Community Shaper to Foster Youth’s Dispositions in Innovation and Technology Development

Introduction of the Innovation and Technology Program

The program aims to incubate a new generation of talent and leaders in the local I&T community who dedicate themselves to I&T development in the future.  

Why join us?

• Hands-on Project Experience: Provincial competition participation led by Mr. Nelson Yip, the Honorary Fellow of the City University of Hong Kong, and other potential project opportunities, eg. CCMF, AEF, etc.
• Program Certificate: certificate issued by the China Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Association makes you stand out from the crowd.
• Reference Letter: outstanding participants will receive recommendation letters from Mr. Nelson Yip.
• Networking Opportunities: connect to industry experts, entrepreneurs, university professors, and excellent peers.

Eligibility

• Hong Kong undergraduate/postgraduate students in any discipline. (High-profile high school students would also be considered)
• Highly interested in Fintech, education tech, technology for climate change
• Strong responsibility to contribute to an innovative project
• Strong communication skills
• Good team players 

 What do we expect? 

• Participants actively join in all events of the program
• Participants develop research skills, team spirit, creativity, product design and presentation techniques
• Participants commit 8 hours per week to the team project   

Program Arrangement

① Mobilization Seminar -- leads the future with technology

(Date: 28 May 2022 Venue: Cyberport, Dance Theatre/ Youth Square & Zoom)

Funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and mainly sponsored by Cyberport, this mobilization seminar serves as the first station of the Innovation and Technology Program.

We hope it can:   

• Kick-start the I&T program and simulate community-wide discussion by gathering the like-minded and industry leader to exchange their insight on the latest HK I&T development
• Raise students' interest in Hong Kong I&T development by instilling an entrepreneur and innovative mindset in them and promoting the I&T program in secondary school

The seminar will be split into two parts

Ice Breaking Session/Workshop: Building a High-Performance Hack Team

• Time: 10AM-12PM HKT
• Venue: Dance Studio, 6/F, Youth Square (Physical ONLY)

Mobilization Seminar

• Time: 1:30-6PM HKT
• Venue: Cyberport 3 Room 403 & Zoom (Hybrid for Participants)

② Hackathon -- gather university talents with activities

(Date: June 07-08, 2022 Venue: Y Studio, Youth Square & Zoom for those not in Hong Kong)

To help participants with limited project experience build their project implementation capabilities, this program includes two-day hackathon workshop which features design thinking, product prototyping as the core as well as the development of Fintech, Edutech and Climate Change Tech. Participants will be divided into different teams and create their unique projects related to those three themes (Fintech, Edutech or Climate Change Tech). During the hackathon, participants will be enjoying a variety of events including keynote speeches, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and presentation coaching. Conducive comments and suggestions will be provided as well. All groups are required to submit a PowerPoint and 3-5 minutes introduction video of their project idea after the event.

③ Virtual Greater Bay Area Tour -- embrace GBA opportunities with a tour

(Date: June 23, 2022 Venue: Multi-purpose Room 606/ Youth Square & Zoom)

A half-day virtual tour of the Greater Bay Area will be conducted for this program for the purpose to inform potential entrepreneurial opportunities in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Foshan. Remarkable entrepreneurial guests will be invited to share their entrepreneurial experiences and provide suggestions for participants related to entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area.

④ Hong Kong Regional Competition -- steps to final contest with teamwork

(Date: June 28, 2022 Venue: Multi-purpose Room 607/ Youth Square & Zoom for those not in Hong Kong)

For the Hong Kong regional competition, all teams are required to perform a presentation of their project outcome (specific requirements will be announced during the virtual GBA tour). The team with high scores will be rewarded by the Association. All the presentations will be recorded with professional electronic equipment and sent to the Guangdong University Research Finding Commercializing Roadshow Competition for further evaluation.

WHAT'S NEXT?

⑤ Start-up Pitching -- acquire hands-on project experience

Project 1: Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Roadshow Competition participation led by dream leader

Participants will participate in the Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Roadshow Competition led by Mr. Nelson Yip, the competition consultant in Hong Kong SAR. After the competition, winning teams will be selected for the Greater Bay Area Dream Incubation Project and receive a three-year support service, including funding and business assistance, provided by our association and the Unleash Foundation.

☀ About Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Roadshow Competition

Hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and organized by Guangdong University Research Findings Commercialization Center, this Competition has been held in Foshan for four years from 2018 to 2021. Since 2018, nearly 800 projects of university teachers from Tsinghua University, Sun Yat-sen University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Nanyang Technological University have been collected.

As a widely influential innovation and technology competition, the related reports have been featured on xuexi.cn 5 times and forwarded by 233 media including People's Daily.

☀ About Dream Mentor -- Nelson Yip

Advisor of GURFCC Roadshow Competition in Hong Kong SAR, Founder and Chairman of Unleash Foundation, Chief Executive of EP Power HK Co. Ltd, EP Venture Co. Ltd and Appetizup Co. Ltd, Honorary Fellow of the City University of Hong Kong.

Project 2: other project opportunities

☀ Professional Leaders for Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) Project

This project aims to support the development of innovative and creative digital technology ideas and the growth of early-stage startups. The project will provide HK$100,000 to support the development of innovative digital technology concepts and early-stage startups with the potential to stamp out the market needs with a view to helping their further development. Participants with outstanding innovation and technology projects will have the opportunity to be led by professionals to apply for the fund project.

☀ Professional Leaders for Social Enterprise Startup Scheme

The scheme aims to support students and alumni of The Chinese University of Hong Kong to set up new enterprises or expand their enterprises. It is particularly focused on mentorship, with experienced sector leaders guiding participants in developing business plans and operational skills. Participants will receive HK$100,000 from CUSE Fund to set up a social enterprise. Outstanding participants of this project will have the opportunity to be led by professionals to apply for the Scheme.

Other potential project opportunities include Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF) program, etc.