City I&T Grand Challenge Celebrates Next Generation of Innovators in Hong Kong

Second "City I&T Grand Challenge" Grand Pitch produces innovative solutions tackling daily life issues

Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) together with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), the second City I&T Grand Challenge concluded its Grand Pitch at Hong Kong Science Park today (August 10). More than 500 guests from all walks of life, as well as an online audience, witnessed the emergence of the next generation of innovators and celebrated the conclusion of the competition.

To promote an innovation and technology (I&T) culture and enhance the application of I&T in the community, the second City I&T Grand Challenge was launched under the theme of "Hong Kong's Got I&T" on March 16 this year. It invited applications from different sectors of the community to develop I&T solutions focusing on two subjects, namely "I&T for Nature (Yama)" (improving the operation and management of country parks and campsites, and enhancing hikers' experiences in nature) and "I&T for Community (Community Wellness)" (enhancing support for carers) between April 5 and May 16.The competition was divided into four categories, which were the Primary School Group, the Secondary School Group, the University/Tertiary Institute Group and the Open Group. In all, 1 172 submissions were received from nearly 2 500 local and non-local contestants on an individual or team basis.

After an initial screening and a semi pitch held in July, 27 solutions were shortlisted to enter the Grand Pitch today. Winners from four categories were selected by a judging panel consisting of eight representatives from the Government, I&T and academic sectors, and subject matter experts. Prototypes of I&T solutions entering the Grand Pitch were also displayed on-site to foster exchanges and mutual learning among participants and guests on the technologies applied.

Addressing the award presentation ceremony, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, "This event is not just a competition, but also a good opportunity to promote science education for all. Hong Kong is moving at full steam to develop into an international I&T centre with talents being the key to the development and source of inspiration. 'City I&T Grand Challenge' is thus a platform for identifying and training talents." He also affirmed the participants' passion for I&T and their care for the community, and hoped that they would continue to bring new ideas for the I&T development in Hong Kong with their creativity.

The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, said that the City I&T Grand Challenge aimed at promoting the application of I&T to tackle social problems. An enthusiastic response was received from all walks of life with the number of participants almost doubling that of the first Grand Challenge. Mr Lee praised the 27 teams entering the Grand Pitch after stages of review and competition as the best of the best.

The Chairman of the HKSTPC, Dr Sunny Chai, said that the competition enhanced the I&T atmosphere in Hong Kong by inviting society's participation. This year's competition received over 1 000 submissions, which was a testament to the theme of "Hong Kong's Got I&T." Dr Chai said he looked forward to seeing these high-potential innovative solutions be implemented to benefit the public in the future.

To drive applications of I&T solutions for the benefit of the general public, winners of the University/Tertiary Institute and Open Groups will also be given financial support for research and development, as well as training to refine their solutions for trials at designated venues such as government departments or public organisations. At the sharing session after the award presentation ceremony, the winners of this cohort agreed that the competition provided them with a platform and resources to realise their ideas and apply their I&T solutions to hopefully benefit the public.

Please visit the dedicated website (citytechgc.hk) to learn more about the competition. The list of winners of the second City I&T Grand Challenge can be retrieved at website (citytechgc.hk/en/winners).

Second "City I&T Grand Challenge" Grand Pitch produces innovative solutions tackling daily life issues Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Second "City I&T Grand Challenge" Grand Pitch produces innovative solutions tackling daily life issues Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Second "City I&T Grand Challenge" Grand Pitch produces innovative solutions tackling daily life issues Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Update on cases of Legionnaires' disease

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 16) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

From September 8 to 14, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases:

A female patient, aged 60 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Tai Po District;

A male patient, aged 66 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Shatin District; and

A male patient, aged 68 with good past health, who lives in Yau Tsim Mong District.

"Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

As of September 14, 81 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

"Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

Immunocompromised persons should:

Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;

Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and

If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

The public should observe the health advice below:

Observe personal hygiene;

Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;

Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;

If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;

Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;

Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;

Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and

When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

Wear gloves and a face mask;

Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;

Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;

Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and

Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

​​The public may visit the CHP'sLD page, theCode of Practice for Prevention of LDand theHousekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Managementof the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP'srisk-based strategyfor prevention and control of LD.

Source: AI-generated images