CityUHK HK Tech 300 Innovation Ecosystem – A 2024 Review

The importance of CityUHK’s research excellence was reaffirmed when it was among the top two recipients among eight local universities in the Hong Kong government’s Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+) in May 2024. CityUHK secured grants for five projects in biomedical sciences, materials science, big data, energy and the environment. The scheme awarded a total of over HK$1 billion in research funding in 2024.

Marking a new milestone in talent cultivation, the Academy of Innovation welcomed its inaugural cohort for the MSc in Venture Creation programme in August 2024, with an intake of 80 students, including fresh graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs and working professionals. The programme provides a comprehensive 36-credit curriculum built around three core modules: Graduate Research and Innovation Trek (GRIT) Integrated Study, Venture Creation Seminar, and Innovation Project. The programme also facilitates student collaboration with faculty research groups, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, equipping them with the expertise and networks to launch start-ups through HK Tech 300 and tap into Mainland China and global markets.
 

CityUHK’s research prowess has received widespread international recognition. At the 49th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, CityUHK secured 36 awards, including 14 by HK Tech 300 start-ups. Other accolades won by HK Tech 300 start-ups include 12 awards at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong, and other outstanding results at the 2024 Silicon Valley International Invention Festival, the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, the Hong Kong ICT Awards, the Hong Kong Digital Finance Awards, and the Guangdong-HK-Macao GBA Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award.

藻碳科技（Alcarbo）

Alcarbo Technologies Limited is a biotechnology corporation that developed a revolutionary algae photobioreactor system (PBRs) to absorb and fix carbon dioxide (CO²), the most abundant and primary greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

The company’s products and services have been supplied to universities, laboratory equipment suppliers and even theme parks in Hong Kong. The company has actively expanded into Mainland China and the Middle East, and joined the Hong Kong SAR Government’s delegation to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2024 to explore new market opportunities. In the same year, it was awarded a Silver Medal at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovation and Inventions (Hong Kong) and a Bronze Award at the HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Awards 2024.

Colorverse

Colorverse specialises in developing next-generation solutions in blockchain, artificial intelligence and Web 3.0. With the support of HK Tech 300 and Malaysia’s Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Colorverse partnered with the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board to showcase local tourism and iconic landmarks through metaverse technology. The company’s founder, Ms Sharon Tse Fuk-yan , was a finalist in the Global Leadership Award at the 2024 Women in Tech APAC, in recognition of her efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship.
 

億杉醫療 (E3A Healthcare)

E3A Healthcare is a medical device company specialising in non-invasive, home-based solutions for newborn and women’s healthcare. Its core products include fetal monitoring, newborn jaundice detection and a Nora Endometriosis Therapy Device. The company completed multiple funding rounds, with investors including the National University of Singapore, the Sequoia Hong Kong X Fund, South Korea’s SUNBO Angel Fund, Singapore’s Zeya Fund, and the Singapore Government Industry Fund. E3A Healthcare is also part of the Hong Kong Science Park Incubation Programme. In 2024, the company was recognised as one of the top 10 start-ups in the HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition.

福萊事診斷（FLASH Diagnostics）

FLASH Diagnostics is a biotechnology company that leverages multi-platform solutions to deliver molecular diagnostics insights across healthcare, environmental monitoring, food safety, and veterinary applications. The company’s current clients include aquaculture and agricultural safety testing enterprises in Mainland China, and it is actively scaling up production to expand sales and partnerships beyond Hong Kong.

恩網科技（GeneNet）

GeneNet is a pioneering biotech company focusing on cell engineering and genetic circuit technology. Using its patent-protected “AI+Bioinformatics” platform, the company explores molecular mechanisms in cells and identifies targets for gene editing. The team includes PhD graduates from leading institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, and the company is collaborating with renowned research organisations worldwide. In 2024, the company signed an MoU with a Mainland China-based medical group to serve as a bridge between domestic partners and international research institutions.

創冷科技（i2Cool）

i2Cool is a start-up founded by CityUHK researchers and incubated by CityUHK’s HK Tech 300 programme. It specialises in the development of iPaint, a low-cost, durable and highly efficient electricity-free cooling coating. To date, the technology has been deployed in over 100 projects worldwide in sectors such as construction, power and telecommunications, chemicals, logistics, renewable energy, photovoltaics and food storage. Its market footprint spans 20 countries and regions, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. In mid-2024, i2Cool secured HK$100 million in Series A funding. The company is now expanding its applications to glass façades, ceramics, textiles and automotive coatings.

銳機金融科技（iFinGate）

iFinGate is a pioneer in the Regulatory Technology (“RegTech”) sector in Hong Kong, leveraging big data analytics, automation and AI-machine learning to streamline Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) compliance procedures. The company has served over 1,000 enterprises, including financial institutions and listed companies, with a client base spanning Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Recognised for its impact in the fintech sector, the company was awarded the Start-up of the Year and the “RegTech – Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorist Financing awards” at the Hong Kong Digital Finance Awards 2024.

華一科技（Infotronic）

Infotronic is a smart construction IoT technology company providing one-stop solutions for smart construction sites. Its InfoSMART™ system, an intelligent construction site safety system, leverages data analytics to enhance site management, safety and productivity. A key innovation is its SmarTag helmet chip, which weighs just 25 grams, consumes minimal power, and features fall and prolonged standing alerts, RFID-based monitoring, electronic permit access for high-risk zones, and IoT compatibility. To date, the company has contributed to over 100 construction projects, spanning public and private infrastructure, tunnels, hospitals and schools, benefiting over 90,000 workers. Its client base has expanded to Macau and Mainland China, and the technology has been pre-approved under the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Construction Innovation and Technology Fund.

智研創科（Invisible Tech）

Invisible Tech is an innovative audio and IoT technology company that integrates advanced technologies from the ESG, lifestyle and health tech sectors. Its innovative solutions include using recycled wine boxes, wood waste and old furniture to produce speakers. It has also applied CityUHK’s patented technologies to co-develop audio systems that complement modern living environments and lifestyles. To date, the company has attracted over HK$1 million in external investments, and its products are now available in retail stores. Invisible Tech’s various products won a Bronze Award at the 2024 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions and a Silver Award in the 2024 Canadian International Invention and Innovation Competition.

Locolla

Locolla operates LocoBike, Hong Kong’s only bike-sharing service, with a user base exceeding 600,000. By integrating artificial intelligence and IoT technologies, the company can precisely track bicycle locations and provides real-time instructions for fleet redistribution and maintenance, ensuring a balance between community responsibility and urban mobility needs. In 2024, Locolla partnered with Citybus Hong Kong to launch the city’s first Bus x Bike Transfer Discount scheme. The company was awarded the Silver Prize in the Smart Mobility (Smart Tourism) category at the 2024 Hong Kong ICT Award.

益創膳食品科技（Meat the Next）

Meat the Next is a food technology company specialising in multifunctional soybean breeding and patented enzymatic hydrolysis technology. The company developed Tiga Milk, a low-sugar, low-fat, protein- and nutrient-rich plant-based milk made from oats and tiger nuts, an ingredient that can be cultivated on the edge of deserts. The company currently operates through dozens of sales channels and plans to expand its market reach to the Greater Bay Area (GBA). In 2024, the company won the Grand Prize and two Gold Awards at the 4th Asia Innovation and Invention Exhibition – Hong Kong, and its founder was recognised with the Best Social Responsibility Award for Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs in the GBA.

醫結（MediConCen）

MediConCen is a leading Hong Kong-based InsurTech start-up. By simply scanning a QR code via their insurer’s mobile application during outpatient visits, policyholders can leverage MediConnec’s automated insurance matching system, which verifies policies, calculates charges and expedites claims processing. The system reduces manual reviews while detecting fraud, such as duplicate claims and overbilling. In 2024, the company announced the completion of its Series A funding round, securing tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars. Currently, the system supports 16 insurance companies and approximately 1,200 doctors, and the company plans to expand into Mainland China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

NerOcean

NerOcean is a marine technology start-up focusing on the R&D of new detection methods for various water-quality parameters and commercialising its sensors based on the new technology. Its replaceable photosensitive membrane-based dissolved oxygen sensor is deployed for efficient seawater oxygen concentration monitoring, and its “Artificial Mussel” technology monitors marine heavy metal and radioactive substance levels. The company is collaborating with the Hong Kong SAR government’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Environmental Protection Department to test its sensors in five to six Hong Kong aquaculture zones. NerOcean received a Silver Award at the 49th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions and a Gold Award at the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong.

諾達科技機械人（Novelte Robotics）

Novelte Robotics leverages innovative Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology to provide high-precision, cost-effective, intelligent solutions for medical and logistics robotics. The company’s clients span government departments, hospitals, property developers, restaurant chains, network operators, property management firms, banks, hotels and universities. In 2024, Novelte Robotics was selected as one of five companies to participate in the inaugural Global Booster Programme by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. They completed a six-month training programme in Silicon Valley to explore market expansion opportunities in the United States.

鋒視（Sharpsight）

Sharpsight is a Hong Kong-based technology start-up dedicated to providing intelligent products and solutions for the medical rehabilitation and eldercare sectors. The company’s “masquer” product series, designed for professional rehabilitation institutions, integrates advanced technologies such as computer vision, artificial intelligence and the IoT to offer comprehensive digital rehabilitation solutions for patients with neurological conditions, including facial nerve paralysis and upper or lower limb dysfunction. Currently, the company’s clients include universities and hospitals, for whom it supports the advancement of neurological rehabilitation in clinical practice, research and education.

研科（Smarthon）

Smarthon is an IoT-focused company, driving innovation in STEM education. Centred around micro:bit, the company has developed a range of hands-on learning kits, including the Smart City IoT Learning Kit, the Smart Home IoT Creation Kit, and the Smart Plant Kit, which integrate real-life applications to help teachers and students grasp IoT technologies with ease. To date, Smarthon has sold over 3,000 educational kits and served more than 100 schools. The company has also established distribution networks in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East and Canada.

樂旼共融教育（Snaildy）

Snaildy leverages information technology and artificial intelligence to support students with special educational needs (SEN), as well as their parents, teachers and other frontline educators. The organisation has developed a centralised database system for special and gifted education, which digitises SEN student records and related programme documentation to create a seamlessly interconnected intelligent ecosystem. The system enhances the holistic development of SEN students while streamlining administrative processes for educators. It has been adopted by over 100 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and has benefited more than 10,000 students, teachers and parents. The two co-founders were named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2024 list under the “Social Impact” category.

雲合科技（Syngular）

Syngular Technology specialises in AR-based solutions for medical applications. The team developed AR surgical assistance software that utilises artificial intelligence to convert medical imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, into three-dimensional holograms. By wearing a compatible headset during surgery, doctors can experience an “intuitive X-ray vision” effect, overlaying medical images directly onto the patient in real time. The product has been trialled in hospitals in Hong Kong, focusing primarily on orthopaedic oncology and neurosurgical procedures. In 2024, the company received an award at the HICOOL 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Competition in Beijing.

和田食品科技 （Wada FoodTech）

Wada Foodtech operates a decentralised dining platform, leveraging “heat chain” technology to develop automated bento vending machines that keep meals warm and fresh. With a service time of just 17 seconds per meal, the platform provides a convenient solution for busy professionals. It currently has about 40 vending locations across Hong Kong, including schools, hospitals and construction sites, where thousands of bentos are sold daily. In 2022, the company completed the Pre-A funding round, securing tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars in investment. The company has since expanded internationally, entering markets in Japan and Australia.

ZenxTag

ZenxTag developed a smart food label that detects food spoilage by identifying biogenic amines—nitrogenous compounds produced during protein decomposition—in a highly efficient and cost-effective manner. The label undergoes a colour change in response to variations in biogenic amine concentration, thus providing a visual indicator of food freshness. The company’s product has been on trial with hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong, and in 2024, it was invited to participate in multiple government and accelerator soft-landing programmes, attracting international recognition.