EdUHK Hosts KT Salon 2026 Fosters Partnership and Entrepreneurship
To promote knowledge transfer and education innovation, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held its KT Salon on 4 February at the Atrium Link in Hong Kong Science Park. The event showcased innovative projects with social impact and awarded outstanding projects, which featured collaborations between EdUHK and external partners. The event also marked the official launch of the “EdUHK Technology and Innovation Community” (ETIC), a platform designed to strengthen ties among innovators, researchers, and industry stakeholders, fostering the development of EdTech and CultureTech within EdUHK and beyond.
Officiating guests of the KT Salon included Mr Eric Chan Sui-wai, Commissioner of Youth of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), Ms Imma Ling Kit-sum, EdUHK Council Treasurer, Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, EdUHK Vice President (Research and Development), Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, EdUHK Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer and Sustainability), and Dr Lemon Kwan Hok-ming, EdUHK Director of Knowledge Transfer. The event brought together over 200 students, staff, young entrepreneurs, and industry figures, witnessing another milestone of EdUHK’s achievements in innovation and knowledge transfer.
In his welcoming remarks, Professor Chetwyn Chan stated that EdUHK is committed to fostering a dynamic ecosystem in partnership with government, industry, academia, and the research community. By providing end-to-end support from technological research to commercialisation and industrialisation, EdUHK is nurturing the next generation of innovation and technology talent. Building on the University’s remarkable achievements in technology transfer and research, EdUHK will continue to explore new opportunities for social enhancement through innovation.
Mr Eric Chan said that the Government attaches great importance to youth development. For example, the Bureau has launched the “HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)” to support young people in realising their entrepreneurial aspirations. Mr Chan expressed his gratitude to EdUHK for its continuous support for the Scheme and wished the new round of funded projects every success.
EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin extended his congratulations to the award-winning teams and companies. He noted that the featured tech-enabled projects span not only education but also areas such as elderly care, environmental sustainability and well-being, reflecting EdUHK’s dedication to generating wider social value. He also recognised the establishment of the ETIC. He said that ETIC brought together EdUHK’s research achievements and knowledge transfer experience, and also served as a collaborative platform for academia, industry, and entrepreneurial partners to jointly build an innovation and technology ecosystem, marking a key step towards a new era of innovation and technology education. Through ETIC, the University is committed to driving impactful innovation with both educational and societal benefits.
One of the highlights of the Salon was the recognition of 14 winning projects under the “Education⁺ and Social Entrepreneurs Fund (EASE Fund) Scheme - Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA”. The winning projects – jointly developed by EdUHK staff, students and industry partners – were announced. Each of these projects will receive seed funding of HK$600,000 from the HYAB and EdUHK to further develop their innovative ideas.
Each team delivered an elevator pitch to showcase their project’s vision and value. Since its inception in 2018/19, the EASE Fund has invested over HK$28 million, supporting more than 70 students and alumni teams in founding start-ups, many of which have already made their mark internationally. This underlines EdUHK’s contribution in nurturing diverse talents.
EdUHK also presented its newly established Knowledge Transfer Partnership Award at the event, showing appreciation for the strong support of industry partners. EdUHK carried out over 150 projects in the 2024/25 fiscal year, encompassing contract research, collaborative research and consultancy projects. EdUHK's endeavours resulted in a remarkable income exceeding HK$189 million.
The Salon featured networking and exhibitions, giving scholars, entrepreneurs and industry representatives the chance to exchange ideas, showcase the latest EdTech achievements and explore future trends. These sessions encouraged more applied research projects and fostered cross-sector collaboration, contributing to the development of a sustainable EdTech ecosystem.
Appendix: Introduction of 14 Winning Teams of EASE Fund in 2024/25
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