Hang Seng and PolyU join hands to launch “Hang Seng x PolyU Sustainable Future Challenge: Textile and Fashion”

Hang Seng Bank and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“PolyU”) have teamed up to launch the Hang Seng x PolyU Sustainable Future Challenge: Textile and Fashion (“the Challenge”). The Challenge calls for innovation and technology (“I&T”) talent, including young creatives, to help imagine the future of the industry with a “sustainability-centric” mindset.

The Challenge welcomes tertiary students, researchers, industry players and members of the public to join. They can share their professional knowledge and know-how for the enhancement of the industry. Participants will focus on issues such as recycling textile waste, transforming and re‑using discarded clothing, and then further develop their ideas to pursue sustainable development.

Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU, said: “As a part of PolyU’s innovation and entrepreneurship development framework, the University is organising a series of thematic ideation competitions with the aim of addressing the ever-changing challenges encountered by various industries. We are honoured that Hang Seng is joining efforts with us to host the first Sustainable Future Challenge in Textile and Fashion, through which the participants can co-create and explore solutions to further enhance sustainability of the industry through innovation and technology. The Challenge will also allow the community to learn more about sustainable production and consumption in the textile and fashion industry. PolyU is committed to nurturing innovation and technology talents and encouraging young people to embrace innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to drive change for social good and societal impact.”

Hang Seng has a long history of actively supporting youth development initiatives and programmes that aim to enhance community-wide understanding of and action on climate change issues. Ms Betty LAW, Head of Communications and Corporate Sustainability at Hang Seng, said: “Successfully addressing climate change will require creative ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking and the active participation of individuals and organisations across our community. The Challenge aims to encourage this by providing incentives and support to turn great ideas into real-world actionable realities. The winning teams will be awarded funding to kick start the development of their ideas for creating a more sustainable textile and fashion sector, as part of the bigger societal goal of a greener future for everyone.”

The Challenge comes in two categories – Tertiary Student Category and Open Category. All participants will go through a series of “ideation galas” during which they will further develop their ideas and connect with other individuals to form a team. Following this initial stage, 16 teams will be shortlisted and will receive a few weeks’ of training and mentorship from industry professionals. Via proof-of-concept programmes and market validation training, the ideas of the shortlisted teams will be fully developed into practical business proposals. These proposals will be presented at a Grand Finale event.

The top three winning teams will receive cash awards ranging from HK$100,000 to HK$300,000 to finance their start-ups. Teams in the Tertiary Student Category will also be eligible for the Tertiary Student Innovation Awards, which provide additional cash awards ranging from HK$5,000 to HK$10,000 for the top three teams. Subject to certain eligibility requirements, the winning teams may also be provided with further funding and other entrepreneurship support from PolyU.

Applications can be made from now until 12 October 2022 for the Tertiary Student Category and until 31 October 2022 for the Open Category. For further details of the Challenge and submission requirements, please visit this website.

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