The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recognized several outstanding startups from its PolyVentures program during an awards ceremony on January 15, 2026. The event, titled “PolyU x BOCHK International Future Challenge Grand Final Awards Ceremony cum PolyVentures Awards Presentation,” highlighted the accomplishments of the 2025 PolyVentures startup teams and announced a donation from the Dr. Winnie Tang Frontier Technology Development Fund.
MoU Signing and Collaboration
During the ceremony, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between PolyU, Gobi Partners, and Xi’an Aviation Investment (Chengdu) Technology Group Co., Ltd. This agreement is designed to enhance collaborations aimed at driving technological innovation. The event also included a showcase featuring 15 startup projects, illustrating the vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem at PolyU.
Importance of Innovation Ecosystem
Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, expressed appreciation to Dr. Winnie Tang and the industry partners for their roles in strengthening the university’s innovation ecosystem. He underscored PolyU’s dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship and the importance of collaborations that advance research and innovation at both local and national levels.
Support for Startups
Prof. Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) at PolyU, remarked that the university’s PolyVentures ecosystem offers significant support to startups, including incubation and financing. He noted the achievements of PolyU’s teams in various competitions, which reflect the institution’s commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among students and researchers.
Awards and Funding Opportunities
The awards recognized startups that have benefited from multiple funding schemes, such as the PolyU Micro Fund and the PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund. To date, PolyU has supported over 600 startups, which include two listed companies and three unicorns.
Donation and Future Prospects
Dr. Winnie Tang, along with other partners, presented the donation cheque during the event. She acknowledged PolyU’s strengths in research innovation and knowledge transfer, emphasizing the importance of supporting promising research outcomes to benefit both society and industry.
Focus on Business Collaborations
The signed MoU aims to enhance the development of PolyU startups by attracting venture capital investments and boosting business collaborations across Asia. The partnership will also focus on co-organizing entrepreneurship education activities to strengthen the startup ecosystem at PolyU.
Source: Hong Kong Polytechnic University Media Release
