Opened to Overseas Tertiary Institutions for the First Time and with Record-breaking Numbers in Participation

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 February 2024 - Hong Kong Techathon+ 2024 (HK Techathon+ 2024), the highly anticipated academic spectacle in innovation and technology (I&T), jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and ten co-organising universities, namely The City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Lingnan University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Education University of Hong Kong, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The University of Hong Kong, has successfully concluded with overwhelming support and applause.

This year's event not only marked a historic milestone in terms of scale and participation, but also featured the unprecedented participation of the International Group, gathering around 1,500 local and non-local participants from the United States, Malaysia, Taiwan, Macau, Thailand, and Singapore taking part in the spectacle, an increase of nearly fifty percent from last year.

Mr. Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, expressed in his closing ceremony address, "HKSTP is committed to promoting the development of I&T in Hong Kong, exemplified by the endeavors involved in this annual spectacle. We aim to bring together young talents from Hong Kong and overseas, providing them with a variety of entrepreneurial support and a platform for cross disciplinary exchange to strengthen the city's I&T ecosystem. I wish all the winning teams success in realising their visions in I&T, and creating a better future for the world with their aspirations."

Nearly 1,500 innovation and technology talents competing for top honors

HK Techathon+ 2024 aims to unearth young people in Hong Kong who are passionate to get involved in startups to promote more I&T opportunities. A total of 92 startup teams from local and overseas tertiary institutions gathered during the three-day final competition, competing for top honours in the Hong Kong Student Group, Hong Kong Open Group, and International Group. These talented teams conceived their original innovative solutions which would combine creativity and feasibility, based on one of the four major technology themes, namely "Trusted AI & Data Science", "Sustainability & ESG", "Digital Economy" and "Smart Cities". Top performing teams of each track were awarded. The International Group has also attracted entry from a number of top overseas universities, such as the Stanford University in the United States, the National University of Singapore, and Thailand's Chulalongkorn University.

All of the winning teams of each track were awarded with initial funding, and also direct access to over HK$3 million seed funding and numerous incubation support programmes, gearing them up for success in realising their startup goals.

In addition, to compete for the "Best Presentation Award", all ten gold winning teams from various groups delivered a two-minute elevator pitch on stage, sharing the advantages and potential value of their startup solutions with potential investors and partners. "InsectX", the winning team from the Local Student Group, excelled with their outstanding presentation skill and innovative proposal in the theme of "Sustainability & ESG", and won a cash prize of HK$ 5,000.

HK Techathon+ 2024 Winner Highlights:

Local Student Group

Local Open Group

International Group

Hashtag: #HKTechathon+ #HKSTP

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Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 with a mission to position Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. HKSTP has created a thriving I&T ecosystem supporting over 10 unicorns with more than 13,000 research professionals and around 1,700 technology companies from 24 countries and regions focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.

We offer comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures on their I&T journey. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry.

To support Hong Kong's future development and its growing demands of the I&T industry, HKSTP is actively connecting the city with Shenzhen. This aims to strengthen cross-border exchange, attract technology companies as well as talent from around the world, helping them go global by exploring the mainland China and overseas markets.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, opened in September 2023 with a gross floor area of 31,000 square meters. The two buildings provide both dry and wet laboratories, co-working areas, conference and exhibition spaces, and more. We will focus on attracting enterprises in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability.

Through our infrastructure, services, expertise, and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing the city's international I&T hub status as a launchpad for growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse.

More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.