ICT Startup Award 2026
AWARD STREAMS
Applicants may enter one of the following three streams for the 2026 edition
Digital Innovation Solution and Service
To recognise outstanding ICT and AI native startup companies with product/services/solutions in the category of digital innovation and service, which has shown the greatest development over the last year based on its growth, innovation, creativity, functionality, and market potential/ performance.
Smart Device and Robotics
To recognise outstanding ICT startup companies with products / services / solutions that leverage robotics and
automation to drive new industrialization mandate, which has
shown the greatest development over the last year, based on its growth, innovation, creativity, functionality and market potential / performance.
ESG and Social Innovation
To recognise ICT startups that prioritise ESG Integration and
develop GreenTech solutions to address social and environmental challenges. This stream aligns technological innovation with corporate sustainability mandates and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
HKICT Award General
Legibility Requirements
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The applicant must have the intellectual property right and/or legitimate right over the ICT product/service mentioned in the application. The applicant shall disclose disputes any place over the world over intellectual property right about the applicant’s ICT product/service, if any, for the Leading Organiser to consider eligibility of the application.
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The application must be submitted by locally (Hong Kong) registered entities (please enclose Company/Business Registration proof) or residents in Hong Kong[4] at the time of closing for entry enrolment.
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A significant part of the innovation, design, research and development (R&D) of the mentioned ICT product/service must come from resources in Hong Kong. The applicant should demonstrate significant value-add by the Hong Kong resources contributing to the success of the ICT product/service in the target market.
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With the exception of the Student Innovation category, the submitted product/service must have been available[5] in the market for at least 3 months or in live operation for at least 3 months at the time of closing for entry enrolment (please enclose proof – e.g. delivery note, invoice, public announcement, advertisement, internal announcement, etc.).
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The same application is only allowed to be submitted to a maximum of ONE award stream among all the Categories. Any application found to have entered into more than one award stream will be disqualified.
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Winning entries of the Gold/Silver/Bronze award in previous years of the HKICTA can enter the Awards again only if there is significant change or enhancement in the product/service, or for a new award category.
[4]"Residents in Hong Kong”, in the context of HKICTA, include both permanent and non-permanent residents. If an entry is submitted by more than one person, at least half of the members of the group must be Hong Kong resident. For the case of Student Innovation category, certification of Hong Kong resident status can be performed through certifying student status collectively by concerned educational institution.
[5]Examples are applications and products already in the market, application systems deployed internally in a company, and mobile solutions available at App Stores. For startup companies competing for ICT Startup Award, prototypes appear only on kickstarter or similar platforms are NOT considered as available in the market.
ICT Startup Awards Rules
and Regulations
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According to its Business Registration with the Companies Registry or equivalent supporting documents, the company was incorporated after 20 July 2021.
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Applicants are advised to be aware of the best practice and case-based experience as promulgated by the Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
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Applicants are reminded that any person who, without the permission of Steering Committee of Hong Kong ICT Awards, offers an advantage to parties involved in the Awards as a reward or inducement for doing any act or showing favour in relation to the Awards commits an offence of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201).
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To avoid conflicts of interest and the perception as such, applications for the Awards from sponsors will not be accepted.
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In case of any dispute, the decision of the Leading Organiser will be final and binding on all parties concerned.
HKICT Awards Prizes And
Benefits
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The remarkable achievements of the Awards winners
(Gold/Silver/Bronze) will be recognised by customers,
organisations, the ICT industry practitioners and across the
community. Winners will be entitled to —-
receive trophies (Gold/Silver/Bronze) of the HKICTA;
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display the official logo of the HKICTA in their
promotional materials; -
participate in various promotional campaigns to
publicise their achievements; -
be supported for entering into other regional and
international awards and competitions; -
3 months free access to co-working space in Hong
Kong Science Park Incubation Centre for eligible SMEs;[1] -
participate in investment matching activities
co-organised by the Hong Kong Venture Investment and
Business Angel Network Limited (HKBAN) and Hong
Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
(HKSTP); -
3 months free access to Flexi Space in Cyberport
Entrepreneurship Centre for SMEs[2] ; and -
free participation in some large-scale local ICT events
(e.g. InnoEX) for marketing exposure.
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Grand Award winners (except Student Innovation Category)and “Higher Education” Gold Award winner(s) of Student Innovation Category will also be entitled to —
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receive Green Channel Interview (conditional[3])offer of
“HK Tech 300 Seed Fund” by City University of Hong
Kong (CityUHK). The awardee will receive a seed fund of
up to HKD100,000 and other support from the
programme after passing the interview.
(https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/about-hk-tech-300/
hk-tech-300-seed-fund)
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Further details and conditions are available at the website:
[1]Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) offers one quota to a 3-month rent free access in co-working space in Hong Kong Science Park Incubation Centre (assigned by HKSTP, subject to availability) to eligible SMEs who are HKICTA 2026 Gold, Silver or Bronze award winners.
[2]Cyberport offers 1 free Flexi Space in Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre (5/F, Core F, Cyberport 3) for 3 months to SMEs who are HKICTA 2026 Gold, Silver or Bronze award winners. The number of flexi-desk offered to the Winners is capped to 32. Given the quota, flexi-desk will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis and subject to the availability. Winner shall submit application to Cyberport for the offered flexi-desk on or before 31 March 2027 after the announcement of results. Any submission after the deadline will become ineligible.
[3] Either one of the startup's founders is associated with CityUHK, such as a student / alumnus / research assistant; or 2. The team should identify at least one CityUHK’ s intellectual property (IP) for evaluation use and development if there is no associated founder. (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/cityu-intellectual-property)