PolyU International Future Challenge (Qianhai Regional Final) advances top four teams to Grand Final

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the PolyU x CSCEC Science and Industry International Future Challenge (Qianhai Regional Final) in Qianhai, Shenzhen, yesterday (20 August 2026). 16 innovative startup teams competed for a range of awards and cash prizes, with the top four teams advancing to the Grand Final scheduled to be held in Hong Kong in January 2027, joining winners from eight other regional competitions.

During the competition, Dr LAM Tai‑fai, PolyU Council Chairman, led the University’s representatives to meet with Ms WEN Ping, Member of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone Work Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee cum Deputy Director General of the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality (Qianhai Authority) and representatives of the Authority. With a view to further deepening collaboration between Hong Kong and Qianhai, they engaged in in‑depth exchanges on crucial topics that included translation of PolyU research outcomes in Qianhai, startup incubation, industry‑academia‑research collaboration and Shenzhen‑Hong Kong integration.

The PolyU International Future Challenge (PolyU IFC) Qianhai Regional Final was hosted by the PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre (QHRC), with China Construction Science and Industry Corporation Ltd. (CSCES Science and Industry), a leading enterprise in China’s steel structure industry, serving as the strategic partner. The competition was supported by several key organisations, including Qianhai FinNet, Shenzhen Angel FOF, the Qianhai Global Investor Network, Qianhai International Talent Service Center, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, the PolyU Shenzhen Research Institute, and the PolyU CEO Club.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) remarked, “PolyU has been actively integrating itself into overall National development, consistently leveraging its innovation strengths and innovative spirit to help realise the Nation’s strategic goal of achieving high‑level self‑reliance and strength in science and technology. PolyU IFC serves as a key initiative in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship and unlocking the potential of our young people. It is truly encouraging that the teams participating in the PolyU IFC Qianhai Regional Final have not only demonstrated impressive innovation capabilities but also embodied the Qianhai spirit of ‘being enterprising and pioneering’. We look forward to more young innovators setting off from Qianhai’s innovation hub to translate technological achievements into ventures that empower the future while creating further technology and innovation success stories.”

The PolyU IFC Qianhai Regional Final focused on cutting edge fields including Life Sciences and Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing and Microelectronics, Smart City and Green Living, as well as Aerospace and Aviation Technology. The competition attracted over 100 teams, clearly demonstrating the vitality and appeal of Qianhai as an innovation and technology hub. Prior to the competition, participating teams joined a series of exchanges and site visits, including tours to QHRC, the Qianhai Shenzhen Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, the Qianhai R&D and Service Platform for Smart Manufacturing, as well as enterprises founded by PolyU alumni, such as EcoFlow Inc. and BOTINKIT. These visits helped participants gain in depth insights into Qianhai’s entrepreneurial resources and market landscape.

In addition to the cash prizes, the top four teams will gain access to entrepreneurial resources from PolyVentures, the University’s startup ecosystem, and be admitted to the high quality incubator at QHRC to accelerate their expansion into the Chinese Mainland market. Furthermore, winning teams may secure tuition sponsorship for the PolyU Master of Technology Entrepreneurship programme.

Following a rigorous evaluation by the judging panel and on site voting, the winning teams of the PolyU IFC Qianhai Regional Final were as follows.

As the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship competition, the PolyU IFC is strategically aligned with the Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and “Artificial Intelligence (AI)+” initiative. This year, an overseas region was introduced for the first time, meaning the inclusion of nine competition regions in total: Saudi Arabia, Qianhai, Hong Kong, Wuhan, Nanjing, Jinjiang, Hefei, Hangzhou and Wuxi. Leveraging the cross border network of the PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes and in collaboration with local government authorities and leading enterprises, the competition focuses on “AI+” to foster precise alignment between research projects and regional industrial resources.

To date, over 1,400 competition applications have been received from across the nine competition regions. Registration for the Jinjiang, Hefei, Hangzhou and Wuxi regions is currently open. For further details, please visit the official PolyU IFC website.

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