As the wave of technological innovation sweeps across the globe, the Greater Bay Area is leading the way with its vibrant innovative energy. The 2025 HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge (InnoValley) has successfully attracted a total of 253 high-quality entries from teams of innovators around the world.
This year’s projects span across 4 pioneering fields, including:
- AI & Digital Technologies
- Biotech & Medical Healthcare
- New Energy & Green Technologies
- New Materials & Manufacturing
Of all entries, 51% have already advanced to the commercialization stage, underscoring significant potential and the vibrant momentum in transforming technological breakthroughs into tangible market outcomes.
43% entries come from Hong Kong or overseas category, highlighting the growing international influence of this competition. Innovators from top global universities including HKU, Stanford, Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Cornell, Columbia, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua, Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan, will compete among others, bringing the techno-entrepreneurial wisdom of the East and West together.
Over 79% participating teams prioritize the Chinse market in their strategic plans. This is driven both by China’s billion-strong population and thriving consumption upgrade, as well as the nation’s leading capabilities in industrial integration and commercialization of research. Alongside China, many teams are actively pursuing overseas expansion strategies. Southeast Asia and economies along the “Belt and Road” initiative are key expansion targets, signalling an agile market strategy as the global value chain continues to evolve.
With global recruitment concluded, the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge has entered its preliminary phase. After regional preliminary selection, the most innovative and commercially promising teams from each area will advance to the Grand Finale—stay tuned!
Video Credit: HKU Institute for China Business