The Dongguan division of the 4th HK Tech 300 National Start-up Competition concluded at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) (CityUHK (Dongguan)) on 21 October 2026. Eight awards, with a total prize pool of RMB300,000, were presented.

Nearly 100 projects were entered across three tracks — advanced manufacturing and ESG, information technology and artificial intelligence, and biotechnology and health tech — with 15 advancing to the divisional final. The Organ Preservation team won first prize for its in-vitro bionic organ preservation technology and its industrial application. Four of the finalist teams included current students or alumni of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and CityUHK (Dongguan). 

Among the guests were ZHANG Chunyang, Level II Division Rank Official of the Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau; HUANG Dun, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau of Dongguan Songshan Lake Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone Administrative Committee; YANG Daojun, Deputy General Manager of Dongguan Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Service Centre Co., Ltd.; Professor Johnny Chung Yin HO, Associate Vice-President (Enterprise) of CityUHK; Professor LIU Zishun, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of CityUHK (Dongguan); and ZHAO Yi, Secretary of the Party Unit of CityUHK (Dongguan). Also present were representatives from universities, research institutes, industry partners, investment and financing institutions, and participating project teams. ZHANG Chunyang, Professor Johnny Chung Yin HO and Professor LIU Zishun delivered speeches at the event.

Mr ZHANG Chunyang, Prof Johnny Chung Yin HO and Prof LIU Zishun

Launched by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) in 2021, HK Tech 300 is the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme and has nurtured more than 1,000 start-ups. Its national competition, first held in 2022, offers start-ups cross-border incubation, technology support and investment opportunities. Since CityUHK (Dongguan) was established in 2024, the “R&D in Hong Kong, manufacturing in Dongguan” model has accelerated the commercialisation of research across the two cities.

For the participating teams, the competition’s value extended beyond the rankings. Third-prize winner Ferjoo showcased a smart fermentation tank that integrates hardware, software and algorithms to monitor and regulate natural fermentation. “The greater value was putting the project to the test of a real market,” said HUANG Xinheng, its algorithm lead and a postgraduate student in Data Science at CityUHK (Dongguan). “What we value most is the connection with local resources,” said WU Zheliang, co-founder of JuvGuard and a postgraduate student in the 2026 cohort at CityUHK (Dongguan).

HUANG Xinheng and WU Zheliang

Second-prize winner Shenzhen Ziqyon Technology Co., Ltd., whose project is led by CityUHK graduate ZHAO Jun, illustrates the potential for such collaboration. Its AI materials design platform integrates databases, machine learning and high-throughput screening in a closed-loop system for battery materials R&D. While the venture excels in research, it lacks production capacity; Dongguan’s comprehensive manufacturing base offers a complementary strength.

The winning projects will represent Dongguan at the national final, where teams from 16 divisions will compete for a place among the national top 10 and angel funding of up to HK$1 million. Through HK Tech 300, CityUHK and CityUHK (Dongguan) will combine their strengths in research, international collaboration, talent development and regional innovation to support the development of more innovative projects.