PolyU and Hang Seng Bank have teamed up to launch the “Hang Seng x PolyU Sustainable Future Challenge: Textile and Fashion”. The Challenge calls for I&T talent, including young creatives, to help imagine the future of the industry with a “sustainability-centric” mindset.

The Challenge welcomes tertiary students, researchers, industry players and members of the public to join. They can share their professional knowledge and know-how for the enhancement of the industry. Participants will focus on issues such as recycling textile waste, transforming and re‑using discarded clothing, and then further develop their ideas to pursue sustainable development.

Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of PolyU, said, “As a part of PolyU’s innovation and entrepreneurship development framework, the University is organising a series of thematic ideation competitions with the aim of addressing the ever-changing challenges encountered by various industries. PolyU is committed to nurturing innovation and technology talents and encouraging young people to embrace innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to drive change for social good and societal impact.”

The Challenge comes in two categories - Tertiary Student Category and Open Category. All participants will go through a series of “ideation galas” during which they will further develop their ideas and connect with other individuals to form a team. 16 teams will then be shortlisted and will receive a few weeks’ of training and mentorship from industry professionals. Via proof-of-concept programmes and market validation training, the ideas of the shortlisted teams will be fully developed into practical business proposals. These proposals will be presented at a Grand Finale event.

The top three winning teams will receive cash awards ranging from HK$100,000 to HK$300,000 to finance their start-ups. Teams in the Tertiary Student Category will also be eligible for the Tertiary Student Innovation Awards, which provide additional cash awards ranging from HK$5,000 to HK$10,000 for the top three teams. Subject to certain eligibility requirements, the winning teams may also be provided with further funding and other entrepreneurship support from PolyU.

For further details of the Challenge, please visit this website.