Team Pai-neer from Guanghua Cambridge International School receiving the Grand Champion Award
Amid the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change, strengthening disaster preparedness, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery systems has become a global priority. Against this backdrop, the Department of Mechanical Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), in co-organisation with CETIC Foundation, hosted the grand finale of MeckUp Quest 2026 - an AI Robotics Challenge at HKU's Hui Pun Hing Lecture Hall.
Centred on the theme "Post-Typhoon Disaster Scenario Response," the competition brought together 19 elite student teams from Hong Kong, major cities in the Chinese Mainland (Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen) and Vietnam. Young innovators leveraged advanced robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to tackle real-world disaster simulations — demonstrating how AI can empower emergency rescue efforts and how youth-driven innovation can safeguard social good.
Engineering for Social Good: Youth Taking Responsibility in the AI Era
As a high-level competition dedicated to cultivating youth innovation in the AI era, MeckUp Quest 2026 places "Technology Empowering Social Good" at its core. Moving beyond theoretical learning, student teams independently designed, programmed, and deployed intelligent robots capable of navigating simulated post-typhoon disaster zones to complete rescue-related missions.
After an intense day of competition, the Grand Champion Award was presented to Team Pai-neer from Guanghua Cambridge International School (Shanghai).
In addition to technical execution, teams were required to present forward-looking and feasible community support proposals, evaluating not only engineering excellence but also innovation, teamwork, and social responsibility.
The competition provides a platform for young people to showcase technological creativity, exchange ideas, and gain hands-on experience. At the same time, it promotes the wider adoption of AI and robotics among youth communities and strengthens collaboration between academia and industry, injecting new vitality into innovation talent development across the Asia-Pacific region. The HKU Academy for the Talented also supported participating students throughout the competition journey.
Dr Match Ko, Assistant Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HKU, remarked: "AI is now everywhere. This competition is about far more than winning — it is about laying the foundation for AI-integrated education. Through MeckUp Quest, we aim to build a sustainable ecosystem where teachers and students can participate year-round, learn from one another, and cultivate the vision to explore, create, and lead in the intelligent technology era — ensuring innovation truly serves social good."
Ms Elisa Aristizabal Soto, Executive Communication Manager of XRP (bridge to FIRST Robotics), added: "Asia has built an impressive, world-class FIRST Robotics ecosystem. Through XRP's global network and its connection to FIRST Robotics, we are opening doors for more students across the region to step onto the global stage, compete, and lead the future."
Distinguished Judging Panel with Strong Industry and Academic Support
To ensure professional and authoritative evaluation, MeckUp Quest 2026 assembled an international panel of STEM leaders and industry experts:
- Dr Match Ko – Assistant Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, HKU
- Ms Elisa Aristizabal Soto – Executive Communication Manager, XRP
- Ms Saloni Singhal – Senior Program Manager, Digital Readiness, Intel Asia Pacific & Japan
- Dr Jingyi Ma – Chief Digital Readiness Coach, Intel; Former Chief Engineer, Intel China Research Center
- Dr Keith Huang – Head of Product and Technology Consumer Business Group, HKT
- Mr Danny Chan – Senior Vice President, HKT
- Ms Lena Foo – Managing Principal, CETIC Foundation
The competition received strong support from industry partners, including Intel, XRP, csl, and Netvigator. Together, these partners created a high-quality "theory + practice" innovation platform that empowers the next generation of responsible and visionary innovators.
