PolyU International Future Challenge - Wenzhou Region

Cash Prize: Up to RMB 100,000, plus the opportunity to compete for an additional HK$500,000 at the Grand Final.

Matching Services: Provide industry resources, investment and financing matching, project guidance and other services according to project needs to help accelerate its development. 

Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Participating teams can join PolyVentures and engage in various innovation exchange activities hosted by PolyU and its partners, connect with industry talents, and expand opportunities for cooperation. 

Access to Incubation Centre: Utilise the MTRI's resources to facilitate commercialisation. 

Apply HERE

Application Deadline: 31 August 2025

Entry Requirements	1. The competition is open to any individuals or teams from all around the world which fulfill one of the following requirements: Include one PolyU member (alumni/staff/student) with a minimum 10% ownership in the startup. Existing PolyU Licensee, or commit to using and licensing PolyU intellectual property (IP) [1] [2] in their startup upon winning[3]. Current PolyU MTRI’s incubatee or commit to incorporating a startup in a location with a MTRI upon winning [3]  . 2. Each individual can participate in no more than three teams but can only serve as the Principal Applicant (PA) for one team. 3. All team members are required to sign a “Declaration Form for Principal Applicant and Team Member(s)” that they duly authorize the principal applicant of the team to act on their behalf in relation to the Competition application submission and agree to be bound by all actions taken by the principal applicant in relation to the Competition. 4. Team is not required for having a registered business entity at the time of application. However, if a team is awarded, they must register a company before receiving the prizes [1] “Declaration of Use of PolyU Knowledge/Innovations/Technologies"should be signed to get the endorsement for the use of PolyU IP before application [2] Express License and Trial License Schemes of Intellectual Properties (IPs) of PolyU are available for participants’ consideration. For details, please refer to the Express License and Trial License Schemes and IP Portal. [3] "A letter of confirmation" must be signed by the Principal Applicant to formalize this commitment before application.
Application Procedure	Complete the online application with the following documents  A Pitch Deck (within 15 slides of PPT in English or Chinese) A link to a pitching video (maximum 5 minutes)  A copy of Principal Applicant 's ID card/passport A proof of document for the entry requirement (1) A copy of student ID/graduation certificate/staff card, and a company registration document showing the shares (if any) or (2) Licensing Agreement OR Declaration of use of PolyU knowledge/innovation/techonolgies; or (3) Letter of Confirmation; Declaration form for principal applicant and team member(s) (if more than one team member)
Application Deadline	31 August 2025  Please read the Terms and Conditions before application. Applications must be submitted before the deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.

Important Notice:

Participants must agree to be bound by and accept the competition rules of the competition. 

• By applying for the competition, participants must represent and warrant that all information and materials submitted with the application are their original work and that they have all the rights, licenses, permissions, and consents necessary for the submission. The information and materials filled in and submitted must be true, legal, complete, and valid. In cases of plagiarism, misappropriation, or fraud, the participants shall bear all responsibilities and consequences.
• At any time, if the Organiser determines or finds that the participants or the project does not meet the entry requirements, it has the right not to approve, reject, or cancel their application.
• Participants must not make any statement, comment, or issue any materials that are political, violent, discriminatory, unlawful, infringing, hateful, sexually suggestive, defamatory, or adverse to the reputation of any sponsors/ partners and Organiser during the Competition or the related events.
• The Organiser may capture video and photos during the competition, as well as use the information of participants and basic information of participating projects within a reasonable scope for any purpose (e.g. reporting, display, publicity) related to the Competition.
• The Organiser reserves the right to interpret and change the Competition rules and other provisions and conditions. Participants shall not raise any objections to such interpretation and changes.

Please visit the Terms and Conditions of the competition for details.

The Wenzhou Region focuses on the following industry sectors and the application of AI in these sectors:  

Advanced Manufacturing Technology 
Ultra-precision manufacturing technology plays a crucial role in the current high-end manufacturing industry, promoting industrial innovation and product quality improvement. This technology can process at the micron or even nano level, achieving extremely high dimensional accuracy and surface finish, and is used in key industries such as aerospace, medical devices and semiconductors. We need interdisciplinary talents dedicated to the research and application of new materials, advanced processing technologies and intelligent control systems. Join us to explore the future of ultra-precision manufacturing, achieve the perfect balance of high efficiency and precision, and contribute to the advancement of the global manufacturing industry. 

New Energy 
New energy technologies are leading the global energy transformation and providing viable solutions to climate change and environmental challenges. With the rapid development of renewable energy such as solar energy, wind energy and hydrogen energy, we are moving towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. New energy has a wide range of applications, from home power supply to industrial production and even transportation, which have been constantly innovated and upgraded. Join us to explore the future of new energy, promote the coordinated development of technological innovation and environmental protection, and achieve the harmonious coexistence of economic benefits and ecological balance.  

Marine Engineering 
Marine engineering equipment is facing significant challenges in technological innovation and application within the current context of global sustainable development. With the increasing demand for the development of marine resources, we need innovative marine equipment, including high-efficiency deep-sea drilling machines, environmentally friendly marine cleaning technologies and intelligent monitoring systems. This equipment can improve efficiency play an essential role in protecting marine ecology. Join us to explore the future of marine engineering, attain a win-win situation between economic development and ecological protection, and promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources. 

Soft and Flexible Electronics 
Soft and Flexible electronics technology is revolutionising the design and application of electronic devices, paving the way for future smart products. This technology utilises flexible materials and thin film technology to deliver high performance on curved and wearable devices, with various applications emerging across health monitoring, intelligent clothing, and more. With the rapid development of the IoT and smart technology, the demand for flexible electronics continues to grow. Join us to promote the innovation of flexible electronics technology, lay the foundation for future intelligent solutions in life, and achieve the perfect combination of technology and sustainable development.

Awards	Quantity	Cash Prize(RMB, before tax)
Chint Cup*	1	¥100,000
First Prize*	1	¥60,000
Second Prize*	2	¥40,000
Merit Award	3	¥5,000
Best Presentation Award	1	¥5,000
Most Popular Award	1	¥5,000
Best Innovation Award	1	¥5,000

*Top 4 will be invited to the Grand Final

 

*The following conditions must be met to qualify for the cash prize :

_{1. Complete company registration procedures at the competition region}

_{2. Reside in the entrepreneurship center of PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes.}

The suggested contents outlined below are only for reference. 

1. Problem Identified

• Industry pain points
• Who are the target beneficiaries?

2.  Product/Services Description

• How can your solution solve your identified problem
• What is the innovativeness of your solution?
• What are the technologies adopted in the solution?

3. Benefits to Industry and Community

• Main value and benefits your solution provides to beneficiaries
• Explain the ease of adoption in the industry and community
• What are the advantages of your idea/solution over the existing products and solutions on the market?

4. Business Model

• Brief analysis of market size and growth potential
• Overview of how your business will operate (e.g., revenue streams)

5. Team Profile

• Team members and relevant qualifications/experience

6. Roadmap and Future Plan

• Product development plan
• Action plan for the industry adoption
• Growth strategy

 

• Declaration Form for Principal Applicant and Team Member(s)
• Declaration of Use of PolyU Knowledge/Innovations/Technologies
• Letter of Confirmation

1. Purpose of Collection
The personal data provided by you to Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“PolyU”) will be collected, retained, processed, used and transferred (within or outside of Hong Kong) for the following purposes:

• Processing your inquiries, application, registration or request for services, activities and facilities;
• Facilitating communications with you;
• Facilitating implementation of PolyU’s policies and procedures, and monitoring compliance with the same;
• Enabling PolyU to comply with any applicable procedures, laws, regulations or court orders (in each case whether in Hong Kong or overseas), any requests by government, statutory, regulatory or law enforcement authority, and valid legal processes, ordinances obligations;
• Conducting quality assurance, surveys and review, statistical analysis, and research; and
• Other purposes directly relating to any of the above.

 

2. You are required to provide your personal data, other than those items indicated as optional. Failure to provide such data may lead to inability to process your application, registration or request for services, activities and facilities, or maintain contact with you.

 

3. Disclosure and Transfer of Personal Data
PolyU will keep your personal data confidential and only authorized members will have access to and handle your personal data. PolyU may disclose or transfer your personal data to PolyU staff, assessment panels, partners, service providers and contractors engaged in activities on behalf of PolyU within or outside Hong Kong solely for the purposes set out in paragraph 1 above.

PolyU may also disclose your personal data when authorized or required by law and in response to requests from law enforcement agencies, government departments or regulatory authorities, or where required to protect PolyU’s rights or properties.

4. Access and Correction of Personal Data
You have the right to request for access and correction of your personal data held by PolyU. Any data access and correction request according to the Ordinance should be made in writing to the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office at innohub@polyu.edu.hk . A fee may be imposed for processing your data access request.

5. Security, Accuracy and Retention of your Personal Data
PolyU takes reasonable precautions to prevent the loss, misappropriation, unauthorized access or destruction of your data. PolyU also takes reasonable steps to ensure that all personal data held by it is accurate, complete, correct and reliable for the intended use. Your personal data will be retained by PolyU according to its policy on retention of data and records.

6. Privacy Policy Statement
You may refer to https://www.polyu.edu.hk/privacy-policy-statement/ for the Privacy Policy Statement of PolyU.