The URA x PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition 2026, jointly organised by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aims to engage secondary school students in Hong Kong in exploring the characteristics of old districts and urban renewal issues through social innovation.

Focusing on real urban renewal projects, the Competition invites students to examine one of the designated redevelopment areas, namely the Sai Yee Street / Flower Market Road project and the Peel Street / Graham Street project, and to propose innovative, district-based solutions that respond to community needs and aspirations. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach across the social sciences and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 360-degree cameras, and geospatial data, the Competition enables students to develop a deeper understanding of urban renewal challenges and how the enhancement of the built environment and development of local community combine to contribute to sustainable city development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Sustainable Cities and Communities and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Objectives

1. Enhance students’ understanding of urban renewal and community challenges:

The competition aims to enhance secondary school students’ understanding of key urban renewal challenges in Hong Kong, including urban decay, ageing neighbourhoods, changing community needs, and the revitalisation of existing districts through new strategies such as the "3B" system, which intertwines the “Built environment”, “Business environment” and “local Bonding”. By working on real-life scenarios from the above-mentioned redevelopment projects, students will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the social, spatial, and community dimensions of urban renewal.

2. Develop creative problem-solving skills through social innovation and technology:

Participants will be encouraged to apply social innovation frameworks and creative thinking approaches, alongside tools such as AI, 360-degree cameras, and geospatial data, to analyse urban issues and generate innovative ideas. Through this process, students will learn how to transform observations and research into practical solutions that address real community challenges.

3. Foster collaboration, mentorship, and youth participation in public discourse:

By working in teams with guidance from university student mentors and professionals, students will engage in intergenerational collaboration and teamwork. The Competition provides opportunities for students to exchange ideas, receive feedback, and develop confidence in expressing their perspectives on urban renewal and community development, thereby strengthening youth participation in public discourse.

4. Connect local urban challenges to global sustainability goals:

The Competition aims to strengthen students’ awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Sustainable Cities and Communities and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and to highlight how local actions can contribute to sustainable urban development.

Competition Details

Eligibility:

Students at the senior secondary level or equivalent studying in Hong Kong, including: Local S.4 & S.5/ Year 11 & 12/ Grade 10 & 11

Each team can have four to six student participants

Each school can nominate more than one team

Phase 1: Training and Proposal Development

All participating teams will take part in Phase 1, which focuses on building foundational knowledge and developing initial project ideas.

Each team is required to complete team registration by 27 March 2026. Successful registrants will receive an email confirmation.

Training Sessions

All participating teams will attend two training workshops (18 April 2026 & 25 April 2026), during which students will gain exposure to both urban renewal knowledge and applied social innovation skills through training delivered by PolyU academic staff, URA professionals, and industry practitioners.

During the training sessions, students will learn about:

• Urban renewal objectives and planning considerations of the designated project areas.
• Place-making and community making concepts, with an emphasis on neighbourhood needs, aspirations and bottom-up approaches.
• Social innovation and design-thinking approaches for developing place-based solutions.
• Urban development and public policy relevant to place-making and community making.
• Applied technologies, including AI, geospatial data and 360-degree immersive media, to support analysis and presentation.

Each team will be required to develop a preliminary proposal and propose an innovative, place-based solution that aligns with the planning objectives and redevelopment proposals of the designated redevelopment areas. Teams will be encouraged to conduct research, identify community needs, and formulate feasible strategies that respond to local aspirations. Feedback will be provided to support teams in refining their ideas and preparing for the mid-term presentation in the next phase.

Mid-term Proposal Presentation PPT Submission

After attending the training workshops, each team is required to revise and submit its proposal together with the presentation slides (PPT) by 16 May 2026.

Phase 2: Proposal Presentation and Shortlisting

All participating teams are required to deliver a proposal presentation addressing the following key components:

1. Identification of Urban Renewal Issues:

Teams will identify and explain a key urban renewal issue related to the designated redevelopment areas, namely the Sai Yee Street / Flower Market Road (YTM-013) project or the Peel Street/ Graham Street project (H18). The presentation should demonstrate understanding of planning objectives, local community needs, challenges, and aspirations.

2. Use of Technology to Present Ideas:

Teams should demonstrate how tools such as AI, 360-degree cameras, and geospatial data are used to analyse the selected issue and to illustrate the proposed place-making and/or community making solution in a clear and engaging manner.

3. Proposed Solution and Expected Outcomes:

The presentation should outline the proposed solution and briefly explain how it responds to the identified urban renewal challenges, contributes to community development, and aligns with the planning objectives of the designated redevelopment areas.

All teams will be invited to present their proposals in person at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 23 May 2026. Each presentation should be concise and focused, with a recommended length of no more than 10 minutes.

A judging panel will further select 8 teams to proceed to Phase 3 on a merit basis, considering the above three criteria. The shortlisting results will be announced by 29 May 2026.

Phase 3: Mentorship and Refinement

Following the mid-term presentation and shortlisting, the shortlisted teams will proceed to Phase 3, which focuses on further refining their proposed solutions and presentation materials.

During this phase, mentorship sessions will be conducted from June to July 2026 (TBC), during which teams will receive guidance from university student mentors and professionals. The mentorship sessions will support teams in consolidating feedback from the mid-term presentation, strengthening the feasibility of their place-making and/or community making proposals, and improving the clarity and quality of their presentation materials.

Phase 4: Final Presentation and Award Presentation Ceremony

Shortlisted teams will be invited to deliver a final presentation based on their refined place-making and/or community making proposals developed during Phase 3.

Each team will conduct a 10-minute presentation of its final proposal in person at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in August 2026 (TBC). The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with the judging panel.

The Award Presentation Ceremony will be held on the same day following the final presentations, during which winning teams and outstanding participants will be announced and recognised.