Key Dates
Application Deadline: 14 June 2026 (Sun), 11:59pm
To be completed by each team member
Submission Deadline: 30 Jun 2026 (Tue), 11:59pm
To be completed by the Principal Applicant (PA) on behalf of the team
- Attractive Prizes
Regional champion prizes reach up to HKD 120,000 (Hong Kong Region) / CNY 100,000 (each Chinese Mainland region), with the chance to advance to the Grand Final and compete for even greater awards! - Connect with Chinese Mainland
Gain a key to entering Chinese Mainland market through the cross-border networks of PolyU's Mainland Translational Research Institutes(MTRIs). - Broaden Your Horizons
Participate in entrepreneurial visits in Chinese Mainland and overseas to gain deep insights into entrepreneurship cultures, market dynamics, and real-world practices. - Continuous Growth
Equipped with the 'KT&E Skills Acceleration Hub' training series for all participants, some award winners may also receive tuition sponsorship for PolyU's Master of Technology Entrepreneurship (MTE) programme, helping turn their ideas into successful commercial ventures.
PolyU IFC 2026 welcomes innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world to participate. Application is open to all, regardless of whether they are members of PolyU (including alumni, current staff, and students). Award winners will be required to meet specified collaboration or incubation requirements after receiving the award. For details, please refer to the 'Awards' section.
Step 1
Please read the Terms & Conditions before submitting the application.
Step 2
Each team member to complete the Application Form individually by 14 June 2026 (Sun), 11:59pm.
Step 3
The Principal Applicant to complete the Document Submission Form on behalf of the team with the following materials by 30 June 2026 (Tue), 11:59pm.
- Personal and contact information of the Principal Applicant and team member(s)
- A link to a pitching video (maximum 5 minutes)
- Pitch deck (PPT or PDF format, not more than 15 slides)
- Completed Declaration Form for Principal Applicant and Team Members
- Completed Letter of Confirmation
- Copy of student ID, graduation certificate, or staff card for all team members.
- (If applicable) Company registration document showing shareholding details.
- (If applicable) Completed Declaration of use of PolyU knowledge, innovations, or technologies.
Notes
- If the relevant project has won a top 4 award in any region of the PolyU International Future Challenge 2025 or 2026, it will not be eligible to participate.
- There is no limitation on the number of members within a team.
- Each individual can participate in no more than three teams but can only serve as the Principal Applicant (PA) for one team.
- Teams may apply for multiple competition regions but will be entitled to only one top 4 award.
|
Application Deadline |
Sunday, 14 June 2026, 11:59pm |
|
Document Submission Deadline |
Tuesday, 30 June 2026, 11:59pm |
|
Paper Assessment |
July 2026 |
|
Announcement of Shortlisting Results |
August 2026 |
|
Regional Visits and Finals |
August – November 2026 (Please refer to “Competition Regions” for detailed schedule of each region) |
|
Grand Final (in Hong Kong) |
27 January 2027 |
Judging Criteria for Diamond Cup, Gold Award, Silver Award, Bronze Award and Best Student Team Award:
- Innovativeness and/or Technology Content - 25%
- Commercial Feasibility - 25%
- Benefits to industry and community - 20%
- Development Prospect - 15%
- Team Capability - 15%
See you in Hong Kong
Regional Competition - Hong Kong
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Digital Economy & FinTech
- Smart City & Green Living
- Aerospace & Aviation Technology
Regional Final Date: 15 October 2026
Grand Final
Grand Final Date: 27 January 2027
See you in other regions
Qianhai
About PolyU-Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Smart City & Green Living
- Aerospace & Aviation Technology
Visit and Regional Final Date: 19 - 20 August 2026
Jinjiang
About PolyU-Jinjiang Technology and Innovation Research Institute
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Smart City & Green Living
Visit and Regional Final Date: 25 - 27 August 2026
Nanjing
About PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Smart City & Green Living
- Aerospace & Aviation Technology
Visit and Regional Final Date: 2 - 4 September 2026
Wuhan
About PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
Visit and Regional Final Date: 14 - 18 September 2026 (TBC)
Hefei
About PolyU-Hefei Technology and Innovation Research Institute
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Smart City & Green Living
- Aerospace & Aviation Technology
Visit and Regional Final Date: 27 - 30 October 2026
Hangzhou
About PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Digital Economy & FinTech
- Smart City & Green Living
Visit and Regional Final Date: 3 - 5 November 2026
Wuxi
Domains:
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing & Microelectronics
- Smart City & Green Living
- Aerospace & Aviation Technology
Visit and Regional Final Date: 17 - 19 November 2026
(a) The Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company should observe the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (“POBO”) (Cap. 201, Hong Kong Legislation) and prohibit its directors, employees, sub-contractors, agents and other personnel who are in any way involved in the project from offering, soliciting or accepting any advantages as defined in the POBO in relation to the project.
(b) The Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company is prohibited from offering any advantages, whether directly or indirectly through a third party, to PolyU’s members of the Council, committees and sub-committees, staff and advisors, while having dealings of any kind with PolyU.
(c) The Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company is required to comply with anti-bribery laws and regulations in foreign jurisdictions when conducting business overseas and/or set up legal entities in foreign locations to support local operations.
(d) The Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company must promptly declare and notify PolyU in writing of any potential or actual conflicts of interest as soon as they become aware of them. A conflict of interest includes, but is not limited to, situations where the private interests of the Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company or its personnel conflict with or compete with their role, duties, and impartiality under the Scheme.
(e) The Applicant and/or Team and/ or the Company is required to take all necessary measures (including by way of a code of conduct or contractual provisions) to ensure that its directors, employees, sub-contractors, agents and other personnel who are in any way involved in the project are aware of and comply with the requirements as set out in this provision.
Enquiry
Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office
- 3400-2774 / 3400-2809
- polyu.ifc@polyu.edu.hk




