At PolyU, a vibrant culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship drives the transformation of research outcomes into practical real-world applications. Among the major initiatives in this regard is the flagship PolyU International Future Challenge, designed to accelerate the development and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies into successful ventures. This year’s competition generated an enthusiastic response, attracting entries from more than 700 talented startup teams and innovators worldwide, competing for cash prizes totalling over HK$2 million.

A unique feature of the Challenge is its regional structure. In addition to the main competition zone in Hong Kong, there are six regional tracks across Mainland cities and regions, including Huizhou, Wenzhou, Qianhai (Shenzhen), Shanghai, Nanjing, and Jinjiang. Each region focuses on different domains, and the winning teams from each will advance to the Grand Final in December, where they will compete for a range of awards and cash prizes in an elevator pitch format.

PolyU partners with leading enterprises in each region, who serve as sponsors or strategic partners and provide real-world problem statements for teams to develop demand-driven solutions. The University’s Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) also play a significant role, offering support such as corporate visits, business and technical consulting services, and overseas trips. These initiatives provide teams with international exposure, trial adoption opportunities, fundraising referrals, and access to MTRIs’ incubation centres.

Hong Kong region’s student track fuels youthful innovation

The final of the PolyU × Waterdrop International Future Challenge (Hong Kong region) was held on the PolyU campus in early September. Sponsored by Waterdrop Inc., Huawei Cloud Hong Kong, and the PolyU Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, with support from Cathay Pacific, Nike, and NTT, the Hong Kong competition featured both an open track and a student track designed to ignite entrepreneurial passion among young people. The two tracks attracted around 200 teams, with approximately 30 outstanding teams advancing to the Final after a rigorous selection process.

Professor Christopher Chao, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), congratulated the winners, stating: “The PolyU International Future Challenge is much more than a competition—it is a dynamic platform that integrates education, research translation, incubation and investment. It provides a stage for aspiring entrepreneurs to fully leverage their strengths, turning ideation and cutting-edge research into applications that benefit society.”

PolyU alumnus Dr Shen Peng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Waterdrop Inc., delivered a keynote speech, sharing his entrepreneurial journey with participants. Guests at the event included Ms Amy Lung, PolyU Court Member; Ms Jiang Shimin, Head of Ecosystem Development and Operation, Huawei Cloud Hong Kong; and PolyU members, including Professor David Shum, Dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; Professor Horace Mui, Interim Dean of Students; and Professor Zhang Chengqi, Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute.

Participating teams were also invited to join the PolyU Entrepreneurship Nurturing Series, and shortlisted teams took part in exploratory tours to Vietnam, Singapore, Shanghai, the Greater Bay Area, and the Yangtze River Delta region, gaining valuable insights into innovation ecosystems and expanding their global perspectives.

Here are some highlights from some of the competitions held in the Mainland regions:

As the Grand Final approaches, stay tuned for updates from across the regions and discover the innovative projects emerging from this year’s cohort of innovators.