The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Sino Group have long been partners in nurturing the next generation of creative talents, organising the 'HKUST-SINO One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition’ as a platform for aspiring young entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions. This year, a record-breaking 340 teams from Hong Kong and around the world participated in the competition, with a new ‘International Student Track’ introduced for overseas university students. This initiative fosters collaboration between local and overseas universities, stimulating creative exchanges among global talents.
Sustainability and healthcare were among the focus areas in this year’s ‘HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition.’ Participating teams applied innovative technology to creatively address environmental and health challenges. Among them, Pest0, TerraGreen Limited, and EC Innovation Limited received the Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards, while the newly added ‘International Student Track’ featured winning teams from HydroTech Solution (Singapore), Pawsible Foods (Singapore), and Empathera (USA).
Prof. Tim CHENG, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development said, "This year’s theme, 'Empower Your Future,' highlights the remarkable achievements of our aspiring entrepreneurs. I am particularly excited about the launch of the new 'International Student Track,' which provides university students with opportunities to exchange in entrepreneurship and expands our HKUST One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition footprint from Greater China to the globe. This also demonstrates that HKUST is the leading university in driving the development of entrepreneurship education. With nearly a quarter of our participating teams representing 15 countries, including Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States, this international involvement enriches the diversity of our competition and fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas. By embracing broader global participation, we aim to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for innovation and startup incubation."
Mr David NG, Group Associate Director of Sino Group said, ‘Sino Group is committed to nurturing talent and fostering a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong. We have been supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas in realising their innovative ideas through the “Sino Inno Lab”. We believe that Innovation and technology are essential drivers of “Creating Better Lifescapes”, and we are pleased to have collaborated with the HKUST team for seven consecutive years to empower young and aspiring entrepreneurs. This is especially important for those developing solutions that address global challenges while incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. We hope this year’s winning teams, like those in previous years, will make full use of their prize fund as seed capital to pursue their entrepreneurial goals, continue their research and business development efforts, and contribute to the sustainable development of the innovation and technology sector.’
The list of winners is as follows:
HKUST Track
Platinum Award (Champion) – Pest0
Gold Award (First runner-up) – TerraGreen Limited
Silver Award (Second runner-up) – EC Innovation Limited
International Student Track
Platinum Award (Champion) – HydroTech Solution
Gold Award (First runner-up) – Pawsible Foods
Silver Award (Second runner-up) – Empathera
Sustainability Impact Award
(in alphabetical order)
Apeirocycle
InsectX
VisionDrop AI
Please refer to the appendix for details of the winners.
Winners of the Hong Kong competition will compete with the winners from Beijing, Foshan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen divisions in the Grand Final round later this year, where they are expected to exchange ideas and compete for the Grand prize.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of June 2024, HKUST members have founded 1,747 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).
About Sino Group
Established in 1971, Sino Group comprises three listed companies – Sino Land Company Limited (HKSE: 083), Tsim Sha Tsui Properties Limited (HKSE: 0247), Sino Hotels (Holdings) Limited (HKSE: 1221) – and private companies held by the Ng Family.
As one of Hong Kong’s leading property developers with core businesses in property development and investment, Sino Group has grown with the communities it serves. The Group’s business interests comprise a diversified portfolio of residential, office, industrial, retail and hospitality properties across Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and Australia, and has developed over 250 projects, spanning more than 130 million square feet. Core business assets are further complemented by property management services, hotel investment and management, including The Fullerton Hotels & Resorts and other affiliate brands.
With over 11,000 committed staff members, the Group strives to fulfill its vision of Creating Better Lifescapes with a focus on three interconnected pillars – Green Living, Community Spirit and Innovative Design – shaping the cities we call home where people live, work and play. Sustainability is central to what we do as we seek to create value for stakeholders and make business a driver of sustainability for a better future.
