Fund for Innovation, Technology, and Social-wellbeing Closing Ceremony

27 September 2023

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the “Fund for Innovation, Technology, and Social-wellbeing (FITS) Closing Ceremony” on 27 September, providing a platform for the 4 FITS project teams and their partner organisations to share their social innovation outcomes and commend their continuous efforts for social innovation.

Kickstarting the event, the Assistant Commissioner for Efficiency Miss Karen Shing Wan-ching thanked the applied research teams on behalf of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) for implementing their practical and sustainable solutions to Hong Kong social issues and benefiting all walks of life in the community throughout the past 2 years. “Hong Kong’s social innovation sector relies on your support to develop models and best practices for tackling poverty and social exclusion, foster well-being and cohesion of the society through social innovation and social entrepreneurship in future.”

Head of EdUHK Knowledge Transfer Sub-office Mr Lemon Kwan Hok-ming also remarked that scientific and technological innovation must go hand in hand with social development to maximise socioeconomic impact. “With the support from the SIE Fund, we successfully transferred our knowledge and expertise to locals in need of assistance by improving access to and delivery of education, advancing living and health standards, promoting and sustaining art, culture and heritage, and reducing inequality and encouraging social reconciliation.”

The event also comprises project sharings and impact showcases by the 4 funded project teams (in alphabetical order):

Innovating Music for Everyone: Music Creation and Performance with e-Orch
Project Investigator: Dr Michael Leung Chi-hin (Department of Cultural and Creative Arts)
Project Partners:
1. Music Children Foundation
2. Music Innovation and Design Lab
3. Music Office, HKSAR Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Mindfulness-based Stigma Stress Reduction Programme for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and their Parents
Project Investigators: Dr Kevin Chan Ka-shing, Dr Ricky Tso Van-yip (Department of Psychology)
Project Partner:
Edge Development Centre
Novel Interactive and Audible 3D Chinese Characters for People with Special Needs: “An Inclusive Design and Educational Workshop”
Project Investigator: Dr Hung Keung (Department of Cultural and Creative Arts)
Project Partners:
1. Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
2. Christian Family Service Centre Mind Delight Memory & Cognitive Training Centre
3. Hong Kong Blind Union
4. Milk Design
5. Resource Centre for the Deafblind, The Hong Kong Society for the Blind
Screening for Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, and Hearing Loss in Older Adults in the Community with Special Automated Audiological Assessments
Project Investigator: Dr Anna Kam Chi-shan (Department of Special Education and Counselling)
Project Partner:
South Kwai Chung Social Service

To date, the SIE Fund has granted HK$ 2 million in funding to EdUHK under the FITS Scheme for selected project teams to develop research prototypes and conduct community trials to help direct beneficiaries, create social impact and build social capital by collaborating with various government units, organisations, schools, associations, social enterprises, etc.

EdUHK held the “Fund for Innovation, Technology, and Social-wellbeing (FITS) Closing Ceremony” on 27 September 2023

The HKSAR Assistant Commissioner for Efficiency Miss Karen Shing Wan-ching thanked the applied research teams on behalf of the SIE Fund for their social innovation efforts throughout the past 2 years

Head of EdUHK Knowledge Transfer Sub-office Mr Lemon Kwan Hok-ming also remarked that scientific and technological innovation must go hand in hand with social development to maximise socioeconomic impact

4 funded teams shared about the research prototypes, community trials and impact on direct beneficiaries of their projects under the 2021 scheme