Getting the fruits of our research into the community is a central goal of the University, which aims to be an innovation hub for Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and beyond. Over the past two years, we have streamlined operations at our Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and developed facilities that promote innovation, to enhance and advance our scholars’ ability to translate their research into impact. Patent applications and commercialisation activities all increased significantly in 2020–21, as we continued to expand our footprint and bring our innovations out into the world. More Groundbreaking Inventions Disclosed There was a welcome surge in activity related to innovation over the past year. The TTO handled 130 new inventions as disclosed to the University by our scholars, up 54.5% from 2019–20, and received 212 patent applications, up 57% from the previous year. Some of our researchers’ most promising inventions were honoured at the 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event, where HKU won 11 gold and silver awards for contributions from engineering, medical science and architecture, and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury for a nasal flu vaccine (see page 34). The University’s research impacts are expected to increase exponentially in the near future through the cutting-edge medical, engineering and science laboratories launched under the InnoHK initiative, which collectively have received more than HK$3 billion in funding (see Research and Innovation chapter). TTO has played a major facilitating role in recruiting staff, setting up companies for each of the nine projects, and overseeing the establishment of 100,000 square feet of laboratory space at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, which was gradually being occupied by scientists starting from May 2021. Innovation and knowledge exchange activities are also bringing greater tangible benefits to the University, generating HK$18.28 million in income in 2020–21, up from HK$10.85 million in 2019–20. Boosting Our Support to Innovators These developments take us in the right direction, but to fully realise the potential of our research findings, we need to strengthen and advance the University’s ability to commercialise and disseminate our innovations. Progress is also being made on this imperative. First, we revamped funding to provide more meaningful support for start-ups and impact projects. The Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities at HKU (TSSSU@HKU) previously awarded HK$8 million to 24 start-up teams. Now, HK$5 million is set aside as Grand Awards for the best five teams, which receive HK$1 million each, while HK$3 million is earmarked as Seed Fund Awards for 12 to 15 teams with good potential to grow their inventions. In 2020–21, a total of 17 teams were awarded under the TSSSU@HKU. The HKU Impact Project Funding Scheme also increased its award for each project from HK$100,000 to HK$150,000 and supported 58 projects in 2020–21. Second, procedures for filing patent applications and the like have been streamlined to make it easier and faster for researchers to work towards commercialising their research. TTO has also established internal teams focussed on business development, legal issues, communications and marketing, to provide a complete service package to researchers. Third, to provide scholars and potential external partners with more information and networks, we have stepped up our outreach with two new initiatives. The Technology Transfer Primer series features regular webinars with participants from industry, the HKU community and government departments, while the monthly TTO e-newsletter TechXfer (circulation: 30,000) covers topics such as HKU technology and how TTO facilitates researchers. Finally, the University formally recognised innovation in the HKU Excellence Awards, which for the first time included new categories for best HKU Innovator and best HKU Young Innovator (see page 36). Giving a Leg Up to Young Innovators Young talent is critical to the future success of an innovation society, so we have developed the iDendron programme to help budding innovators and entrepreneurs realise their dreams. iDendron provides training and other support for students and recent graduates. In 2020–21, its six-month Incubation Programme for a select 20 HKU start-ups saw a 400% increase in applications. It also trained more than 500 HKU members and friends through the Entrepreneurship Academy and hosted more than 20 Founders Meetups (a new initiative). iDendron also provides financial support through the SEED programme, which it operates with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park and AWS Cloud Services. In 2020–21, that programme received applications from 120 teams and awarded HK$100,000 to 20 of them. In 2021 iDendron was also named Grantee of the ‘Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau GBA’, which will award winning teams up to HK$600,000 seed funding and other support. On the Horizon These foundations were augmented with the expertise of a former technology transfer advisor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was recruited as advisor to the TTO in 2021. The University is also striving to capitalise on burgeoning developments in the GBA. This will be strengthened when the newly announced Shenzhen campus opens its doors in the next few years. The vast and unquenched demand for deep tech innovations and application of those innovations holds promise of unprecedented opportunities for years to come. iDendron’s SEED programme supports early-stage start-up projects initiated by HKU students, alumni and staff with co-working spaces, training, supportive network and seed funding up to HK$100,000. The above picture shows participants in the storytelling and investor pitching workshop. HKU awardees at the Chief Executive’s Reception for Awardees of International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2021. granted in 2020–21, bringing the total since 1998 to 979. PATENTS 110 launched through iDendron since 2017. START-UPS 100+ HK$18.28 MILLION income generated by innovation and knowledge exchange activities in 2020–21. supported by the KE Impact Project Funding Scheme in 2020–21. KE PROJECTS 58 Knowledge Exchange and Technology Transfer HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2021 32 | 33
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