Theme: Smart Economy in AI, Cyber Security & Robotics Contest
About the Contest:
With the rapid advancement and widespread application of technology, the smart economy has attracted increasing attention. The Smart Economy AI Competition focuses on innovative solutions for the smart economy supported by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and robotics. It aims to promote the development of Hong Kong’s smart environment.
We warmly invite innovators, entrepreneurs and academic institutions from all sectors to participate in the competition, showcase their creativity and technical capabilities, address real-world challenges and contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s smart city and digital economy.
Registration will officially open on 26 June 2026. Shortlisted teams will set up booths at the Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival, Hong Kong’s largest event of its kind, to present their projects to more than 500,000 members of the public. They will subsequently receive one-on-one guidance from industry experts and compete for the final awards. We look forward to participants contributing creative insights and practical solutions to the development of Hong Kong’s smart economy as we move together towards a smarter way of living. Members of all sectors are welcome to register.
Event Details
General Entry Requirements
■ Participants should register under one of the following groups:
– Tertiary Student Category: Full-time students currently enrolled in a university or tertiary institution, including newly admitted students.
– General Category: Individuals aged 18 or above, including part-time students.
Note: If a team consists of both full-time students and non-students, it should enter the Open Group.
■ Each team may have up to five members.
Competition Rules and Registration Details
■ The proposal topic should relate to innovative solutions for the smart economy supported by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and/ robotics.
■ Proposals should be submitted in .ppt or .pdf format. Teams may also submit a short video explaining their solution and recommendations.
■ The registration and proposal submission deadline is 31July 2026.
■ From 1 to 5 August 2026, the judging panel will conduct preliminary screening. Shortlist notifications will be issued on 6 August.
■ Shortlisted teams will participate in the Proposal Showcase at the Computer Festival from 21 to 24 August.
■ Shortlisted teams must attend the mentoring session, also serving as the proposal refinement session, on 3 October 2026.
Judging Criteria
■ Benefits and impact for the community (35%)
■ Implementation potential / efficiency (30%)
■ Practicality and impact (15%)
■ Innovation and creativity (15%)
■ Written and presentation materials (5%)
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| 31 July 2026 | Deadline for submitting proposals |
| 6 August 2026 | Announcement of teams shortlisted for their Proposal Showcase at Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival |
| 21–24 August 2026 | Proposal Showcase at HKCEC, Wan Chai |
| 3 October 2026 | Mentoring Session and Proposal Refinement Session |
| 8 October 2026 | Deadline for submitting refined proposals |
| 15 October 2026 | Announcement of finalists |
| 26 October 2026 | Final Contest cum Award Ceremony |
Mentoring Session
Each team will be allocated for 12 minutes with 5 minutes presentation and 7 minutes judges’Q&A. 8 expert mentors, with four mentors for each category, will provide guidance and insights through internal discussions on how to improve the proposed solutions and products, helping teams refine and materialize their proposals.
Date: 3 October 2026 (Saturday)
Time: Cyberport Training Room 1-3
Venue: Training Room 1-3, Cyberport 3 (Core F)
Time: 10:00–13:00 (registration begins at 09:30)
– 10:00–11:00 Mentoring Session 1
– 11:00–11:30 Break
– 11:30–12:30 Mentoring Session 2
