Events

About the ICT Startup Award

The ICT Startup Award serves as a premier platform to discover and recognize outstanding local ICT companies specializing in software, hardware, and social innovation. Marking the 20th anniversary of the HKICT Awards in 2026, this category rewards distinguished ventures based on their growth, innovation, creativity, functionality, market potential, and performance.

Led by the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA), the award nurtures startups that align with the HKSAR Government’s "New Industrialization" mandates and Smart City Blueprint. By providing winners with global recognition, investment matching, and technical validation, the award accelerates the transition of high-potential start-ups from ideation to market-ready success.

Organizer: Digital Policy Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Leading Organizer: Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (Click Here)

Eligibility:

• The Person-In-Charge (PIC) must be a full-time staff member of CUHK holding a position within the professoriate or research academic ranks^*#

• Start-ups or spin-offs or Inno-HKs that are founded or co-founded by CUHK’s staff members, presenting the use of CUHK’s IP or holding a license for CUHK’s IP^*#

• The IP of innovations presented at this event must be owned/ co-owned by CUHK^*#

• Other HKICT Award General Legibility requirements (Please click Here for more info)

^* Only CUHK members will be accredited

^# Subject to University CPRO and KTO final decision if the eligible CUHK teams are used/ consented for University promotions.

Award Streams:  

Applicants may enter one of the following three streams for the 2026 edition

• Digital Innovation Solution and Service

To recognise outstanding ICT and AI native star-tup companies with product/ services/ solutions in the category of digital innovation and service, which has shown the greatest development over the last year based on its growth, innovation, creativity, functionality, and market potential/ performance

• Smart Device and Robotics

To recognise outstanding ICT start-up companies with products/ services/ solutions that leverage robotics and automation to drive new industrialization mandate, which has shown the greatest development over the last year, based on its growth, innovation, creativity, functionality and market potential/ performance

• ESG and Social Innovation

To recognise ICT start-ups that prioritise ESG Integration and develop Green-Tech solutions and address social and environmental challenges. This stream aligns technological innovation with corporate sustainability mandates and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

 

Important Timeline:  

• Official Call for Entries: 28 April 2026
• Deadline for Enrolment: 20 July 2026, 11:59pm (HKT)
• Adjudication: 17 Aug - 25 September 2026
• Awards Presentation Ceremony cum Dinner: 19 November 2026
  
  Apart from the completed online application form, the following items/ documents should also be attached and submitted along with the Online Application Form
• An authorised e-signature
• A copy of the Business Registration Certificate (BR) of the entrant or equivalent supporting document
• A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (CI) of the entrant or equivalent supporting document
• 4. A copy of at least 3-months in live Operation Proof (OP) of the submitted solution or product (e.g. delivery note to customer, invoice, public announcement, advertisement, internal announcement, update record of applications etc.)
• Additional supplementary information (if any)

 

Judging Criteria

(For ICT Startup Award Only)

Streams	Innovation and Creativity in ICT	Functionality	Market Potential/ Performance, Internal User Buy-in or Public Acceptance	Benefits and Impact	Quality
Digital Innovation Solution and Service	25%	10%	30%	15%	20%
Smart Device and Robotics	25%	10%	30%	15%	20%
ESG and Social Innovation	25%	10%	20%	30%	15%

 

For "Best Use of AI" award Only

Innovation and Creativity	Benefits and Imapct	User Experience/ Buy-in	Ethical Consideration
30%	25%	30%	15%

 

Useful information

Official Website of ICT Statup Award 2026: Click Here

Prospectus- ICT Statup Award 2026: Click Here