit featured a tour of the Department of System Engineering laboratories.
Shijiazhuang City Delegation Visit
On 23 May 2025, Mr. Zhang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Shijiazhuang Municipal Party Committee, visited HKU to discuss the economic status of Shijiazhuang. Vice President Professor Peng Gong welcomed the delegation. Following Mr. Zhang's visit, representatives from the Investment Promotion Bureau convened with HKU's Technology Transfer Office and Versitech Ltd. for further discussions.
Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme Launch Ceremony & FHKI Startup Council x HKU Demo Day Conclude Successfully
TEC proudly marked the launch of the Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme and collaborated with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) Startup Council’s STARS Programme to host the HKU Demo Day on 9 June 2025.
Tech-Up
The Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme aims to empower young tech entrepreneurs in turning innovative concepts into successful businesses within Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The initiative offers seed funding, mentorship, and vital resources, equipping participants with necessary tools to thrive in the competitive startup environment.
Demo Day
The HKU Demo Day, co-organized with the FHKI Startup Council’s STARS Programme (Cohort 6 – Session 2), featured an exciting array of rapidly evolving HKU startups seeking funding for the ESG & Advanced Tech, ICT, and AI sectors. This special edition event united innovative startups to present their business plans and recent developments to an audience of super angel network members, venture capital investors, and industry specialists.
AI for All – HKU TEC's Champion Project at Samsung Competition
This year’s competition theme, “Pathways of Tomorrow: Trailblazing New Paths for the Next Generation, " invited students throughout Hong Kong to utilise AI and advanced technologies to tackle important societal challenges. The competition concluded on 14 April 2025, and witnessed a record surge in participation, with nearly 500 teams from 180 schools and higher education institutions.
Led by HKU student Raissa Yeung, the winning project, Digitoe’s iWalk, presents a groundbreaking solution for improving children’s foot health, establishing a new standard in AI health-tech innovation.
HKU Students and Startups Shine at the 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition
This year, we observed an unprecedented surge in the number of teams and students participating in the competition, underscoring the increasing enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship among HKU students. They distinguished themselves by winning awards in both the innovation and entrepreneurship tracks, encompassing categories such as social entrepreneurship, startups, mathematics/mechanics, energy, environment, and chemical engineering, among others.
Super Angel Network Workshop 1 - Angel Investing: Gamble or Generosity?
We were delighted to welcome over 50 passionate participants to the inaugural workshop of the Angel Investing 101 Series, hosted by the HKU Super Angel Network. The event was a tremendous success, igniting lively discussions and creating valuable opportunities for networking.
HKU Team Digitoe in Startup Express 2025
The HKU Team Digitoe is thrilled to be recognised as one of the Top 10 winners in Startup Express 2025, chosen from more than 200 applicants across the region. Hosted by HKTDC, Startup Express supports innovative tech startups targeting international markets, having assisted 80 winners since 2018 in expanding through global connections, funding, and brand exposure.
Join Us @ HKU
Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme
The Tech-Up GBA Innovators Programme (Tech-Up) seeks to enable young tech entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses in Hong Kong and/or the Greater Bay Area by offering seed funding, mentorship, and essential resources. Organised by HKU's TEC, this programme receives additional support from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau through the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which is managed by the Youth Development Commission under the Youth Development Fund.
Benefits:
- Funding Support of HK$600,000
- A grant of HK$480,000 and an interest-free loan of HK$120,000
- Up to 24 months of Incubation Support
- Mentorship
- Entrepreneurship and Incubation services support
- Structured Entrepreneurship Training
- Lean Launcher Training Programme
- HKU TEC’s Entrepreneurship Academy
- Public Exposure and Networking
- From Prototyping to Market Launch
- Workspaces in Hong Kong and Shenzhen
2025 HKU International
Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge
The 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge is co-hosted by the HKU Institute for China Business (ICB) and the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC), with strong backing from various government, academic, and industrial partners.
This competition aims to foster technological innovation and industrial growth while enhancing international scientific and technological collaboration. It emphasises not just showcasing and exchanging technological innovation but also promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The event will feature a judging panel of eminent technology experts, distinguished investors, and leaders from investment firms and industries worldwide. They will conduct thorough evaluations and offer guidance to the participating teams, providing valuable resources and support to exceptional projects.
External Opportunities
China Mobile-HKU Joint Innovation Centre Agreement Signing Ceremony
We are excited to announce the inception of the China Mobile - HKU Joint Innovation Centre! This marks the first collaboration between China Mobile Group and a Hong Kong university along with international partners, with a goal to enhance research and development in critical fields such as AI, 6G, Web 3.0, the low-altitude economy, edge AI, and satellite communication.
The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from various sectors, emphasising our commitment to driving innovation that serves both academic and industrial interests.
The China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2025
The "China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2025" was initially introduced in 2015. In its last edition, the competition drew more than 5.14 million projects from 153 countries and regions, engaging 5,406 universities. Projects that succeed in the Hong Kong regional selection will create the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Delegation" to compete against global elites on the national platform, making it an exceptional opportunity.
Cyberport CCMF & CIP
The upcoming cohort for CCMF and CIP is on the horizon. These initiatives provide funding ranging from HK100,000 to HK500,000, along with additional resources such as co-working spaces, mentorship, and investment opportunities. For further information and to apply, please visit Cyberport's website or reach out to:
https://www.cyberport.hk/en/cyberport_incubation_programme
https://www.cyberport.hk/en/entrepreneurship/cyberport_creative_micro_fund/