The MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node proudly presents Urban Technology Week 2024, a comprehensive two-week program. This educational experience guides students from MIT and Hong Kong universities to identify urban challenges, craft innovative solutions, and devise actionable deployment plans. With an impressive participation of over 40 students from diverse academic disciplines, the event aims to address real-world urban issues through technology-driven innovations.

Students engaged in a curriculum rooted in the MITdesignX methodology, complemented by industry expert interactions and on-site visits. The Urban Technology Workshop 2024 spanned from Monday, June 3, to Saturday, June 15, 2024.

During the culminating event on Saturday, June 15, 2024, participating teams will present their solutions to the public in a final showcase.

Testimonials from MIT students:

“Experiencing Hong Kong with locals and working on meaningful projects has been very enjoyable.” – Dila, MIT student, MapTR, Team 4

“If you are interested in practicing a design process and introducing yourself to an entirely new culture, this program is perfect!” – Isabella, MIT student, Digital Bamboo, Team 8

“I enjoyed collaborating with different people from different countries, especially MIT peers introduced to this program that allows us to enrich cultural exchanges. The workshops and site visits allow us to have a better look from an industrial perspective and problems to be tackled in real life.” – Ivy, HK student, Pals, Team 1

Highlights of the Showcase

Gallery

Booklet

The challenges were proposed in collaboration with our industry partners and defined as follows:

Challenge 1: Chinachem
How can we implement non-drug measures/technology to promote a harmonious coexistence environment among senior residents with cognitive impairment or dementia at Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHE)?

Challenge 2: MTR
Transforming Urban Mobility: Leveraging Digital Signage and Smartphone Interactivity to Enhance Passenger Experience, Service Responsiveness, and Revenue Opportunities

Challenge 3: UNIFi3D, LFX

Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Initiating Digital Transformation: Gaining Fashion Industry Buy-In

Each team had 5 minutes to pitch their idea to the judges and audience, with another 5 minutes to answer questions from the judges.

Student Projects

Team 1 – Pals

Team 2 – HEYDAY

Team 3 – FlexiFriends

Team 4 – MapTR

Team 5 – esc

Team 6 – COOP

Team 7 – Charlie HK

Team 8 – Digital Bamboo

Team 9 – Reimagine

Team 10 – Ec0w3D

Awards

Winners:

Chinachem Track Winner: FlexiFriend

MTR Track Winner: Charlie HK

LFX Unifi3D Track Winner: REIMAGINE

 

Audience Choice: 

Charlie HK

Faculty and Program Team

Charles G. Sodini, Faculty Director, LeBel Professor of Electrical Engineering, MIT

Marina Chan, Executive Director, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Sunnie S.Y. Lau, Director, Head of Sustainability Research and Industry Collaboration, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Alice Lo, Senior Operations Manager, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Charlotte Lam, Program Manager, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Nick Tsang, Program Manager, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Angie Zhou, Education Specialist, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Ryan Lee, Program Coordinator, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Laura Ng, Program Coordinator, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node

Industry Experts and Mentors

Ms. Jennifer Che, President & Managing Director, Eagle IP Limited

Ms. Rita Chao, Qianhai General Manager, Hong Kong X

Mr. Dante Feng, Head of RCHE / Home Manager, Pine Care Group

Ms. Yvette Kong, Lecturer, MIT SA+P

Mr. Sean Kwong, Director, GStone Digital Technology (Overseas) Limited

Mr. Victor Kwong, Chairman-Environmental Committee, IESGB

Ms. Ellen Lee, Manager, CUHK Innovation Limited

Ms. Jessica Lee, Head of Commercial and Strategic Partnership, UNIFi3D

Ms. Yan Liao, Head of RCHE of New Pine Care Centre, Registered Nurse, Pine Care Group

Ms. Grace Lai, Manager, University Collaborations, HKSTP

Mr. Steve Lau, GIS Specialist, Geospatial Lab

Mr. Anthony Lo, Head of Strategic Data Unit, LFX

Ms. Karen Ng, COO, GRST Holdings Ltd

Dr. Ann Mak, Manager of Geospatial Lab,  Geospatial Lab

Ms. Viviene Ma, People and Organization, LFX

Mr. Gene Soo, Head of Ecosystem, MTR

Mr. Henry Tan, Co-founder, Managing Partner, Q Venture Partners

Mr. Felix Yu, Senior Manager, Co-development, HKSTP

Special Thanks to Domain Speakers

Brian Chin, Assistant Manager – Innovation, MTR

Marco Suen, CEO, Co-founder, Provectus Therapeutics

Claudia Lo, Strategy and Investment Relations Manager, BioMed Technology Holdings Limited

Jennifer Che, President & Managing Director, Eagle IP Limited

David Gottfried, Chief Commercialisation Officer, Blue Planet Systems

Gigi Lui, Assistant Digital Experience Manager, MTR

Special Thanks to Showcase Judges

Anita Ng, Chief Branding Manager, MTR

Raymond Chu, Associate Director, University Collaborations & Entrepreneurship Incubation and Acceleration Programmes, HKSTP

Angus Chan, CEO of Pine Care Group, Chinachem Group

Gene Soo, Head of Ecosystem, MTR

Lowell Kong, Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship, HKSTP

Jessica Lee, Head of Commercial and Strategic Partnership, UNIFi3D

Special Thanks to

CUHK Innovation Limited
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing
Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

Geospatial Lab
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Development Bureau