Grand Finale of 2025 HKU International Techno‑Entrepreneurship Challenge concludes with strong global participation as top 20 global teams showcase the power of world‑leading innovation

The grand finale of the 2025 HKU International Techno‑Entrepreneurship Challenge, jointly organised by the HKU Institute for China Business (ICB) and the HKU Techno‑Entrepreneurship Core (TEC), concluded successfully at the Grand Hall, Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) on 17 January 2026.

Staged in a hybrid format, the event received an overwhelming response, with approximately 600 attendees present on-site, while the online live stream attracted over 500,000 views, underscoring the competition’s broad appeal across the innovation and entrepreneurship community. From a global field of 253 submissions, 20 finalist teams advanced to compete for top honours following a rigorous, multi‑stage selection process. A panel of expert judges from government, industry, academia and investment sectors conducted comprehensive assessments of the Top 20 projects, covering technological strength, commercialisation potential and market strategy.

Groundbreaking Medical Technology Takes the Spotlight
The competition featured two categories—the Start‑up Division and the Growth Division—embracing innovation across diverse sectors, with medical technology emerging as a clear highlight:

Start‑up Division Champion — “Portable Intracranial Haemorrhage Detection and Analyzer”, which also received awards for Marketing Excellence and Intellectual Property. By integrating microwave imaging with artificial intelligence, this portable, radiation‑free and cost‑effective device enables rapid, non‑invasive stroke screening and dynamic monitoring of intracranial bleeding.

Growth Division Champion —‘Development and Application of “Paramyxoviridae” Delivery Vector Technology’, which was also awarded Marketing Excellence. This project focuses on 3–6 mm small‑calibre tissue‑engineered vascular grafts, combining human‑derived cells, biodegradable scaffolds and a proprietary bioreactor.

Professor Chak-sing Lau, HKU Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) (Interim) and Dean of Medicine, officiated the opening ceremony. He remarked that innovation arises from the creativity of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the University’s ongoing research endeavours. He highlighted that HKU genuinely believes in how innovation can benefit the community, stating that the University is committed to transforming lives through its mission in research and education.  Professor Lau further noted that the Challenge exemplifies our efforts in promoting creativity, innovation, and the successful transfer of academic discoveries from the classroom and laboratory to real-world solutions that can serve people both locally and globally.

The Honourable Duncan Chiu, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR (Functional Constituency - Technology and Innovation), stated that the competition aligns with Hong Kong’s innovation and technology strategy, strengthening collaboration among government, industry, academia and research institutions.

Mr Hoi‑king Chan, Director of the Hong Kong Talent Engage Office, Labour and Welfare Bureau, HKSAR Government, reiterated Hong Kong’s unique role as a hub that is ‘rooted in China and connected to the world’, and its commitment to fostering synergy between technology and talent to contribute to national and global innovation.

Mr Benjamin Fok, Chairman of Global Innovation Show Conference, remarked that the competition serves not only as a contest, but also as a crucial platform for technology implementation. He expressed hope that more innovative solutions would take root in Hong Kong and drive future upgrading of technology industries.

Building an International Platform for Innovation Collaboration
Dr Paul Wang, Director of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, noted in his closing remarks that the competition has remained steadfast in its commitment to fairness, professionalism and the mission of ‘Knowledge Transfer for Triple Helix Innovation’.

He emphasised three core features of the competition:

• Global Vision, bringing together innovative forces from around the world.
• Leveraging HKU’s Strengths, with medical technology showing exceptional performance this year.
• Strong industry–academic–research collaboration, accelerating knowledge transfer of research into market‑ready solutions.

He added that the next 2026 competition will further expand its international reach, attracting more global teams and enabling HKU’s innovation and technology projects to shine on a broader global stage.

The Challenge received robust support from partners across government, academia and industry, including the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, InvestHK, China Unicom Global Limited, the Asia Innovation and Intellectual Property Society, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the HKU Technology Transfer Office, the HKU Techno‑Entrepreneurship Academy, HKU iDendron, the HKU Super Angel Network, and the HKU Entrepreneurship Engine Fund. Special support was provided by the Science and Technology Commission of Putuo District, Shanghai, and the Lingang Group.

Award Recipients
Start‑up Division:
Champion | Intellectual Property Award | Marketing Excellence Award:
Portable Intracranial Hemorrhage Detection Analyzer

1st Runner‑up:
Breast imaging AI+ Photon Counting Breast CT project

2nd Runner‑up:
BiomOrgan

ESG Excellence Award:
Regenerative system

Growth Division:
Champion | Marketing Excellence Award:
Research, Development, and Industrialization of Tissue-Engineered Artificial Blood Vessels

1st Runner‑up | Intellectual Property Award | ESG Excellence Award
Precision diagnosis and treatment of tumors enabled by artificial intelligence

2nd Runner‑up:
Advanced 3rd Generation Semiconductor Packaging Solution

For media enquiries, please contact:
HKU Institute for China Business
Mr Desmond Chow | Tel: 3917 3756 | E-mail: cydchow@hku.hk

HKU Technology Transfer Office
Ms Esther Yiu | Tel: 3917 3949 | E-mail: estherey@hku.hk

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