Hong Kong talents have astonished participants and spectators at the ABU Robocon 2026, as student teams from the city swept the Grand Prix and first-runner-up awards at the region’s largest university-level robotics competition. The achievement marks the first time the host city has claimed both top honors since the competition began.

The contest on Aug 23 enthralled spectators with a thrilling title decider between two local universities, as The University of Hong Kong (HKU) clinched the title with a 240-100 win against three-time champion The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The two home teams had earlier overcome Lac Hong University of Vietnam and Toyohashi University of Technology of Japan in the semifinals respectively.

With these latest triumphs, Hong Kong teams have now amassed four championships, six first-runner-up and two second-runner-up finishes — a total of 12 international accolades since their debut at ABU Robocon in 2004. The record underscores the creativity and excellence of the special administrative region’s young innovation and technology talent on the global stage.

Co-organized by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp (HKSTP) and Radio Television Hong Kong, the 2026 edition returned to the Hong Kong SAR after 14 years, bringing together 16 university teams from 15 countries and regions, including the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

Thrilled but composed

“I’m pretty thrilled right now because we have been preparing for this for so long,” said Andy Zheng, a member of the HKU team that clinched the university’s first ABU Robocon championship.

“It takes nearly a whole year of hard work to make it to the competition day, yet just a single mistake during the matches could knock you out of the running,” Zheng said, adding that ABU Robocon was the first robotics contest he had ever taken part in.

The third-year student said the intense contest, however, taught him how to stay composed under pressure and adapt when facing challenges in daily life.

“After joining ABU Robocon, I’ve realized that many of the problems I encounter in daily life aren’t as daunting as I once thought,” he said with a smile. “Since I’m able to solve so many challenges in such a high-pressure environment at the contest, I now feel confident that I can tackle any other situation with a calm mindset.”

Themed “Kung Fu Quest”, this year’s ABU Robocon challenged contestants to complete three missions inspired by the spirit of Chinese martial arts. Each match was played one‑on‑one, with teams required to field two independently designed robots — one fully autonomous and the other manually operated — to accomplish the tasks within a set time.

The first mission asked the robots to gather and assemble components — fake sticks and spearheads — to forge their “weapons”. Next, the machines had to retrieve bricks scattered across an uneven terrain zone designed after the traditional kung fu training poles.

Once equipped with bricks, the two robots must work together to place them on a giant “tic-tac-toe” grid, while at the same time they could choose to defend by striking out opponents’ bricks with the weapons. Victory is secured when a team successfully aligns three bricks vertically or diagonally.

The mission design aims to test participants’ grasp of embodied artificial intelligence, from recognition to autonomous path planning, showcasing how AI empowers modern robotics to navigate complex challenges and execute precise movements.

Rare opportunities

Matthew Leung, a final-year student representing CUHK at ABU Robocon for the third consecutive year, said the event had given him opportunities to improve his professional skills.

“I didn’t even know how to properly tighten a screw before,” Leung said jokingly. “For me, by taking part in this contest, I got hands-on experience with a wide range of robotics-related equipment, as well as different facilities and electronic components which we might not have access to in class.

“At the contest, I had the chance to make the robots I envisioned, unleash creativity, and collaborate with teammates to build robots that can actually work and complete tasks. Opportunities like these are rare to come by in courses,” he said.

Leung added that each year of participation brought him growth and new insights. “Compared to simply completing technical tasks — this is my third year participating — I’ve taken on more responsibility in team management this time.”

The young engineer said he hopes to pursue a career in the robotics industry after graduation, particularly in programming.

Christopher Chung of the HKU team has a similar aspiration, and shared that he had already secured an internship at a local startup based in Hong Kong Science Park.

“Hosting an international robotics competition like this is highly meaningful,” said Terry Wong, HKSTP chief executive officer.

The event fostered exchanges among students from around the world. Meanwhile, “it inspires many young participants to launch their own ventures after graduation, or to pursue careers across various fields in the I&T sector,” he said.

Wong added that such initiatives also broaden Hong Kong’s talent pool, which can help satisfy the diverse demands of tech companies and drive the city’s continued I&T development.

To extend the experience beyond ABU Robocon, HKSTP arranged visits for more than 200 young participants to Hong Kong Science Park and InnoParks. Students toured around 10 AI- and robotics-related enterprises across the parks, gaining a close look at Hong Kong’s vibrant and fast-growing I&T ecosystem.

As the HKSAR’s major tech incubator, HKSTP supports founders and startups at every stage — from mentoring and funding to R&D and manufacturing. Hong Kong Science Park is now home to more than 550 AI-related technology companies, including SenseTime Group Ltd, one of China’s leading tech firms. Founded in 2014, SenseTime was Hong Kong’s first unicorn and has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2021.

To inspire and cultivate the next generation, HKSTP also runs a slew of youth engagement programs, including internships, workshops, competitions, and networking activities for ambitious talent from both Hong Kong and overseas.

Innovation & Technology Special