HKU Innovation Week 2026 Brings Over 1,000 Leaders and Innovators to Campus

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) hosted the Main Event of HKU Innovation Week 2026 Wednesday, showcasing more than 120 groundbreaking innovations across biomedical sciences, healthcare, smart living, engineering, architecture, and sustainability.

Themed The Innovation Reef: Where Ideas Breed and Thrive’, the Main Event brought together over 1,000 leaders from government, industry, academia, research institutions, and the investment community for the launch of HKU SPARC (Research, Innovation, Strategic Partnerships and Entrepreneurship) and the presentation of the inaugural HKU Impact Awards to four alumni and faculty members for their impactful contributions to society.

The event commenced with a video welcome address by Professor Xiang Zhang, JP, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, followed by remarks from Professor Richard Wong, SBS, JP, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of HKU; The Hon Leung Chun-ying, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; and Professor Dong Sun, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government.

“We gather at a defining moment for Hong Kong’s Innovation & Technology development”, said Professor Richard Wong, SBS, JP, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of HKU in his welcoming remarks. “HKU stands ready to play its full part. “Long recognised as a world-leading hub for blue-skies research, the University remains committed to generating fundamental knowledge and translating it into tangible benefits for society.“

The Hon Leung Chun-ying emphasised that universities hold the vast majority of Hong Kong's research resources. He called for better connections between innovation achievements and the full chain of government, industry, academia, research, investment, and application.

“Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages in translating innovation into impact both domestically and internationally,” he said. “Through its academic excellence, HKU serves as a bridge for talent, knowledge, technology and resources, while providing a trusted platform for frontier research, innovation and startups to go global, contributing to the high-quality development of both Hong Kong and the nation.”

Other highlights of the day’s programme included an address by Professor Robert Langer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, often referred to as the “Edison of Medicine”, as well as a fireside chat between researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation leaders.

It also featured a Founders' Spotlight, which highlighted the work being done around the world by HKU-born startups.

“A healthy innovation ecosystem, like a reef, relies on different parties performing different but complementary roles,” said Professor Sun, in a nod to the Week’s theme. “Our universities play an indispensable role in advancing knowledge, nurturing talents, and transforming research into real-world impact. Talents aside, we need to drive the synergistic development among the Government, industries, academia, research and investment sectors.”