HKU Innovation Week 2025, which included a series of events in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, is the University’s annual celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship, and attested to HKU’s sustained commitment to fostering and building a strong culture of innovation.
The HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy (TEA) led the way by celebrating its first anniversary in Qianhai, Shenzhen on October 13 – looking back with gratification on a year of fruitful collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
It was definitely a strong year for TEA, with the academy seeing exponential growth in projects and start-ups, strong investor confidence, recruitment of top-notch academics and youth innovators, and the successful launch of its first incubated company. Local and global collaborations were strengthened too, with the signing of an agreement with the Shenzhen New Quality Productive Tech Force Promotion Center to build a comprehensive tech transfer ecosystem in Shenzhen, as well as the establishment of a strategic partnership with the University of Cambridge.
Back in Hong Kong, there was an upbeat and celebratory mood in Loke Yew Hall for the kick-off ceremony of this year’s HKU Innovation Week. Themed ‘Dreams Unbounded: From Ideas to Global Solutions’, the flagship event showcased the University’s commitment to turning visionary research into real-world impact, further consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an emerging global hub for innovation and technology.
The kick-off ceremony was officiated by distinguished guests, including Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Ms Clara Chan, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; Dr Peter Wong, Chairman of the HKU Council; Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU; and Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of HKU.
In his keynote opening speech, Professor Zhang said, “HKU is in a unique position, and we understand that it is our responsibility to undertake significant and challenging innovations. This involves not merely to optimise what exists, but to open new frontiers.” He outlined three strategic pillars to realise this vision: positioning HKU as a global talent hub for the AI era, building an innovation platform for interdisciplinary and university-industry collaboration, and cultivating a vibrant global innovation ecosystem.
This University-wide event featured over 40 pioneering technologies in artificial intelligence, robotics, and health sciences, alongside panel discussions and networking opportunities. The gathering of more than 300 guests – including policymakers, investors, and industry leaders – facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration. It also served as a reminder of the University’s continued transformation into a thriving innovation hub, with over 150 annual innovation activities and more than 500 ventures taking place in the past two years, and HK$7 billion in combined valuation.
A major highlight was the launch of the Global Hub for Future Dentistry, Hong Kong’s first Dental Incubation Programme. Developed in partnership with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and leveraging the Faculty of Dentistry’s world-leading expertise (ranked second globally), the initiative will accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge dental research, enhancing Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area’s standing in global innovation.
The event also saw the expansion of the HKU Entrepreneurship Engine Fund to HK$1 billion through strategic partnerships with Gobi Partners, BioTrack Capital, and Brizan Ventures. This ‘fund of funds’ model provides patient capital and investor expertise to support high-potential HKU start-ups.
Other highlights of the week included expert discussion and exchanges on topics such as artificial intelligence and medical healthcare from the perspectives of Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well as an interdisciplinary healthcare approach to longevity technology and healthy ageing for a ‘silver economy’.
HKU Innovation Week 2025 was not only an opportunity to recognise HKU’s breakthrough achievements from AI to biomedicine, but also a reminder to the HKU community to keep dreaming boldly, innovating relentlessly, and shaping a future where ideas know no bounds.
