The Office of Knowledge Transfer (OKT) and Technology Transfer Center (TTC) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted the HKUST Technopreneur Outreach Day on 5 May to connect the HKUST technopreneurs to the investment community, professional network as well as potential business.
19 HKUST Technology startups funded by the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) from 6 technology areas participated in this event to showcase their business idea, products and services. The event attracted 100 participants including investors from various business sectors.
At their welcoming speeches, Professor John Chai, Vice-Chairman of the Council & Chairman of Knowledge Transfer Committee and Professor Wei Shyy, Executive Vice-President & Provost of the HKUST emphasized HKUST engagement in assisting and stimulating the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Following the greetings from Professor Chai and Professor Shyy, Mr. Johann Wong, JP, Deputy Commissioner of ITC of the HKSAR and Ir. Dr. Samson Tam Wai Ho, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Business Angel Network also pointed out the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to the society.
To promote their feature technologies and business ideas, each startup company gave a 2-minute presentation at the pitching session and exchanged ideas with guests and investors at the mingling session. The event not only facilitated the connection between the HKUST technopreneurs and the business community but also gave an opportunity for the business community to learn more about the HKUST technopreneurs.
Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU), a programme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), has been launched by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) since 2014. The programme aims at encouraging students and faculties to start up technology businesses and commercialise their research and development (R&D) results as well as providing better support for technology start-ups to translate new ideas into business opportunities.
For the past three years, the ITC had provided an annual funding of up to HK$4 million to each university on a reimbursement basis for expenses incurred by the University recommended technology start-ups. 29 new technology start-ups from the HKUST have received the funding support to build up their business.
To learn more about the TSSSU companies, please visit http://ttc.ust.hk/index.php?specpage=startup.
(From left) Professor Enboa WU; Ir. Dr. Samson TAM, JP; Mr. Johann WONG, JP; Professor Wei SHYY; Professor John CHAI, JP; Mr. Nicholas CHAN, MH
The startups took photo with the guests.
Each startup gave a 2-minute pitching presentation to promote their technologies, products and services.
Startups exchanged ideas with guests at the mingling session.
Startups displayed their products to the guests.
Professor Wei SHYY (Right) visited the startup booth.