Media

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held the grand finale of the 2023 HKU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge yesterday (December 16).

Themed 'Knowledge Transfer for Triple Helix Innovation', the Challenge marked the University’s first-ever nationwide start-up competition. It was co-hosted by the HKU Institute for China Business and the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core.

The Challenge encompassed seven specialised fields: artificial intelligence, information technology, biomedical treatment, energy conservation & environmental protection, culture and creativity, mass consumption, and intelligent manufacturing. Participants competed in two divisions: the Early-stage Division and the Growth Division.

Nineteen top projects, selected from over 230 innovative submissions across six competition zones including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, advanced to the finale. Winners were awarded in both divisions, including first, second, and third-place prizes, as well as special accolades including the Intellectual Property Award (Early-stage Division) and the ESG Excellence Award (Growth Division).

Professor Peng Gong, Vice-President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) of HKU, addressed the participants and conveyed his well wishes for the event's success, highlighting its contribution to promoting the deep integration of government, industry, academia, and research in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and across the nation.

"It is the opportune moment to embrace innovation and the perfect environment to turn dreams into reality," said Professor Gong.

"The inaugural nationwide entrepreneurship and innovation competition signals HKU’s commitment to fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem. The competition serves as a platform for facilitating the exchange and integration of cutting-edge technologies, while continuously inspiring novel collaborations among government bodies, industries, academia, and research institutions. This event plays a pivotal role in accelerating the flow of entrepreneurial and innovative ideas, promoting collaborative innovation, and paving the way for mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes.”  He added.

Professor Gong emphasised the crucial role of universities in driving knowledge transfer and propelling the advancement of the innovation ecosystem. HKU places utmost importance on making original discoveries. The current event serves as an exemplary model for different stakeholders to engage in meaningful exchanges, nurture shared motivation, and cultivate joint capacity. It also exemplifies HKU's commitment to its "For China" aspiration as the world's most internationalised university."

Professor Ning Rong Liu, Associate Vice-President of HKU and Founding Director of HKU ICB, expressed a warm welcome to the ICB alumni coming from various parts of China, as well as the participating teams and guests attending the event. Dr Henry Ma, Assistant Director of HKU ICB, delivered the closing remarks.

The winning teams
Early-stage Division:
First Prize and Intellectual Property Award
Innovative Engineered Bacterial Vaccines 創新的工程化細菌疫苗

Second Prize
Chloroplast Factory 葉綠體工廠

Third Prize
Innovative Device for Heart Failure - Implantable Myocardial Contraction Regulator 心衰創新器械 - 植入式心肌收縮調節器

Growth Division:
First Prize and ESG Excellence Award
VR Code 三維碼

Second Prize
AI tws with chatgpt

Third Prize
Care E Health - AI Home Care Robot for Health and Wellness 康益恒 - 康養人工智慧家庭康護機器人

Please click here (Chinese only) for details of the winning projects.

Media enquiries
Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: ngjaymee@hku.hk)
Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 2859 2607 / Email: khkchoi@hku.hk)