Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2026
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), HSBC and The HongKong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) jointly organise the Innovation and Technology Scholarship (the Scholarship) to identify and nurture outstanding undergraduates passionate about innovation and technology (I&T), injecting new impetus into the local I&T ecosystem.
The Scholarship is now in its 16th cohort. It has cultivated 400 young pioneers, empowering them to drive social change through innovation. The Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony was held today (2 June) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to recognise 25 I&T rising stars. By enhancing students’ professional skills and global perspectives, the Scholarship empowers a new generation of youth leaders to harness local research strengths and collectively contribute to Hong Kong’s vision of becoming an international I&T centre.
Nurturing Cross-disciplinary I&T Leaders across Six Areas
To enable young talents to align with global technological trends, the Scholarship continues to focus on six designated “InnoTech Areas” this year, including “Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Engineering”, “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics”, “Business and Financial Technology”, “Life and Health Technology”, “Sustainability and Green Technology”, and “Multi-disciplinary Technology and Others”. It encourages young people to transcend academic boundaries and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Rigorously selected by the Awardee Selection Committee, the 25 outstanding local undergraduates demonstrate not only academic excellence and a strong passion for I&T, but also innovative thinking and a sense of social responsibility. Coming from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Metropolitan University, their academic backgrounds span across different areas including Medicine, Science, Engineering, Global Business and Finance, Fashion, Information and Artificial Intelligence, and Technology and Management, reflecting the diverse and integrated I&T capabilities of local youths.
Inspiring Awardees to Turn Ideas into Impact through I&T
The Award Presentation Ceremony was officiated by Professor the Hon SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, who presented certificates to the 25 awardees, offering his congratulations and encouragement together with other distinguished guests.
Professor the Hon SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, said Hong Kong, with the motherland’s staunch support, world-class academics, and a vibrant financial ecosystem, is well-positioned to emerge as a pivotal hub for global I&T development. He encouraged students to leverage the Scholarship as a launchpad for future contributions to the I&T development of Hong Kong and the nation, adding that the programmes of the Scholarship empower them to see further, think deeper and dream bigger.
Ms Marina TONG, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Hong Kong, said: “HSBC’s support for the Innovation and Technology Scholarship goes beyond financial assistance — we’re focused on helping ideas become reality. Through exposure and incubation, and by providing opportunities to test, refine and scale solutions, we aim to support scholars in turning promising ideas into meaningful outcomes. We’re proud to co-found this Scholarship with the Innovation and Technology Commission and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. As technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and climate solutions advance at pace, innovation is not only reshaping how we live and work, but also a core driver of sustainable economic development and long-term community progress.”
Ms HSU Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, shared: “Innovation must go beyond technical breakthroughs and rest on cross disciplinary collaboration. We know our awardees bridge technical expertise and real-world experience. However, by anchoring technology in human needs, they turn tools and data into inclusive solutions that benefit society. This is, after all, the goal of the Scholarship: to nurture future leaders who lead with both vision and empathy.”
The Hon Bernard CHAN, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Innovation and Technology Scholarship’s Awardee Selection Committee, said: “What impressed our Committee most this year was not technological brilliance alone, but our awardees’ cross-disciplinary vision and profound empathy for society. They do not build technology for its own sake; they build it for people. They understand that while artificial intelligence will automate tasks, accelerate discovery and reshape entire industries, it cannot replace the curiosity, courage, or compassion that give technology its direction and meaning. That is precisely what separates a good engineer from a great leader.”
Fueling Innovation with Scholarship of Up to HK$150,000
Each awardee will receive a Scholarship of up to HK$150,000 and participate in a series of elite nurturing programmes over the coming year including opportunities of studying at renowned universities overseas or in the Chinese Mainland, deepening their understanding of the global I&T ecosystem. Industry leaders will serve as mentors, guiding the next generation of I&T leaders with their knowledge and wisdom. Awardees can also gain first-hand industry experience and expand their professional networks through with overseas/mainland attachments, mentorship and service projects, and local internships at local technology enterprises or government departments.
The Scholarship also places emphasis on practical application and social commitment. Awardees are expected to initiate I&T educational activities for primary and secondary school students, inspiring the younger generation to pursue I&T careers through their learning experiences. Awardees are also encouraged to transform original innovative ideas into solutions for social good with Scholarship funding, and to showcase their learning outcomes to the public upon completion of the Scholarship. It is hoped that awardees will uphold a sense of social responsibility while pursuing I&T excellence, actively contributing to the I&T development of Hong Kong and the country.
For details of the Scholarship, please visit the official website: innotechscholarship.hkfyg.org.hk.