HKU TEA Hosts Super Angel, Global Forum in Qianhai

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Super Angel & Going Global Innovation Forum was held on June 12 in Qianhai, Shenzhen. The event brought together leading academics, industry experts, investors, alumni, and policymakers to foster collaboration and drive global expansion for high-potential ventures.

Organised by the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy (HKU TEA) and co-organised by the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (HKU TEC), HKU Super Angel Network (HKU SAN), the Development and Alumni Affairs Office (DAAO), and the HKU Business School (HKUBS) South China Alumni Network, the Forum underscored the growing importance of internationalisation amid a rapidly evolving global innovation landscape. The event also featured a series of inspiring seminars delivered by distinguished speakers, including Professor Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice President (Global) of HKU and Associate Dean (External Relations), HKU Business School, Dr Winnie Tang, MH, JP, Chief Convenor of the Super Angel Network, and Mr Gao Yuan, Chairman, Geto New Materials Corporation Limited. Together, they shared invaluable insights into academic prospects, corporate practices, and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Professor Stephanie Ma, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Interim) of HKU, officiated at the opening ceremony. She underscored the University's vision for a vibrant collaborative innovation ecosystem. "As a global university rooted in Hong Kong, HKU is committed to translating research excellence into real-world impact. We actively bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and industrial applications, enabling innovations from our campus to reach global markets. Through this Forum, we aim to connect our entrepreneurs with the networks and resources they need — not only to grow locally, but to scale internationally."

Ms Liang Ke, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone, emphasised Qianhai's role as a key hub for Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation and an important gateway for global engagement. She noted that since the establishment of the HKU TEA in Qianhai, nearly 100 high-quality technology projects have been incubated. The initiative has achieved significant progress in talent attraction, technology transfer, and startup funding, establishing itself as a flagship platform for cross-border innovation and youth entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, she added that Qianhai will continue to enhance its business environment and policy support to help startups take root, expand globally, and drive regional industry upgrading."

Professor Heiwai Tang highlighted the need for strategic resilience amid a shifting global economic landscape. "As geopolitics continues to reshape the global economic landscape, Chinese enterprises going global must be prepared to navigate both mounting challenges and new opportunities. The next two to three years are likely to bring considerable headwinds, but they will also create fresh momentum through industrial transformation and AI-driven growth. In this evolving environment, businesses should avoid blind decoupling and instead build stronger international capabilities, while enhancing resilience through diversified supply chains and production networks."

Dr Winnie Tang emphasised the importance of building a robust collaborative ecosystem: "The HKU Super Angel Network connects elites and alumni worldwide — across majors, disciplines, and professions — fostering true interdisciplinarity, while providing targeted resources, networks, and opportunities to help our members and partners successfully 'go global'."

A key highlight of the Forum was the HKU Demo Day, which connected institutional capital with breakthrough research. Fourteen pioneering HKU startup projects were showcased across two tracks — Advanced Technology and Healthcare. The outstanding presentations were:

Advanced Technology

1. [Outstanding Presentation - Champion]

   InterLitho Innovation Limited, led by Professor Wendi Li, specialises in laser interference lithography and nanoimprint technologies. It independently develops and manufactures the world's first laser interference nanolithography equipment and provides one-stop micro- and nanomanufacturing solutions.

2. [Outstanding Presentation - 1st Runner-up]

   MattVerse Limited, led by Dr Shuguang Chen, offers the Battery Design Automation (BDA) platform for the new energy sector. By integrating AI, quantum chemistry, and multi-scale modelling, BDA enables end-to-end digitalisation from materials discovery to cell design and battery management systems.

Healthcare

1. [Outstanding Presentation - Champion]

   C2iVax Limited, led by Prof. Leo Poon and Dr Alex Chin, features two innovative vaccine platforms to develop a broadly protective live-attenuated influenza vaccine against human and avian influenza, eliminating the need of annual influenza vaccine update.

2. [Outstanding Presentation - 1st Runner-up]

   Oncoimmunostics Limited, led by Professor Nancy Man, introduces the "Liver-in-Cube" — a new drug screening platform that reconstitutes patient-specific tumour microenvironments using advanced 3D bioprinting technologies and novel bioinks containing patient-specific cells, proteins, and tumour characteristics such as stiffness and immune profile.

Through leveraging its cross-disciplinary strengths and global networks, HKU will continue to empower startups with the resources, mentorship and funding required to thrive internationally, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.