For Immediate Release
14 April, 2025

Hong Kong – The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has once again demonstrated its prowess in innovation, securing the coveted Champion title in the Tertiary Category at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024-25 competition. This year’s theme, “Pathways of Tomorrow: Trailblazing New Paths for the Next Generation”, challenged students across Hong Kong to leverage AI and cutting-edge technologies to address pressing societal issues. HKU’s winning project, iWalk, emerged as a standout, offering a transformative solution to enhance children’s foot health and setting a new benchmark for health-tech innovation. The competition, which saw a record-breaking tripling of participating teams to nearly 500 from 180 schools and tertiary institutions, concluded on April 14, 2025, after an inspiring 8-month journey of creativity and problem-solving.

Champion from HKU: iWalk Revolutionizes Foot Health

Digitoe‘s iWalk is a revolutionary blend of hardware and software designed to support foot orthopedists in safeguarding young children’s foot health. By integrating smart insoles that collect real-time walking data, iWalk delivers personalized exercise recommendations and facilitates the creation of custom-made insoles tailored to individual needs. Paired with a user-friendly mobile app, the system enables continuous monitoring of foot health metrics, empowering healthcare professionals to detect and address foot and posture issues early. This proactive approach not only enhances treatment outcomes but also promotes long-term well-being for young patients, showcasing HKU’s commitment to impactful, technology-driven healthcare solutions.

A Journey of Creativity and Excellence

The success of iWalk reflects the dedication and ingenuity of the HKU iDendron’s team, who navigated a rigorous competition process that included submitting creative proposals, participating in AI and Design Thinking workshops, and refining their project under the guidance of industry mentors. Their ability to translate complex technical concepts into a practical, user-centric solution impressed the judges and underscored HKU’s leadership in fostering interdisciplinary innovation. The project’s focus on early intervention aligns perfectly with Samsung’s vision of “AI for All,” leveraging advanced technology to deliver meaningful benefits to communities.

Nurturing Future Innovator

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024-25, co-organized by the Association of Information Technology Education Leaders (AiTLE) and supported by the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Education Bureau and Hong Kong Education City, provided a platform for students to develop future-ready skills. Yiyin Zhao, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics H.K., emphasized the competition’s role in nurturing local AI talent, aligning with Hong Kong’s push to establish itself as a hub for AI innovation. Beyond the Champion title, HKU’s achievement opens doors to internship opportunities with Samsung, further equipping students with real-world experience to shape their careers.

HKU’s Lasting Impact: iWalk and SCOLIOTRACK Lead the Way This victory is a testament to HKU’s unwavering dedication to advancing technology for societal good. Alongside the champion project iWalk, HKU also earned a Merit Award for their project SCOLIOTRACK, which supports spine specialists and physiotherapists with personalized treatment plans, further highlighting the university’s depth of talent. As we celebrate HKU’s triumphs, we also applaud all participants, including champions from different academic institutions for their inspiring contributions. Together, these young innovators are paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. Congratulations to HKU and all teams for making Samsung Solve for tomorrow 2024-25 a resounding success!

For Immediate Release
26 April, 2025

Hong Kong – On April 25, 2025, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co., Ltd. (Shanghai SSCI, 上海国投) held a significant Framework Agreement Signing Ceremony, marking a pivotal step in fostering innovation and collaboration between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Leadership Speeches: Charting the Course for Innovation

Professor Max Shen, Vice President (Research) of The University of Hong Kong, emphasized in his speech that HKU has long been committed to translating cutting-edge research into practical applications. Leveraging its deep expertise in engineering, medicine, and interdisciplinary studies, HKU aims to build a global hub for innovation. He expressed enthusiasm about integrating HKU’s academic strengths with Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co., Ltd. (上海国投)’s industrial resources to create a “virtuous cycle linking research, industry, and the market”, injecting new momentum into regional innovation.

Dr. Dai Minmin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co., Ltd. (上海国投), highlighted the corporation’s role as a state-owned capital investment and operational platform, is strategically positioned to focus on “Fund Management + Innovation Incubation”. Shanghai SSCI will continue to deepen and expand its comprehensive collaboration with HKU in industry-academia-research integration and the development of the HKU Shanghai Centre. Leveraging complementary advantages between Shanghai and Hong Kong, Shanghai SSCI aims to jointly advance bilateral cooperation in science and technology innovation, fostering synergies for regional development.

Collaborative Initiatives: Focusing on Three Core Areas
The partnership centers on “resource sharing and mutual reinforcement”, with key efforts in:

Joint Talent Cultivation
HKU and Shanghai SSCI will open internship platforms for students and faculty to engage in corporate projects. Through enterprise visits, joint training programs, and cross-industry exchanges, the initiative will build a cross-border talent network, ensuring robust support for innovation in both regions.

Ecosystem for Technology Commercialization
Combining HKU’s talent and R&D capabilities with Shanghai SSCI’s platform resources, the two parties will jointly host innovation and entrepreneurship forums, technology roadshows, and training sessions. These initiatives aim to align academic research with industrial needs, accelerating the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.

Synergistic Fund Investment
The collaboration will establish a mechanism for discovering, connecting, and converting research outcomes across strategic sectors—including integrated circuits, biomedicine, and new energy. By providing early-stage industrial investment and fund services, the partnership will support the growth of tech startups and foster industrial clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and Greater Bay Area.

For more information, please contact:
​​HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core
Email: hkutec@hku.hk

港大庆祝与上海国投达成战略合作里程碑！

发布日期：2025年4月26日

2025年4月25日，香港大学（港大）与上海国有资本投资有限公司（上海国投）举行了框架协议签约仪式，标志着沪港在创新与合作领域迈出重要一步。

领导致辞：共绘创新蓝图
香港大学副校长（研究）申作军教授在致辞中指出，港大长期致力于将前沿科研成果转化为实际应用，并依托工程、医学及交叉学科领域的深厚积累，打造全球创新枢纽，并非常期待本次合作融合港大的科研实力与上海国投的产业资源，构建‘科研—产业—市场’的良性循环，为区域创新注入新动能。

上海国投公司党委副书记、总裁戴敏敏博士强调，上海国投作为定位于”基金管理+创新孵化“的国有资本投资运营专业平台，始终以支持战略性新兴产业发展为己任，上海国投将持续深化与港大在产学研融合及港大上海中心的全面合作，并且结合两地优势积极推动沪港在科技创新领域的合作。

合作内容：聚焦三大核心领域
双方合作以“资源共享、优势互补”为核心，重点推进以下方向：

• 科技成果转化生态圈
  依托港大的人才及科研优势，结合上海国投的平台资源，联合举办创新创业论坛、技术路演及培训活动，推动科研成果与产业需求精准对接，加速技术商业化进程。
• 基金协同投资
  双方将共同建立科研成果发掘、对接、转化机制，重点布局集成电路、生物医药、新能源等战略性新兴产业，建立“科研成果发掘—对接—转化”全链条机制。通过早期产业投资与基金服务，助力科创企业成长，推动长三角与大湾区产业集聚发展。
• 人才联合培养
  开放实习与实践平台，推动港大师生参与上海国投及关联企业项目；通过企业走访、联合培训等方式，构建跨界人才交流网络。上海国投旗下基金管理公司及战略合作伙伴将提供实践机会，为两地科技创新提供强有力的人才保障支持。

媒体联系 香港大学科创中心
邮箱：hkutec@hku.hk