As a new engine for Hong Kong's future development, the Northern Metropolis serves as a vital base for promoting innovation and technology (I&T) industries. Sino Inno Lab and The Spark are bringing together over 30 partners, including startups and community organizations, to organize the “One North STEAM AI Summer” program. This initiative will showcase a variety of technologies while providing participants—primarily young people—with hands-on experience in frontier technology, fostering community collaboration and creativity. The program will continue to be held this weekend for public participation.

At the launch ceremony, a robot joined children on stage for a Wing Chun performance, blending technology with traditional martial arts.

United community and technology in a groundbreaking summer initiative

As a large-scale educational event centered on artificial intelligence (AI) to unite the community and ignite creativity, the “One North STEAM AI Summer” aimed to harness this momentum by inviting children and teenagers to participate free of charge. The event, co-organised by One North and Social Ventures Hong Kong (SVhk), promised an array of immersive technology experiences, interactive workshops, and engaging AI exhibitions, designed to spark curiosity and foster a spirit of exploration among young participants.

Prof Carrie Ling, Director of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center, emphasized the importance of a people-centred approach in the long-term development of technology, promoting benefits to the community and ensuring practical use.

She views the “One North STEAM AI Summer” program as an excellent opportunity for startups to showcase their technology-driven products and applications. “During this event, these startups can engage interactively with various members of the public and gather feedback. This input will help them refine and enhance their technology and products while gaining a deeper understanding of the community’s current needs. Ultimately, this is essential for scaling up, which is one of the primary goals for startups and their offerings,” she explained.

Lamia Sreya Rahman highlighted the program's role in refining their product's user experience to better address social needs.

Start-ups at the forefront of innovation

One participating Hong Kong-based tech startup, Vidi Labs, showcased their flagship AI-powered product, Seekr, which enhances independence and mobility for the visually impaired. This wearable device utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to analyze real-time camera feeds, delivering instant audio descriptions of the surroundings. It can identify objects, read text, detect obstacles, and navigate retail environments with precision.

Lamia Sreya Rahman, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Vidi Labs, expressed her enthusiasm for participating in the program, calling it an enriching experience. She noted that the program has provided a valuable platform to connect with a diverse range of people and gain insights into community needs. This feedback will help them refine their product to make it more user-friendly. “I believe the silver economy is growing, and we want to gather more data to address unique challenges faced by this demographic. There are many visually impaired individuals worldwide, and their numbers are increasing. We hope our product can help them navigate various social situations more easily, whether it’s boarding a plane or shopping at a supermarket,” said Lamia.

Melanie Kwok, Deputy General Manager of Sustainability and Innovation at Sino Group, highlighted that the goal of this program is encapsulated in the phrase “small actions, great impact.” “We want to connect the dots and provide a platform, along with the necessary resources, to support the development of the Northern Metropolis. At the same time, we aim to plant the seeds of curiosity and interest in technology in the young minds of our next generation through all the fun-filled, interactive, and hands-on experiences.”

“Sino Group is dedicated to nurturing talent and supporting the development of the I&T ecosystem. Through this meaningful program, we aim to facilitate meaningful two-way communication and foster collaboration between startups and the community,” emphasized Melanie.

David Ng (second right), Group Associate Director of Sino Group, Francis Ngai (first right) and Melanie Kwok (second left) enjoyed an immersive underwater virtual world created by startup VOTANIC and primary students.

Opening doors to countless opportunities

Francis Ngai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SVhk, shared his thoughts: “Building a sense of community is crucial for the future of the Northern Metropolis. As we embrace innovation and technology, it’s essential that we offer our young people meaningful learning experiences in STEAM and AI.” “By providing them with these valuable skills, we are not just preparing them to face the challenges of tomorrow; we are also opening doors to countless opportunities,” he concluded.

Children enjoyed workshops that ignited their curiosity about AI.

A vision for community engagement

The “One North STEAM AI Summer” featured a range of engaging activities designed to captivate participants of all ages. Families had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience of AI in action through multi-sensory, interactive experiences.

For example, participants can enjoy a unique chess match against an AI robot, testing their strategic skills in a fun and educational setting.

Another standout attraction was the “Northern Metropolis VR Bike Adventure,” where participants could experience the thrill of virtual cycling through the region.

Children can also engage with augmented reality (AR) digital art through the “Northern Metropolis AR Doodle,” designed by the Act Plus Education Foundation. In this activity, children can color various animals on a coloring sheet, then scan the paper with an app to see their creations come to life through an AR lens.

Participants immersed themselves in an innovative VR cycling adventure.

Paper Pak, Program Director of Act Plus Education Foundation, shared, “We have prepared for this event for months, and we are thrilled to see that our young participants truly enjoyed the AR Doodle!” He noted that the activity incorporates special natural environments and wildlife from the Northern Metropolis, including Hong Kong Wetland Park, Nam Sang Wai, Mai Po Nature Reserve, and the Yuen Long Park Aviary Tower.“We believe that this approach helps participants learn more about the incredible ecosystem of the Northern Metropolis while raising their awareness of environmental conservation at the same time,” he added.

Participants built generators to learn how wind energy is converted into electricity.

Family workshops were another key aspect of the “One North STEAM AI Summer,” with more than 20 parent-child workshops designed to promote hands-on learning. One workshop titled “Future with Microalgae: A Zero Carbon Lab for Kids” educated children about the important role of microalgae in carbon dioxide absorption, sparking interest in environmental science.

Another workshop, “Science Discovery Day: Little Engineers’ Power Mission,” encouraged families to collaborate in building hand-cranked and wind-powered generators. This practical experience provided insights into converting wind energy into electricity while fostering family bonding and teamwork, making learning both enjoyable and impactful.

One North STEAM AI Summer: a catalyst for innovation and community engagement in the Northern Metropolis