APSS and the Urban Renewal Authority Co-Host Competition to Empower Youth in Social Innovation

The URA x PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition 2026 concluded on 22 August 2026 with an award presentation ceremony. Jointly organised by APSS and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), and supported by the PolyU Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) and Esri China (Hong Kong), the competition invited nearly 400 students from 64 schools to develop feasible place-making or community-making proposals through innovative thinking.

The ceremony was officiated by Mr Kwok Ki CHAN, GBS, IDSM, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chung Kong CHOW, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the URA; and Prof. Wing Tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU.

Distinguished guests included Ar Donald CHOI, BBS, JP, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of the URA; Prof. David SHUM, MH, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, and Prof. Eric CHUI, MH, Head of APSS, Co-Director of PReCIT, ADoRCESGA, and Chair Professor of Social Work and Criminology.

Prof. Eric CHUI also presented key research insights from the competition, highlighting statistically significant improvements in participants’ perceived civic engagement, design thinking mindset, perspective-taking abilities and awareness of unban sustainability following their involvement.

Led by Mr Vincent YEUNG, Lecturer of APSS, the competition aimed to empower secondary school students to explore urban renewal in Hong Kong and develop an in-depth understanding of its impacts on communities. The event demonstrated the value of cross-sector collaboration in nurturing the next generation of social innovators.

Moving forward, APSS remains dedicated to empowering young minds to apply innovative, creative, technological and research-backed solutions to real-world community challenges, contributing to a more vibrant and inclusive society.

Press release: English - https://polyu.me/4bZFvys; Chinese - https://polyu.me/4xioXdy

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