PolyU International Future Challenge 2025: Top Four Teams from Shanghai Region Announced
The final event of the PolyU x Flair Capital International Future Challenge for the Shanghai region occurred on August 8 in Xuhui District, Shanghai. This competition featured 15 teams competing for awards and cash prizes totaling RMB 270,000. The top four teams will progress to the Grand Final, which is slated for December in Shenzhen, joining leading teams from other regions.
Sponsorship and Support
The challenge was sponsored by Flair Capital, an organization founded by PolyU alumnus Benny Chan, and received backing from various local government entities, including the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xuhui District People’s Government and the Science and Technology Commission of Xuhui District. The aim of this collaboration is to foster connections among global innovation and technology talents to bolster technological advancement in both Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Xuhui District: A Hub for Innovation
Recognized as a key center for innovation and technology, Xuhui District is home to numerous multinational corporations, research institutions, and esteemed universities. The area has made significant strides in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), biomedicine, and fintech. These advancements have contributed to the development of industrial clusters valued at hundreds of billions of RMB, reinforcing Shanghai’s position as a global hub for innovation and technology.
Enhancing Partnerships
Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) at PolyU, highlighted the competition’s role in enhancing partnerships between industry, academic institutions, and research organizations within Xuhui District. He noted that the competition’s themes correspond with the district’s strategic ambitions in innovation and technology, while also serving to attract skilled professionals and promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
Competition Focus Areas
This year’s competition centered on four primary areas: blockchain, low-altitude economy, AI-enabled healthcare, and digital transformation, as well as applications of AI in these fields. Winning teams will not only receive cash prizes but also access resources from PolyU’s Mainland Translational Research Institutes and the PolyVentures startup ecosystem, in addition to opportunities for business development in Shanghai through high-quality incubators.
Project Submissions and Awards
The event received over 70 project submissions from local and international participants, reflecting the dynamic innovation landscape in Shanghai. After a rigorous evaluation process, 15 projects advanced to the final round. The awards for the top entries from the Shanghai region were distributed as follows:
- Flair Capital Cup (Championship): LAN-XEN – RMB 100,000
- First Prize: Jufu (Shanghai) Medical Technology Co., Ltd – RMB 60,000
- Second Prize: CeresRobotics.ai – RMB 40,000
- Second Prize: Moon Lab Limited – RMB 40,000
- Merit Award: Shanghai Tianyin Biology Co., Ltd – RMB 5,000
- Merit Award: Sustainaball Limited – RMB 5,000
- Merit Award: Virtual MRI Contrast Enhancement System for Precise Tumor Detection and Treatment – RMB 5,000
- Best Presentation Award (audience vote): CeresRobotics.ai – RMB 5,000
- Best Innovation Award (audience vote): Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments – RMB 5,000
- Most Popular Award (audience vote): Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments – RMB 5,000
Promotion of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The PolyU International Future Challenge is aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within a structured “1+N” framework, allowing Hong Kong to serve as the main competition venue alongside six cities across mainland China, including Huizhou, Wenzhou, Qianhai, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Jinjiang. This competition is open to technology startups and innovators worldwide. PolyU partners with established enterprises and Mainland Translational Research Institutes to provide critical support and resources to participants and winners, including opportunities for corporate tours, business consultations, and access to overseas initiatives.
Application Process and Future Events
More than 600 applications were submitted across the seven competition regions, with the application window for six of these regions now closed. Wenzhou’s application deadline remains open until August 31, 2025. The Grand Final is scheduled for December in Shenzhen. Additional information regarding the competition can be found on the official website.
(Source: PolyU Media Releases)
