CityU HK Tech 300 attracts I&T talent to enhance HK’s competitiveness
How can Hong Kong stand out in the global competition for scientific research talent? According to the latest QS World University Rankings, several universities in Hong Kong are among the best in the international faculty and international students ratios, reflecting a high degree of internationalisation. However, many outstanding overseas students leave Hong Kong for further development after graduation. HK Tech 300, a HK$500 million large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme launched by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) last year, offers more opportunities to attract the new generation of scientific research personnel and overseas talent to stay in Hong Kong for entrepreneurship and career development.
Scientific research talent gather at CityU
According to a 2021 Startup survey, conducted by Invest Hong Kong, the number of start-ups in the city reached a record 3,755, with 28% of the start-up founders coming from countries like the UK, the US, France and India. It is evident that Hong Kong, as a cosmopolitan city, is a desirable destination for overseas scientific research talent, and CityU’s HK Tech 300 has succeeded in attracting young innovative entrepreneurs from around the world.
HK Tech 300 attracts talent to establish start-ups and boosts innovation and technology (I&T) development in Hong Kong by providing all-round support, from training, investment, and commercialising technology into products to inviting successful and veteran businessmen and entrepreneurs to be mentors.
“Through its internationally acclaimed science and technology research projects, CityU had made a substantial contribution to the community, which is obvious to all,” said Professor Way Kuo, CityU President. Professor Kuo said he is glad that HK Tech 300 is helping CityU students, alumni and young researchers fulfil their I&T and entrepreneurial dreams.
The start-up story of Andy Ong, from Indonesia, originated during his study of Mechanical Engineering at CityU. “Professor Lu Yang’s lessons deepened my interest in materials science and set the direction of my future development,” said Andy, who indicated his interest in participating in Professor Lu’s research and became his research assistant.
Building networks with the help of mentors to promote green bamboo materials
Making use of green materials science, they designed Super Bamboo, which is more than three times stronger than normal bamboo, and won the gold medal at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2021. With the support of the HK Tech 300 Seed Fund, Professor Lu and Andy founded Super Bamboo Limited, together with their team members, and later received HK Tech 300 Angel Fund investment to translate their research results in the laboratory into practical applications.
They also expanded their social network and took their research results into the construction industry with the help of the HK Tech 300 mentor Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping, Co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Techtronic Industries Company Limited, and former Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. The team is continuing their efforts to design new bamboo products.
Diagnostic technology wins international acclaim
Dr Shishir Venkatesh, a Canadian and an alumnus of CityU’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and his team founded Portalyze Point of Care Limited, which provides fast, accurate, sensitive and robust diagnostic tests for various diseases and bacterial infections. The team won the gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2019, received HK Tech 300 Angel Fund investment, and was guided by its mentor, Mr Jimmy Tao, member of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and CEO of Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, on business development and patent issues.
Shishir was impressed by the progress in organic electronics made by Dr Roy Vellaisamy, Associate Professor of CityU’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and decided to pursue his PhD at CityU. “Hong Kong’s liberal academic atmosphere, together with the encouragement of interdisciplinary cooperation in the universities, contributes to the formation of many research teams with diverse backgrounds,” said Shishir.
Cultural diversity and global vision
Zeta Motion, another team that received HK Tech 300 Angel Fund investment, was founded by Dr Wilhelm Klein, an alumnus of CityU’s School of Creative Media, from Germany, his Vietnamese schoolmate and one of their friends. “Hong Kong’s cultural diversity provides fertile soil for creativity to flourish,” said Wilhelm. “Imagination sparks when people of different cultural backgrounds meet.”
They provide a solution with real-time quality control and remote management functions, combining machine-vision and deep learning technology at a lower cost than current AI systems, thus promoting the development of various industries, like manufacturing, healthcare and entertainment. Their self-developed system is now being used in factories and hospitals in regions like the UK, the US, Japan and Hong Kong, and the team is gradually recruiting technology talent in Asia and fostering cooperation with enterprises in Asia, Europe and the US. Their mentor, Mr Duncan Chiu, President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Joint Council and a Member of the Legislative Council, shared his valuable experience on entrepreneurship and how to make an effective pitch to investors.
Attracting talent and enhancing the I&T ecosystem
Thea Bradford comes from Australia and is a PhD student in CityU’s Department of Chemistry. She and her team just received the HK Tech 300 Seed Fund for their project “Ecological engineering solution on artificial coastline restoration”. By applying ecological engineering technology, they are keen to promote marine biodiversity and ecological restoration on artificial seawalls and breakwaters, while at the same time reducing the impact of future coastal development on the environment.
Advocating the integration of research and teaching, CityU actively fosters a diverse research and teaching environment by attracting outstanding scholars and scientific research talent from around the world and providing fertile soil for research. According to metrics compiled by Stanford University, more than 170 highly cited CityU professors are ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists. CityU’s HK Tech 300 encourages overseas talent to stay in Hong Kong by supporting them to translate the research findings into practical applications by providing funding and guidance, thus enhancing the innovation and technology ecosystem.