HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 August 2026 - Hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and title sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK), the PolyU x BOCHK International Future Challenge (Hong Kong Regional Final) concluded earlier (24 August) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Featured on the main stage during the Global Unicorn Summit (the Summit), organised by the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, 18 top Challenge startup teams, selected from over 300 entries, showcased their strengths competing for various awards and the top four spots which advance to the Grand Final. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, meanwhile delivered a keynote speech at the Summit themed "How University Research Empowers Industrial Innovation". He elaborated on the mission and characteristics of university research, and shared PolyU's successful experience in driving research translation through the establishment of Mainland Translational Research Institutes. 

Following its title sponsorship of the inaugural PolyU x BOCHK International Future Challenge Grand Final, BOCHK demonstrated its continued support this year as the title sponsor for both the Hong Kong Regional Final and the Grand Final of the PolyU International Future Challenge (PolyU IFC) 2026, joining hands with PolyU to nurture young innovation and technology (I&T) talents and drive high-quality development in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The Hong Kong Regional Final focused on five cutting-edge fields: Life Sciences and Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing and Microelectronics, Digital Economy and Financial Technology, Smart City and Green Living, as well as Aerospace and Aviation Technology. The Hong Kong region competition generated an enthusiastic response, fully demonstrating Hong Kong's vitality and appeal as an international I&T hub. The 18 shortlisted teams made on-site pitches and exhibited at the exhibition zone of the Summit, presenting their innovations to visitors, investors, and industry leaders.

Prof. Zijian ZHENG, PolyU Vice President (Knowledge Transfer), remarked, "With Hong Kong serving as a super-connector, PolyU IFC 2026 successfully builds a cross-regional platform that closely connects the Chinese Mainland, the Middle East and beyond, creating unprecedented opportunities for global innovation and collaboration. We are delighted to see 18 outstanding startup teams showcase their innovative solutions. These projects are a testament to the vision, perseverance and collaborative spirit that define the PolyU mission as an innovative world-class university. PolyU's unique startup ecosystem, PolyVentures, boasts over 900 active startups, including unicorns and listed companies. We look forward to today's teams leveraging this platform to step onto a broader entrepreneurial stage."

The Hon Ken LEE, Advisor to BOCHK and Legislative Council Member, stated in the speech, "BOCHK is pleased to once again support PolyU's flagship innovation competition, joining hands to build a supportive ecosystem that nurtures innovation and technology talent. By accelerating the practical application of innovative ideas and research achievements, this initiative aligns closely with national strategies and HKSAR Government policies, supporting Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology hub."

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. Cheng DONG, PolyU Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) and Mr Marston WONG, Deputy General Manager of Commercial Banking Departmentof BOCHK presented the top four awards. Following rigorous evaluation by the judging panel and on-site voting, 11 winning teams were selected. The top four teams from the Hong Kong Regional Final advance to the Grand Final held in Hong Kong in January next year, to compete with winners from other regions for the highest honours.

The winning teams from the Hong Kong Regional Final are as follows:

Award	Team/Company	Project	Cash Prize
BOCHK Diamond Cup	CobotAI Limited	TeleX: Industrial Embodied Multi-Modal Data Intelligent Collection Terminal and Skill Platform	HK$120,000
Gold Award	LI Shuai CHENG Lok Kan SUN Yu LEE Ka Sing SONG Zhen HU Zengbo	Novel BCI Interaction Technology Based on Multi-dimensional Sonomyography (SMG) Signals	HK$75,000
Silver Award	AniMed Technology Limited	OptiFi Sleep	HK$50,000
Bronze Award	Motomics Limited	MotusAI - Physics-Aware Biomechanical Agent for Musculoskeletal Disorder Assessment	HK$25,000
Best Student Team Award	LIO Kun Hon CHEN Tak Hei KUONG Ka I CHAN Kuan Ieong CHAN Cheng Tong KARUMANCHI Abhishikth	PulmoSight	HK$25,000
Best Presentation Award	OnAn Technology Service Limited Company	OnAn Technology	HK$5,000
Best Presentation Award	Visorx Technology Limited	Visor™ RECURE DEVICE	HK$5,000
Best Innovation Award	LI Shuai CHENG Lok Kan SUN Yu LEE Ka Sing SONG Zhen HU Zengbo	Novel BCI Interaction Technology Based on Multi-dimensional Sonomyography (SMG) Signals	HK$5,000
Best Innovation Award	Easenory Technology Limited	World-Leading Elastic Textile PCB	HK$5,000
Most Popular Award	Bondcare Tech (Hong Kong) Limited	Bondcare-Canxiao Intelligent State-based Clinical Care	HK$5,000
Most Popular Award	Stairio Limited	Stairio	HK$5,000

As the University's flagship innovation and entrepreneurship competition, PolyU IFC is strategically aligned with the Nation's 15th Five-Year Plan and "Artificial Intelligence (AI)+" initiative. This year, an overseas region was introduced for the first time, meaning the inclusion of nine competition regions in total: Hong Kong, Qianhai, Wuhan, Nanjing, Jinjiang, Hefei, Hangzhou, Wuxi and Saudi Arabia. Leveraging the crossborder network of the PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes and in collaboration with local government authorities and leading enterprises, the Challenge focuses on "AI+" to foster precise alignment between research projects and regional industrial resources.

To date, over 1,400 competition applications have been received from across the nine competition regions. Registration for the Jinjiang, Hefei, Hangzhou and Wuxi regions is currently open. For further details, please visit the official PolyU IFC website.

https://www.polyu.edu.hk