CityUHK initiated the HK Tech 300 SEA Competition in Kuala Lumpur in May 2023. This competition aims to support Southeast Asian start-ups in expanding their businesses to Hong Kong and the mainland, assist Hong Kong start-ups in exploring opportunities in SEA, and attract overseas tech talent to the city. More than 100 start-ups participated in the competition through partnerships with universities and incubators in the region.
Presiding over the Award Ceremony were Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Mr Lester Garson Huang, SBS, JP, CityUHK Council Chairman; and Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President. Mr Chen Yulin, Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, and Mr Victor Hui, Acting Consul General of Singapore in the HKSAR, also attended the ceremony.
“Hong Kong is always one of the best destinations for global start-ups to thrive. With the interactive collaboration between the Government, industry, academic and research sectors, we have introduced a series of initiatives to create a vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and a favourable business environment over the past years. That makes it a golden opportunity for global start-ups to start or expand their business in the city”, said Professor Sun.
Mr Huang expressed his congratulations to the 10 outstanding start-ups. “The competition attracted some of the most inspiring innovations and young entrepreneurs in the region. This reinforces our vision of cultivating talent and shaping a society driven by I&T advancement beyond boundaries”, said Mr Huang.
President Boey expressed his delight at seeing the winning start-ups leverage CityUHK technology to enhance their tech products and services. He highlighted that CityUHK is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and continues to be dedicated to providing inspirational, interactive, and innovative education. This commitment enables CityUHK to significantly contribute to the world through pioneering research and innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to CityUHK's partners for their role in making the competition a success.
The 10 winning start-ups, hailing from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, specialize in advanced technology fields such as fintech, deep tech, biotech & health, and ICT & AI. These innovative start-ups offer cutting-edge solutions for various industries, including digital healthcare, energy sustainability, green materials, digital assets, and real estate. In addition to angel funding, the awarded start-ups will receive extensive support, including professional services and business matching for potential co-investment opportunities within the HK Tech 300 ecosystem. They will also have access to CityUHK’s world-class research achievements and intellectual property to further advance their technologies.
The HK Tech 300 SEA Competition was organized in collaboration with regional universities and incubators, including Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC), Sunwah Innovation Center in Vietnam, and various chambers of commerce. This competition aids start-ups in entering the Hong Kong and mainland markets by leveraging the city's unique advantages and resources. It also enhances the University's technology transfer and commercialization efforts, fostering stronger connections between the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Hong Kong and the region.
