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HKU teams recently demonstrated their wealth of innovation and talent by winning multiple awards at local and national innovation events, namely the National Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions and the Hong Kong Techathon+ 2025.

Co-organised by The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and 13 leading universities and institutions in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Techathon+ encourages innovators to “embrace the challenge with innovative vibes”. This year, the Hong Kong Techathon+ 2025 witnessed a record-breaking participation of over 1,800 individuals and more than 380 project teams. Numerous HKU members have taken part in this competition and five HKU teams have been awarded in four categories, as follows:

Sustainability & ESG – Open Group
PETFECT: Revolutionizing Pet Health and Nutrition with AI (1st Runner Up)
Incorporation of Microalgae CO2 Capture into Urban Greenspaces (2nd Runner Up)
Visionary (Merit)

Digital Economy – Open Group
Averi Recruitment Technology (1st Runner Up)

Digital Economy – Student Group
Jobro (1st Runner Up)

Smart Cities – Open Group
Swayscooter (Merit)
 

At the 2024 National Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions in December 2024, HKU teams received Silver and Bronze Awards in both the National Challenge Cup and the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition. The National Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions – Hong Kong Regional Award Ceremony was organised by the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association. This achievement celebrates the dedication, creativity, and innovative spirit of our incredible researchers.  The four winning projects are as follows: 
 
China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2024: 
Silver Award: BedWatcher (安臥) 
Bronze Award: Dr Walk 
 
14th "Challenge Cup" National College Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition: 
Silver Award: SAGA (星光) 
Bronze Award: NestSpace (璞材) 
 
Congratulations to all the awarded HKU teams! 
 

Dr Cheuk Kwong Ng HKU PhD graduate from the Department of Physics, recipient of Silver Award at Hong Kong Techathon+ 2025   “Participating in Hong Kong Techathon+ 2025 with PetFect was an incredible experience. Our AI-driven pet health monitoring and nutrition system helps extend pet lifespan through personalized care. As a PhD in Physics and HKU graduate, I see entrepreneurship as an exciting alternative to academia. Many researchers focus on academic careers, but hackathons and startup competitions like Hong Kong Techathon+ provide a practical entry point for RPg students without an entrepreneurial background. These events help transform research into real-world applications. Despite organizing and competing in numerous hackathons, every competition presents new challenges. The ability to apply academic expertise to real-world problems remains incredibly fulfilling. The Techathon’s mentorship, networking, and competitive environment played a crucial role in shaping PetFect, while HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC) and iDendron provided invaluable support. Their resources, mentorship, and entrepreneurial ecosystem helped us refine our concept, connect with industry experts, and accelerate its real-world impact. HKU’s dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship has been instrumental in this journey. For researchers considering the transition from academia to entrepreneurship, I strongly encourage exploring hackathons, startup competitions, and university-backed innovation hubs. These platforms provide a valuable launchpad to transform research into impactful ventures while building strong industry connections.”