HKSTP Propels Young Engineers from Local Triumph to Global Arena at Robocon 2026

The HKSAR Government and various sectors are actively cultivating innovation and technology (I&T) talent with global perspectives, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T hub. Serving as a real-world proving ground for the youth, the annual flagship event “Robocon Hong Kong Contest 2026”, organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), concluded successfully in June, with Team Sapientia from the University of Hong Kong emerging as the champion. This August, champion Team HKU and first runner-up Team CUHK, will both represent Hong Kong at “ABU Robocon 2026”, going head-to-head with top teams from 15 countries and regions on the world stage.

Showcasing AI capabilities through Martial Arts Challenges

Under the theme “Kung Fu Quest”, which draws inspiration from traditional Chinese martial arts, this year’s local competition attracted 15 elite teams from 9 local tertiary institutions, with over 300 student participants. Each team was required to deploy two robots across three tasks, pushing AI beyond theory and into the arena—where recognition technology and autonomous path planning became the keys to victory.

Aiming for international glory on home turf

Representing the champion team, Andy Zheng, a third-year student in Computing Science, shared that their team of over 30 members invested an immense amount of time and energy into their preparation, working almost non-stop from late August last year to this June. Through continuous refinements, the robots deployed in the competition were already in their third generation. He attributed their success to the highly coordinated efforts between the software and hardware departments.

Regarding the upcoming challenge, Andy said: “Robocon tests everything, our skills, our teamwork, and our perseverance. We were proud of our silver medal in the international competition in Mongolia last year, but we knew we could do better. Now, with the global match coming to Hong Kong, we are determined to deliver a performance that makes our home crowd proud.”

Returning as the host city of ABU Robocon 2026 after 14 years, Hong Kong is earning two spots in the international game. Matthew Leung, a final-year student at CUHK whose team will carry the second flag for Hong Kong, can’t hide his excitement. For him, the global stage is a chance not only to compete, but to connect, learn, and bring fresh energy back to Hong Kong’s tech scene.

Expanding the talent pool and gearing up for the global arena

Henry Fong, Assistant Director, Upskill Practice at HKSTP, witnessed the students’ outstanding performances in the arena. He said that the competition embraces the spirit of traditional martial arts, noting that martial arts and robotics share many similarities in precision, adaptability, and teamwork.
 
He emphasised: “This competition has successfully boosted students’ interest. Many past participants have joined the I&T sector upon graduation, or even founded startups, effectively expanding Hong Kong’s I&T talent pool.”

Henry expressed full confidence in the two Hong Kong teams: the champion Team Sapientia from the University of Hong Kong and the first runner-up Team Power Builder from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Leveraging their home-ground advantage, the Hong Kong teams will compete against powerhouses from 14 other countries and regions. It is hoped that this international I&T exchange will spark more innovative ideas and further demonstrate the I&T prowess of Hong Kong’s younger generation to the world.