City’s innovation and technology push shines through student-led projects, aligning with key national growth strategies

Hong Kong is accelerating its development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub by actively nurturing a new generation of scientific talent, government officials and industry insiders said at a tech exhibition over the weekend.

Organized by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation, supported by Sino Group as principal patron, and with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau as a supporting bureau, the fifth Hong Kong Science Fair — held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre — has established itself as the city’s premier I&T education event. Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, described the Hong Kong Science Fair as an annual flagship I&T education event. He noted that the fair offers students a valuable platform to turn their innovative ideas into practice, deepen their interest and confidence in I&T, and help bring I&T into schools and the wider community, thereby fostering a more innovation-friendly atmosphere.

Nearly 120 teams from local primary and secondary schools were shortlisted, and 16 outstanding teams received awards this year. Sun added that the HKSAR government is actively promoting “AI for All” to enhance public understanding and the application of artificial intelligence, while fostering a stronger culture of science popularization across society. He expressed hope that more young people will unleash their potential through the Science Fair and contribute to the I&T development of both Hong Kong and the nation.

“We are encouraged to see growing recognition of I&T opening up new opportunities for young people aspiring to pursue scientific research,” said Daryl Ng Win-kong, chairman of the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation and chairman of Sino Group. “It is vital for Hong Kong to strengthen its I&T capabilities and actively contribute to national development.” He also expressed his deep gratitude to the central government, the HKSAR government, and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau for their strong and continuous support in helping the Science Fair grow into a major platform for young innovators since its launch.

A team from Salesian English School developed a map-based mini-program that connects real-life locations in Hong Kong that have featured in local films, music, and literature from the 1980s to the present. The application allows users to select single or multiple destinations to create personalized sightseeing routes, while also providing a forum for enthusiasts to connect and contribute culturally significant locations that have not yet been cataloged.

Bogdan Hung Yan-shing — a student from the school — said he hopes that the product will deepen public understanding of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage and aid in its preservation. He said that Hong Kong cinema enjoyed a golden age in the late 20th century, with its influence extending to global audiences. “We want local youth to feel proud of Hong Kong’s cultural history, and we want to show the world the depth of our culture,” Hung said.

Since its founding in 2021, the Science Fair has cumulatively attracted more than 400 local schools and nearly 9,000 students from Primary Four to Secondary Six and teachers. It has received a total of 2,200 creative invention entries, drawn over 180,000 visits, and has gradually developed into an important platform for local youth I&T exchange.

For the first time, the Hong Kong Science Fair invited the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in China to serve as an advisory organization. “I&T are key to Hong Kong’s long-term sustainable development and are integral to the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and the Science Fair will remain committed to nurturing talent from an early age,” Ng said. The national 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T center. To align with this national strategy, the HKSAR government is pressing ahead with its first five-year plan, leveraging the city’s three major innovation and technology parks and five major R&D centers as key pillars.

Reflecting this spirit of national pride and technological advancement, the exhibition venue featured an astronaut and aerospace-themed zone where visitors could write blessing cards for Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, who is currently on a mission in space. “The sky is no longer the limit for Hong Kong people,” Ng said, adding that Lai’s selection as the city’s first astronaut marked a historic milestone.

“China has made tremendous advancements and developments in the past years, and we are really proud to have our first astronaut go into space. Lai must have put a great deal of effort and hard work into making this happen,” said a visitor named Cecilia, who wrote a blessing card for Lai alongside her child.

Special