HK school recognized for commitment to AI innovation at ASTRI tech awards

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) successfully concluded the ‘Hong Kong Youth AI Master Applied Tech Innovation Awards – Competition Prototype Exhibition and Award Ceremony’ on May 17, celebrating outstanding student-led artificial intelligence innovations.

The competition drew an impressive 132 applications from 81 secondary schools, engaging a total of 335 students from across Hong Kong. Following a thorough evaluation process, five junior teams and ten senior teams advanced to the final competition. There, a distinguished panel of judges carefully selected the winners for various awards.

Among the accolades was the A.Incubator Award, recognizing schools that submitted the highest number of AI proposals for the competition. The award went to Carmel Pak U Secondary School, which had 25 students participating.

Representatives from the school expressed that winning the A.Incubator Award is a significant achievement, highlighting their success in nurturing innovation and technological talent. “This recognition underscores our commitment to STEAM education and our ability to prepare students for an AI-driven future. It also enhances our reputation as a forward-thinking institution in applied technology,” they stated.

The school actively encourages student participation in the competition to foster interest and skills in AI and technology. They shared, “Participating in the ASTRI-hosted competition offers invaluable hands-on experience in addressing real-world challenges through AI. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork, providing an excellent opportunity to prepare students for future careers in innovation and technology.”

After several rounds of intense competition, St. Mary’s Canossian College’s innovative home safety system ‘Elderly Miracles’ claimed the Champion of Al Master (S1-S3) trophy. Ebenezer School (Secondary Section)’s groundbreaking ‘Braille OCR - Eliminating Communication Barriers’, enhancing communications between sighted and visually-impaired individuals, took home the Champion of Al Master (S4-S6) accolade.

At the ceremony, Ir Chris Chong, Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer of ASTRI, emphasized that the competition’s theme, ‘AI for Better Living,’ reflects technology’s fundamental purpose. “The true meaning of technology lies in how it improves lives,” he said. “These young participants’ imaginative ideas are the driving force for change. ASTRI’s mission is to transform innovative concepts into practical solutions that contribute to Hong Kong’s technological development.”