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Global Challenge · Hong Kong Climate Week 2027 Feature Event
Climate Innovation for Real-World Action
Applications open 17 Nov 2026 · Submission deadline 31 Jan 2027 · Hong Kong Final 22 Mar 2027 at HKU
A global challenge organised by the HKU Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality (ICCN), inviting students, young researchers, entrepreneurs and early-stage teams worldwide to submit actionable climate solutions — advancing climate innovation, knowledge exchange and public participation through selection, mentorship and the Hong Kong final roadshow.
Hong Kong Climate Week (HKCW), initiated and hosted by ICCN, builds on the 2024 and 2025 Hong Kong Climate Forums, connecting policy, science, technology and finance. In 2026 the programme expanded to a city-wide scale with 20+ events and over 5,000 participants, fostering exchange among government, academia, industry and youth. The 2027 "Voice of Earth" series further drives climate innovation, knowledge exchange and public engagement. We invite global universities, research institutes, entrepreneurship platforms and industry organisations to cooperate in discovering implementable climate solutions and supporting innovators through professional exchange, proposal refinement and Hong Kong roadshow showcases.
Under the theme "Climate Innovation and Practice", the challenge targets global students, researchers, young entrepreneurs and early-stage startups, aiming to recruit around 60 teams. Through preliminary and regional selection, 8–10 teams advance to the Hong Kong final. Finalists receive online training, group mentoring and proposal-optimisation support, plus funded travel to Hong Kong for the roadshow; specific funding scope is detailed in the finalist notification. Participants must be aged 18 or above, in teams of 2–4 (cross-institutional, interdisciplinary and cross-regional teams welcome). Ideas, proof-of-concept, prototypes and early-application proposals are all eligible; no registered company required. All submission materials, reviews and the final pitch are conducted in English. Judging focuses on innovation, feasibility, climate impact and team.
Research and practice in clean-energy applications, energy efficiency and low-carbon materials.
Applications of AI, satellite remote sensing and data in environmental monitoring and governance.
Carbon-emission management, decarbonisation decisions and financial support for climate solutions.
Advancing sustainable living through products, services, art and cross-sector collaboration.
Marine-ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries development and related practice.
17 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2027
Global open call: submit application form, one-page brief, pitch deck and intro video.
Nov 2026 – early Mar 2027
Staged preliminary and regional selection; 8–10 finalist teams notified by 5 Mar 2027.
9 – 18 Mar 2027
Online thematic training, group mentoring and proposal optimisation; final deck submitted by 19 Mar.
22 Mar 2027
Hong Kong Final at HKU: morning opening & networking, afternoon roadshow, on-site and online.
Promote the challenge to student, research and entrepreneurship networks; recommend teams with climate-innovation potential.
Recommend domain experts to join as judges, online trainers or mentors.
Provide research, application cases or interactive displays, linked with the concurrent exhibition.
The marine direction plans to explore cooperation with the Qingdao Marine Ecology Research Society.
Interested institutions may send ICCN an organisation profile, relevant fields, preferred cooperation mode and a contact. Roles and schedules are agreed per the competition calendar.
The challenge connects with the Climate Tech & Innovation Exhibition held at HKU on 21–23 March 2027 (daily 09:00–17:00). The exhibition features five zones — AI & environmental governance, satellite remote sensing & data, clean energy & new materials, carbon-management technology, and cross-sector collaboration — plus three themed workshops. Participating and partnering teams may arrange solution introductions, interactive demos or related showcases.
Cooperation & enquiries: iccn@hku.hk
Institute website: https://iccn.hku.hk/