PolyU International Future Challenge: Hong Kong Region - OpenTrack | Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office

Exceptional Rewards: Total Cash Prizes HK$625,000, plus the opportunity to compete for an additional HK$500,000 at the Grand Final
Trial and Adoption: Up to HK$100,000 per proposal to further optimize solutions for trial and adoption
Research Grant: Up to HK$500,000@ for a maximum of 3 proposals in the Health Domain
Industry Exchange: Partnering with industry leaders to tackle real-world challenges, empowering teams to create innovative, demand-driven solutions
Corporate Adoption: Proposals aligning with partners’ needs may have a chance for adoption into their corporates, ensuring real-world impact.
Admit to Incubation Centers: Leverage PolyU’s Mainland Translational Research Institutes to facilitate commercialization.

APPLY HERE

Application Deadline: 30 May 2025 (Fri), 1PM

Entry Requirements

1. The competition is open to any individuals or teams from all around the world which fulfill one of the following requirements:

Include one PolyU member (alumni/staff/student) with a minimum 10% ownership in the startup.
Existing PolyU Licensee, or commit to using and licensing PolyU intellectual property (IP)^[1]^[2] in their startup upon winning^[3].
Current PolyU MTRI’s incubatee or commit to incorporating a startup in a location with a MTRI upon winning [3] .

2. Each individual can participate in no more than three teams but can only serve as the Principal Applicant (PA) for one team.

3. All team members are required to sign a “Declaration Form for Principal Applicant and Team Member(s)” that they duly authorize the principal applicant of the team to act on their behalf in relation to the Competition application submission and agree to be bound by all actions taken by the principal applicant in relation to the Competition.

4. Team is not required for having a registered business entity at the time of application. However, if a team is awarded, they must register a company before receiving the prizes

[1] “Declaration of Use of PolyU Knowledge/Innovations/Technologies"should be signed to get the endorsement for the use of PolyU IP before application

[2] Express License and Trial License Schemes of Intellectual Properties (IPs) of PolyU are available for participants’ consideration. For details, please refer to the Express License and Trial License Schemes and IP Portal.

[3] "A letter of confirmation" must be signed by the Principal Applicant to formalize this commitment before application.

Application Procedure

Complete the online application with the following documents

A Pitch Deck (within 15 slides of PPT in English or Chinese)(Guidelines of Pitch Deck)

A link to a pitching video (maximum 5 minutes)
A copy of Principal Applicant 's ID card/passport
A proof of document for the entry requirement
- (1) A copy of student ID/graduation certificate/staff card, and a company registration document showing the shares (if any) or
- (2) Licensing Agreement; or
- (3) Letter of Confirmation;

Declaration form for principal applicant and team member(s) (if more than one team member)

Declaration of use of PolyU knowledge/ innovations/ technologies (if appliable)

Application Deadline

30 May 2025,1PM (Friday)

Please read the Terms and Conditions before application. Applications must be submitted before the deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.

Important Notice:

Participants must agree to be bound by and accept the competition rules of the competition.

By applying for the competition, participants must represent and warrant that all information and materials submitted with the application are their original work and that they have all the rights, licenses, permissions, and consents necessary for the submission. The information and materials filled in and submitted must be true, legal, complete, and valid. In cases of plagiarism, misappropriation, or fraud, the participants shall bear all responsibilities and consequences.
At any time, if the Organiser determines or finds that the participants or the project does not meet the entry requirements, it has the right not to approve, reject, or cancel their application.
Participants must not make any statement, comment, or issue any materials that are political, violent, discriminatory, unlawful, infringing, hateful, sexually suggestive, defamatory, or adverse to the reputation of any sponsors/ partners and Organiser during the Competition or the related events.
The Organiser may capture video and photos during the competition, as well as use the information of participants and basic information of participating projects within a reasonable scope for any purpose (e.g. reporting, display, publicity) related to the Competition.

The Organiser reserves the right to interpret and change the Competition rules and other provisions and conditions. Participants shall not raise any objections to such interpretation and changes.

Please visit the Terms and Conditions of the competition for details.

Inspiration for Industry Domains

The Open Track focuses on the following industry domains:

Finance & Insurance

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, the convergence of capital markets and the insurance sector offers unique opportunities for innovation. There is an urgent demand for visionary thinkers to develop solutions that enhance financial literacy, streamline transactions, and elevate the insurance experience for consumers. Join us in crafting transformative solutions that drive innovation in fintech and insurtech.

Get Inspired

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

The convergence of next-generation 5G, robotics, and ICT is revolutionizing industries and reshaping our daily lives. This dynamic environment calls for visionaries to devise groundbreaking solutions that improve data center efficiency, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance connectivity across various sectors. Join us in pioneering innovative technologies that foster a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future in data management and operations.

Get Inspired

Cargo & Travel

Hong Kong, a global logistics hub and popular tourist destination, relies on efficient cargo and travel systems. This critical intersection invites innovators to develop smart solutions that streamline cargo operations, enhance travel experiences, and build customer loyalty throughcargo and travel technologies. Join us in creating cutting-edge technologies that shape a more seamless, efficient, and connected future.

Get Inspired

Sports

Advancements in technology are transforming the world of sports. This convergence invites innovators to develop solutions that increase citizen engagement in sports, enhance athlete performance and recovery, and promote healthy lifestyles. Join us in creating cutting-edgesports technologies that shape a more active, inclusive, and connected community.

Get Inspired

Health

The health sector is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in medical technology, data analytics, and patient-centered care. This domain invites innovators to develop solutions that enhance healthcare accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and optimize recovery processes. From non-invasive blood sugar monitoring to advanced nursing care and rehabilitation technologies, the opportunities are vast. Join us in creating cutting-edge solutions that empower individuals, streamline healthcare delivery, and foster healthier and more resilient communities.

Get Inspired

Assessment Process

The competition assembles a distinguished judging panel for each industry domain, comprising leading industry leaders, technology experts, and investors, etc.

Initial Assessment	The judging panel of each domain will shortlist around 15 teams based on their submission.
Consultation and/or Corporate Visit	Shortlisted teams will be invited to join consultation and/or corporate visit for enhancing their proposal.
Final Assessment	Shortlisted teams will present their proposal to the Judging Panel of their respective domain. Each presentation will consist of a 5-min Pitch and followed by 5-min Q&A

Assessment Criteria

Criteria	Initial Assessment	Final Assessment
Innovativeness and/or Technology Content Originality and creativity of the technology or solution Critical role of technology/innovation in the solution	30%	20%
Feasibility Business model Ability of the idea to generate revenue	30%	20%
Team Capability Capabilities to execute the business plan Demonstrated good pitching and entrepreneurial potential	10%	15%
Benefits to industry and community Demonstration of a measurable positive effect on the industry and communities In-depth understanding of industry pain point(s) Prominent and impactful benefits to industry /community	20%	20%
Development Prospect Feasibility of prototyping and trials Practicability of the plan execution Scalability and fundability potential	10%	25%

The suggested contents outlined below are only for reference.

1. Problem Identified

Industry pain points
Who are the target beneficiaries?

2. Product/Services Description

How can your solution solve your identified problem
What is the innovativeness of your solution?
What are the technologies adopted in the solution?

3. Benefits to Industry and Community

Main value and benefits your solution provides to beneficiaries
Explain the ease of adoption in the industry and community
What are the advantages of your idea/solution over the existing products and solutions on the market?

4. Business Model

Brief analysis of market size and growth potential
Overview of how your business will operate (e.g., revenue streams)

5. Team Profile

Team members and relevant qualifications/experience

6. Roadmap and Future Plan

Product development plan
Action plan for the industry adoption
Growth strategy

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6. Privacy Policy Statement
You may refer to https://www.polyu.edu.hk/privacy-policy-statement/ for the Privacy Policy Statement of PolyU.