More than just a critical platform for local students to showcase their creativity, the Hong Kong Science Fair serves as a window to the wider world, broadening the horizons of young innovators beyond the classroom.
To help the younger generation keep pace with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, the fair invited UBTECH Robotics for the first time this year to showcase its advanced robotics technologies. The Chinese mainland firm is currently one of the global leaders specializing in embodied AI robotics.
Michael Tam, UBTECH’s chief brand officer, said the company’s presentation at the fair is designed to bring AI to life in a tangible way, allowing participating students and parents to experience its applications in today’s era.
He noted that exposing children to humanoid robots and AI at an early age can help bring these new technologies into education more deeply and inspire more young people to explore the field. Tam said their robots were warmly received by visitors, adding that the response far exceeded expectations.
Tapping into both national and international expertise, the fair also welcomed David Taji-Farouki, president of the Jury of the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG), for the fourth consecutive year. He praised the students’ exceptional perceptiveness and problem-solving skills.
“I’m very touched by all these students. They have an absolutely incredible way of identifying daily problems. And the way they go about finding a solution, I am speechless,” he said.
He added that the quality of the Hong Kong Science Fair has enhanced year after year, describing it as already a regional market leader. “That is why I’m so passionate about this event. And this is why I come, because what’s been done here is fantastic,” he said.
For gold award-winning teams, they will have the opportunity to take part in the IEIG, stepping up onto a wider international stage. Held annually in Switzerland, the long-established innovation and technology event brings together more than 1,000 inventions from around the world each year.
Taji-Farouki said the Geneva event has evolved alongside the rapidly changing global landscape, and can give young participants a fresh perspective on emerging trends.
“They really get a mindful and eyeful of what’s going on all over the place. It (the Geneva event) allows them to acquire additional flexibility, because knowledge wealth comes from diversity. And by coming to Geneva, they are exposed to this diversity,” he added.
According to the organizer, this year’s secondary award-winning teams will also be invited to attend the Asian Science Camp 2026, hosted by the University of Hong Kong. The academic program brings together outstanding students from across Asia, giving them a chance to meet Nobel laureates and leading scientists.
The organizer also revealed that next year, to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the Science Fair will expand its reach by inviting student teams from overseas. The move is expected to further broaden the fair’s global outlook and encourage meaningful exchanges between local youth and their peers worldwide.
Taji-Farouki expressed excitement about the development, saying a larger and more diverse platform could bolster cross-border interaction.
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