CUHK LEAP Debuts as Flagship Innovation Showcase Turning Research Breakthroughs into Real-World Impact

Hong Kong has risen to 14th among 139 economies in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Global Innovation Index 2026, while retaining fifth place in Asia. The Government has identified accelerating innovation and technology development as a policy priority, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) continues to actively drive this direction, strengthening Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre and an international hub for post-secondary education. With the higher education sector continuing to provide strong impetus for local innovation, CUHK is seizing the opportunity to launch CUHK LEAP, a new flagship event that showcases the University’s research excellence to all sectors of Hong Kong and supports the city in maintaining its leading position in global innovation.

Protecting intellectual property and scaling through the Greater Bay Area

CUHK has established a leading position among local universities in research translation, including annual and cumulative patent applications, patents granted and intellectual property licensing income. More than a conventional exhibition, LEAP presents cutting-edge achievements through exhibitions, interactive displays, thematic talks and an entrepreneurship competition. It allows the public and investors to see how CUHK turns advanced academic research into solutions that deliver commercial value and social benefits.

Combining the former CUHK Innovation Day and CUHK Entrepreneur Day, LEAP emphasises intellectual property protection. Professor Anthony CHAN Tak-cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor / Vice-President (Alumni / Community Engagement & Institutional Advancement) of CUHK, said the decisive step was converting breakthrough research into well-protected intellectual property and commercially valuable industry chains.

“CUHK has long held a leading position in IP protection, but protecting patents is only the first step,” he said. Hong Kong’s advantages were its adaptability and quick thinking, he added, while its relatively small market made the Greater Bay Area vital to scaling up.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of CUHK’s presence in the Greater Bay Area. An innovation ecosystem has been developed that turns research conducted in Hong Kong into practical and commercial applications across the Greater Bay Area, supported by its established presence in Qianhai, Shenzhen and Nansha, Guangzhou, helping projects progress from laboratory research and incubation to company formation, mass production and clinical trials.

Focusing on four priority fields

The 45 start-up teams exhibiting at LEAP span AI and data science, life sciences and healthcare, advanced manufacturing and new energy, and educational  technology and social innovation. Professor Anthony Chan cited a surgical robot developed by a company founded by CUHK academics as an example of research delivering commercial and social value through strong performance at a more affordable price.

Funding and alumni support for start-ups

CUHK has 16 projects supported by RAISe+, whose industry matching requirement provides early market validation. CUHK Innovation Limited, established in 2023, invests directly in CUHK start-ups and has strategic partnerships with 27 venture capital organisations. In the first half of 2026, 15 CUHK start-ups completed new funding rounds.

The 10th CUHK Entrepreneurship Competition has selected five finalists from more than 30 teams to compete for HK$100,000. Professor Anthony Chan said the competition tests their ability to turn technology into business proposals and attract investors, while inspiring students to combine research capabilities with entrepreneurial spirit.

Turning patents into real-world impact

Professor Allen CHAN Kwan-chee, Associate Vice-President (Knowledge Transfer), said CUHK’s support system spans IP protection, patent applications, proof of concept, commercialisation advice and investor matching. “Deep tech cannot be brought into application through technology alone. Market demand, production supply chains and access to financing are equally indispensable,” he said.

CUHK has led local tertiary institutions in annual patent applications for five consecutive years, filing more than 6,000 applications and securing over 2,800 patents. Its IP licensing income reached HK$126.8 million this year.

To further incentivize commercialisation, CUHK  offers flexible revenue-sharing arrangements, allowing academics who self-fund successful patent applications to receive up to 75 per cent of licensing income. This entrepreneurial model has driven significent commercial returns, contributing nearily to the University’s record IP licensing revenue.

Connecting InnoHK with industry

CUHK leads seven InnoHK research centres in health and biomedicine, AI and robotics, while LEAP showcases their results and connects them with partners.

Professor Allen Chan said advanced research was already benefiting people in their daily life, citing a CUHK-developed technology commercialised by SenseTime that enables contactless clearance without presenting an identity card or undergoing facial recognition. He hopes LEAP will open opportunities for technology licensing, joint research and investment, helping take Hong Kong research to international markets.

CUHK will continue aligning with national and HKSAR Government strategies, accelerating research translation through collaboration and supporting Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.

Programme highlights

Exhibition featuring 45 start-up teams

• The event will bring together 45 start-up teams formed by members of the CUHK community, showcasing projects in fields including artificial intelligence, life sciences, new energy and education technology.

CUHK Entrepreneurship Competition Final

• The final of the 10th CUHK Entrepreneurship Competition will be held from 4:00pm to 5:30pm on 10 October. Five start-up finalists — Digital Common(s), Robozyme Limited, SonoPilot, SOTA Robotics and VasoLean HealthCare — will compete for the top three places and cash prizes totalling HK$100,000.

Robot performances and demonstrations

• Live performance: The opening ceremony, to be held from 11:30am to 12:45pm on 9 October, will feature a cross-disciplinary “Beatbox X AGIBOT Dance” performance.
• Interactive demonstrations: Scheduled demonstrations throughout the two-day event will showcase voice AI technology from the Centre for Perceptual and Interactive Intelligence (CPII), as well as advanced robotics technologies from the Hong Kong Centre for Logistics Robotics (HKCLR) and SOTA Robotics.

Keynote speeches and talks

• Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speech — “Out of the Lab Demo – The Humanoid Robot Era: Commercial Value Transformation and Industrial Deployment of University Research”: From 11:30am to 12:45pm on 9 October (Friday), with the keynote speech taking place from 12:00pm to 12:45pm. An AGIBOT partner and senior vice-president will discuss the translation of university research into commercial value and industrial applications.
• “From Student to CXO”: From 2:30pm to 4:30pm on 9 October (Friday). CUHK alumni will share how laboratory-based deep technology can be developed into investable business ventures.
• “The 10-Level Spice Formula”: How a Hong Kong Brand Goes Global”: From 12:00pm to 1:00pm on 10 October (Saturday). The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tam Jai International will share strategies for expanding a brand internationally.
• “From Startup to Scale-up”: Powering Business Transformation with AI”: From 2:00pm to 3:00pm on 10 October (Saturday). A senior Meta executive will discuss how start-ups can use data and AI to formulate operational strategies.
• “Introduction to SZRI InnoHub and Shenzhen Policy Highlights”: From 4:00pm to 5:30pm on 10 October (Saturday), during the CUHK Entrepreneurship Competition Final. The brief session will introduce the latest entrepreneurship support and talent policies in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, including Qianhai and Nansha.
  

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CUHK LEAP

Venue: Ground Floor, Yasumoto International Academic Park, CUHK
Date: 9 October (Friday) and 10 October (Saturday)
Time: 11:00am–6:00pm
Further details / Registration: https://leap.cuhk.edu.hk/