Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition 2025

Jointly organised by Education Bureau (EDB), The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) and Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM), the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition 2025 held its Final Judging and Award Presentation Ceremony today (26 April). In its 27^th year, the Competition has nurtured over 18,000 secondary school students, laying a solid foundation for innotech education in Hong Kong. As a major educational event, 221 scientific research teams from local secondary schools participated with inventions and scientific investigation projects, opening up new avenues in the local scientific and innovation sectors.

The Competition aims to nurture the interest of local secondary school students in science and technology, equip them with a diverse skill set and the ability to tackle challenges through learning, and prepare them to become future innotech leaders in Hong Kong. The theme this year was “Rare Diseases” with the goal of blending scientific research with practical solutions that contribute to the community.

Prof. John LEE Chi-kin, JP, President of The Education University of Hong Kong and Prof. Philip CHIU Wai-yan, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong were the Chair Judges of the Senior and Junior Divisions respectively, leading the professional panels comprising six representatives from the organisers and academia. The finalists presented their scientific inventions or investigation findings to shine a light on a number of rare diseases and showcase how their projects embodied the spirit of innovation and scientific research. The final judging also highlighted each team’s problem-solving, communication and co-operation skills.

The 20 teams that advanced into the final judging presented creative solutions that deeply impressed the judges. The overall standard of the competition was high and the excellent performance of the teams was praised by the panel who crowned four teams as the Champions of the Competition.

King’s College won the Junior Division (Invention) championship with their project “OLD-der-Less!“ The team invented reusable adult diapers that use seaweed and urease as materials for micro capsules with an additional layer of citric acid to neutralise ammonia from urea, reducing skin irritation and odours. The invention not only improves the quality of life for the elderly, but also encourages eco-friendly practices.

Heep Yunn School secured the Junior Division (Investigation) championship with their project “Utilising Rice Bran Extracts To Synthesise Fire-retardant Materials.” The team investigated the feasibility of using extracts such as phytic acid and tannins from natural plant sources, including pomegranate peels, black tea leaves, rice bran and soybeans to produce fire retardants that are less harmful to the human body.

Carmel Pak U Secondary School won the Senior Division (Invention) championship with their project “Rouxii KFC Express.” Leveraging bioengineering technology, the team invented their product using kombucha. By obtaining chitosan coating from crustacean shells and applying it to daily items, they created a product featuring a range of benefits: heat and cold resistant, antibacterial, non-carcinogenic and biodegradable.

Kowloon True Light Middle School secured the Senior Division (Investigation) championship with their project “De Novo Approach: Peptides Inhibiting Pancreatic And Lung Cancer’s Viability.” Harnessing the Nobel Prize-winning AI tool RFDiffusion, the team designed peptides that effectively disrupt the interaction between KRAS and PDE within cancer signalling pathways. Through the integration of peptides and PEI transfection technology, the de novo approach demonstrated great potential for enhancing treatment efficacy for lung and pancreatic cancers.

Officiating guests at the Award Presentation Ceremony included Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, JP, Secretary for Education, the Hong Kong SAR Government, Samuel CHUI Chi-man, Curator (Science) Development of the Hong Kong Science Museum, Keith TAM Chi-hang, Vice Principal of the Hong Kong Design Institute and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) and Ricky CHOI, Director of Smart Living, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, HSU Siu-man, Executive Director, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, JP, Secretary for Education, the Hong Kong SAR Government, emphasised that the competition serves as a valuable learning platform, nurturing students’ interest in science and technology and strengthening their scientific knowledge and inquiry skills while fostering innovative thinking. To support the national strategy of “Invigorating the Country through Science and Education” and bolster Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub, the Education Bureau is actively promoting STEAM and digital education across primary and secondary schools. The Bureau remains committed to working with stakeholders to offer students more diverse learning opportunities to enhance scientific literacy and innovation.

HSU Siu-man, Executive Director, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, highlighted how the competition provides young people with opportunities to explore technology, conduct research, and exchange ideas. With this year’s annual theme focusing on “Rare Diseases,” she noted the students’ thoughtfulness and compassion through their projects, which offered innovative solutions to improve the lives of patients and caregivers. These efforts will raise public awareness and inspire more people to act with empathy, enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable communities and fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.

The public are invited to witness the award-winning projects and explore the future of innotech at an exhibition in the Hong Kong Science Museum on 10 May (Sat). Admission to the exhibition is free. The winning teams will later partake in local or overseas professional training and exchange programmes, and represent Hong Kong by competing in international science competitions.

This year’s Competition aimed to encourage local students to develop their talents, acquire knowledge and design unique solutions to change the world through science and innovation, nurturing them into budding scientists and inventors to help Hong Kong develop into an international science and technology hub.

To learn more about the Competition, list of awardees and entries, please visit hksspc.hkfyg.org.hk.

Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition 2025

Awardees List

Junior Division (Invention)

Junior Division (Investigation)

Senior Division (Invention)

Senior Division (Investigation)