Co-hosted with Social Ventures Hong Kong (SVhk) on 12 May 2026, the interactive workshop "Community in Action: Reimagining Community through Fortune Multiplex" drew nearly 30 participants from across university faculties to explore the frontiers of real-world social innovation.
The session featured visionary insights from Mr Francis Ngai, Founder and CEO of SVhk and Ms Harmony Li, Chief Community Officer of SVhk, who introduced SVhk’s journey on social innovation. Central to the discussion was Fortune Multiplex, a revitalised tong-lau (唐樓) in Sham Shui Po that serves as a benchmark for "vertical communities" by seamlessly integrating co-living, co-working, and co-caring.
A key highlight of the session was the Human Library, where community innovators shared their personal journeys and practical experiences in building community initiatives. Through small‑group interactions, participants engaged in meaningful dialogue, learning how these practitioners work to build neighbourhood connections and strengthen residents’ sense of belonging within the Fortune Multiplex community. The interactive format fostered open exchange and deeper reflection across disciplines.
Building on these perspectives, participants took part in a Co‑creation Session, where they Participants strategically mapped their own research outcomes and knowledge transfer initiatives onto the design of inclusive spaces for community empowerment The session encouraged participants to translate inspiration into actionable concepts, exploring how physical spaces and community engagement strategies can better support social connection and collective wellbeing.
This workshop provided a dynamic platform for interaction, reflection, and idea generation, highlighting the value of cross‑sector collaboration in advancing impact-driven initiatives and social impact.
For CUHK members interested in developing a new concept or scaling an existing impact-driven project based on their research outcomes, we invite you to join our Impact Consultation Session. Our team will work alongside you to explore collaboration opportunities, identify potential partners and navigate suitable funding pathways to amplify your impact through knowledge transfer. You may reserve your session here.
Mr Francis Ngai shared SVhk's social innovation journey with the participants. (Photo: KTO)
Ms Harmony Li introduced SVhk's various project models. (Photo: KTO)
Ms. Doris Lui, a community partner of SVhk, shared how COMM,ON project connects community resources with CUHK members. (Photo: KTO)
Mr. Dicky Chow shared how Our Hong Kong Foundation collaborates with SVhk to advance social innovation with CUHK members. (Photo: KTO)
Participants were actively engaging in the Co-Creation session. (Photo: KTO)
Participants presented their diccussion outcomes to the groups. (Photo: KTO)