Hong Kong – The Innovation and Technology Scholarship (ITS) 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, honoring 25 undergraduates hailed as innovation and technology (I&T) rising stars in Hong Kong.

Now in its 16th cohort, the scholarship has fostered a total of 400 young pioneers since its inception, enabling them to use innovation to promote social change.

Jointly organized by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), HSBC, and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), the program seeks to identify and nurture exceptional undergraduates with a strong passion for I&T, injecting fresh impetus into Hong Kong’s local I&T ecosystem.

The 25 awardees were selected through a rigorous process by the Awardee Selection Committee. Their achievements reflected not only academic excellence and a deep commitment to I&T, but also creative problem-solving and a strong sense of social responsibility.

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Coming from six local universities — the University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Metropolitan University — their academic backgrounds span medicine, science, engineering, global business and finance, fashion, information and artificial intelligence, as well as technology and management.

This year’s scholarship continues to focus on six designated “InnoTech Areas”: advanced manufacturing and advanced engineering, artificial intelligence and robotics, business and financial technology, life and health technology, sustainability and green technology, and multi-disciplinary technology and others.

The framework encourages young talents to move beyond traditional academic boundaries and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing global landscape, reflecting Hong Kong’s diversified and integrated capabilities in I&T.

‘Build technology for people’  

The award presentation ceremony was officiated by Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR government. Certificates were presented to the 25 awardees in the presence of other distinguished guests.

Sun emphasized Hong Kong’s distinctive position in the global I&T landscape, noting that — supported by the motherland, strengthened by world-class academia, and backed by a vibrant financial ecosystem — Hong Kong is well placed to develop into a key hub for global I&T.

He encouraged students to use the scholarship as a springboard for future contributions to I&T development for Hong Kong and the nation, adding that the program helps them to “see further, think deeper and dream bigger.”

Marina Tong, chief operating officer of HSBC Hong Kong, said HSBC’s commitment extends beyond financial assistance. “Through exposure and incubation, and by providing opportunities to test, refine and scale solutions, we aim to support scholars in turning promising ideas into meaningful outcomes,” she said.

“As technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and climate solutions advance at pace, innovation is not only reshaping how we live and work, but also a core driver of sustainable economic development and long-term community progress.”

Hsu Siu-man, executive director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, underscored the importance of human-centered innovation. “Innovation must go beyond technical breakthroughs and rest on cross-disciplinary collaboration. By anchoring technology in human needs, our awardees turn tools and data into inclusive solutions that benefit society.”

Bernard Chan, chairman of the Innovation and Technology Scholarship’s awardee selection committee, offered a particularly resonant observation: “What impressed our Committee most this year was not technological brilliance alone, but our awardees’ cross-disciplinary vision and profound empathy for society. They do not build technology for its own sake; they build it for people.”

Nurturing programs  

Each awardee will receive a scholarship of up to HK$150,000 and take part in a series of elite nurturing programs over the coming year. These include opportunities to study at renowned universities overseas or in the Chinese mainland, strengthening their understanding of the global I&T ecosystem.

Industry leaders will also serve as mentors, guiding the next generation of I&T leaders with their knowledge and experience.

Awardees will gain first-hand industry exposure and expand their professional networks through overseas and mainland attachments, mentorship and service projects, and local internships at technology enterprises or government departments.

The scholarship places strong emphasis on practical application and social commitment. Awardees are expected to initiate I&T educational activities for primary and secondary school students, helping inspire younger learners to pursue careers in I&T through their experience.

They are also encouraged to turn original innovative ideas into solutions for social good using scholarship funding, and to share their learning outcomes with the public upon completion of the program.