Nelson Ng Pok-him

PhD student (Infectious Diseases and Public Health)
Founder and CEO, Alcarbo Technologies Limited

“Pursuing scientific research and entrepreneurship is not easy, but with the support of CityUHK, I am never alone.”

With HK Tech 300’s all-round support, Nelson (centre) established Alcarbo Technology Limited with like-minded partners.

Nelson and his team won the Second-Class Award at the 10th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Nelson focuses his research endeavours on algal carbon-reduction technology.

Nelson Ng has harboured an unwavering passion for marine animals since he was young. One of his major interests was immersing himself in Ocean Park Hong Kong’s Marine World and documentaries about marine life. Early on, he aspired to forge a career in the marine field.

Nelson’s dream became a powerful driving force to motivate him going forward. After graduating from secondary school in Hong Kong, he chose to venture beyond the city to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Aquaculture, followed by a Master's degree in Aquatic Pathobiology, deepening his knowledge in fish pathology and health management.

In 2020, Nelson returned to Hong Kong and joined CityUHK as a research assistant and a PhD student in Infectious Diseases and Public Health. His major interest in his applied research studies related to nano-bubbles.

With the support of CityUHK’s innovation and entrepreneurship programme – HK Tech 300 – Nelson embarked on a startup journey with like-minded partners and established Alcarbo Technology Limited.

Alcarbo is a biotechnology company, which developed a revolutionary, low-cost technology to capture carbon with microalgae, helping businesses establish innovative and sustainable carbon-reduction solutions, and contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality for Hong Kong.

Microalgae is a powerful carbon dioxide (CO2) absorber, as it can absorb 40 times more CO2 than trees can. Combining the cutting-edge algal system and nano-bubble technology, the team has accelerated the growth of the microalgae and improved its CO2 absorption.

With HK Tech 300’s all-round support, including seed funding of HK$100,000, Angel Fund investment of up to HK$1 million and valuable industry connections, Nelson and his team successfully established a microalgae farm for further research and technology transformation and for demonstration of their business model to potential corporate clients.

Its carbon capture rate has already been certified by CMA Testing, a well-known third-party assurance body, and they are applying for carbon-reduction certification by Gold Standard, an international independent assessment organisation. They are also planning to expand their business to Southeast Asia.

With Alcarbo’s innovative algal carbon-reduction technology, Nelson was the first runner-up in the Smart City and Sustainability category in Hong Kong Techathon 2022, organised by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

Nelson Ng’s three different roles — research assistant, PhD student and founder of a startup — complement each other, combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, significantly enhancing his learning effectiveness and fostering multidimensional thinking. This combination has further unleashed his potential and creativity in scientific research, propelling him forward on his entrepreneurial journey.

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