The global recruitment phase has successfully concluded and the 2025 HKU International Techno-Entrepreneurship Challenge has officially entered the Semi-final competition stage. Teams from the 5 competition zones including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong and Overseas will engage in a battle of wisdom and innovation, competing for the ticket to the Grand Finale.

The Hong Kong and overseas preliminary competition will take place on August 16. After a rigorous review, 25 outstanding teams have been selected to advance to the semi-final, including 20 projects for Start-up Division and 5 projects for Growth Division. The winning teams will represent the Hong Kong and overseas regions on the international stage, competing alongside the world’s top innovation teams.

The shortlisted projects focus on fields such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, new materials, and new energy. These projects cover diverse areas including medical devices, educational applications, robotics, and chip development. The regional competition will invite judges from the HKU Entrepreneurship Engine Fund and HKU Super Angel Network to witness the startups competing for spots in the final. All projects advancing to the final will have the opportunity to join HKU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and enjoy the co-working spaces iDendron in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, becoming part of the vibrant startup community.

 

Event Details

Date: 16 August 2025 (Saturday)

Time: 10:00 – 17:00

Venue: HKU Centennial Campus

Format: Closed-door

Organisers:

HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core

HKU Institute for China Business

Co-Organiser:

Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy

Supporting Parties:

HKU Entrepreneurship Engine Fund

HKU Super Angel Network

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