InnoCarnival 2026: Explore Hong Kong's Vibrant Innovation Ecosystem from October 24 to November 1

InnoCarnival 2026 to run from October 24 to November 1

Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the InnoCarnival 2026 (IC 2026) will be held for nine consecutive days from October 24 to November 1 at the Hong Kong Science Park with the theme of "Lead with I&T Dream to Fly High". Public admission is free. The event is receiving support from over 40 programme partners, including local universities, research and development (R&D) centres, government departments and other organisations. By showcasing a number of local innovations and research achievements, the event will offer the public an opportunity to experience the vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) development scene in Hong Kong, as well as the diverse applications of these innovations.

Speaking at the media preview for IC 2026 today (October 5), the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, said, "Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong's first payload specialist, participated in our country's space mission in May this year, proving that the dream of space exploration is not out of reach. This year's Carnival will feature an aerospace thematic zone to showcase research projects of local universities and their contributions to our country's space exploration missions, hoping to inspire more young people to explore the unknown and pursue their dreams."

The media preview exhibited the R&D projects of several participating teams. Project team representatives presented their inspirational ideas, R&D processes, features and functions, and project applications. These projects include the greenhouse gas monitoring instrument "MUSICO", spearheaded by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and operated by Dr Lai on the Tiangong Space Station. This fully demonstrates the research capability of local universities' R&D teams in the fields of aerospace technology, as well as their important contributions to the country's space mission.

In addition, the Hong Kong Productivity Council introduced its "Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector". With the synergy of AI, robotics and total-station positioning techniques, the system is employed in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project to carry out tunnel inspections, bringing intelligence, automation and digital advancement to tunnel inspections in Hong Kong. This system won the Gold Award at the 2025 Edison Awards, gaining international recognition.

Representatives from Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College introduced the "Hydroguard - AI-powered Water-quality Monitoring Platform", a compact AI-powered water quality monitoring platform that integrates automated screening, data collection and real-time environmental monitoring. The platform not only improves the accuracy, efficiency and accessibility of water quality testing, but also enables a faster identification of and response to contamination risks, supporting safer and more sustainable water resource management.

IC 2026 exhibition booths will be set up to showcase local I&T achievements, some of them with interactive games. A diverse line-up of about 150 workshops and over 10 webinars across various subjects including aerospace technology and AI will be available during the Carnival. All activities are free of charge. Some of the activities require preregistration, which will begin at 10.30am on October 6 (Tuesday). Details are available at the thematic webpage (innocarnival.hk). Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public are most welcome to join. During the Carnival, free shuttle bus services will be provided between Hong Kong Science Park and various districts, including MTR University Station, Tai Wai Station, Kowloon Tong Station, and Admiralty Station, as well as the new routes at Yuen Long Station and Tseung Kwan O Station, offering convenient access for visitors.

InnoCarnival 2026 will run from October 24 to November 1. Photo shows students of Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College who developed the "Hydroguard - AI-powered Water-quality Monitoring Platform". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InnoCarnival 2026 will run from October 24 to November 1. Photo shows the "Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector" developed by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and employed in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project to carry out tunnel inspections. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InnoCarnival 2026 will run from October 24 to November 1. Photo shows the greenhouse gas monitoring instrument "MUSICO" spearheaded by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, attended the media preview of InnoCarnival 2026 today (October 5). Photo shows Mr Lee (centre) with representatives of the participating teams from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A hot and relatively dry September

Attributed to the stronger-than-normal upper-air anticyclone over southern China, September 2026 was hotter and drier than usual. The monthly mean minimum temperature of 27.1 degrees was 1.0 degree above the normal and the fifth highest on record for September. The monthly mean temperature of 28.8 degrees and mean maximum temperature of 31.8 degrees were 0.9 degree and 1.3 degrees above their respective normals and both were one of the 10th highest on record for September. Moreover, the monthly mean relative humidity of 74 per cent was four percentage points below the normal of 78 per cent and was one of the sixth lowest on record for September. Rainfall in the month was only 94.3 millimetres, about 29 per cent of the normal of 321.4 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall in the first nine months of the year was 2 451.9 millimetres, about nine per cent above the normal of 2 242.8 millimetres for the same period.

After Saudel re-intensified into a tropical depression on the last day of August, it moved northeastwards across the northern part of the South China Sea on September 1 and skirted about 200 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong. It further intensified into a tropical storm on the next day before making landfall over Zhangzhou, Fujian, on the morning of September 3. It then moved across the eastern part of inland Guangdong and weakened gradually. Locally, under the combined effect of Saudel and the northeast monsoon, there were occasional strong winds offshore and on high ground on September 1. There were occasional squally showers and thunderstorms. Around 20 millimetres of rainfall were generally recorded over the territory, and rainfall even exceeded 40 millimetres over the eastern part of the New Territories. With the departure of Saudel, showers decreased and there were sunny intervals during the day on September 2 and 3.

Winds over Hong Kong were weak during the next five days. Apart from isolated showers, local weather became generally fine on September 4 and 5. However, a band of clouds covered Guangdong on September 6 and brought a few showers to the territory. There were more showers in some areas in the morning. Around 10 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places, and rainfall even exceeded 40 millimetres over the northeastern part of the New Territories. Under light wind conditions, daytime heating triggered showers over inland Guangdong the next day. The heat-triggered showers moved southwards and affected the territory that afternoon with more than 20 millimetres of rainfall recorded over Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan Districts. With the thinning out of the cloud bands, the weather of Hong Kong turned mainly fine apart from isolated showers on September 8.

The northeast monsoon affected southern China in the next four days. Locally, the weather was dry during the day with a mixture of sunny periods and a few showers. Showers were heavier with more than 20 millimetres over North District on the morning of September 10. Under the showers in the small hours on September 11, the temperature at the Observatory dropped to a minimum of 25.5 degrees, the lowest of the month. With plenty of sunshine, it was very hot on September 12. Under the combined effect of a strong northeast monsoon and a tropical depression over the seas to the east of Vietnam, local winds strengthened gradually on September 12 and persisted until the next day. Local weather was mainly cloudy with sunny intervals and a few showers on September 13.

The northeast monsoon moderated on September 14 and a band of clouds over the coast of Guangdong brought a few showers to the territory. Showers were heavier in some areas with thunderstorms. More than 40 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over parts of the North District, Tuen Mun and Kowloon. Under the influence of a replenishment of the northeast monsoon, local weather was mainly cloudy with a few showers on September 15 and became generally fine on the following two days. It was dry in the afternoon of September 17. Affected by an anticyclone aloft, local weather remained dry during the day and generally fine from September 18 to 20. It was very hot on September 19 and 20.

Winds were weak over the coast of Guangdong on September 21. Locally, it was still very hot with sunny periods. Upper-air disturbances brought a few showers and thunderstorms to the territory on September 22. Around 5 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over Hong Kong Island and parts of the New Territories East. Under the influence of the northeast monsoon, the weather of Hong Kong was generally fine apart from isolated showers in the mornings on September 23 and 24. The northeast monsoon moderated and an anticyclone aloft continued to bring mainly fine weather to the coast of Guangdong from September 25 to 30. Local weather remained dry during the day and generally fine during the last six days of the month, apart from isolated showers from September 28 to 30. It was also very hot on September 29 and 30. With abundant sunshine, the temperature at the Observatory rose to a maximum of 34.2 degrees on the afternoon of September 30, the highest of the month.

Seven tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in September 2026.

Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for September are tabulated in Table 2.

Please refer to the following link for the latest monthly forecast: Monthly Forecast.

Source: AI-found images