Lo Kwee Seong Technopreneurship Tech-Ship Program 2025

Introduction:

Jointly organized by the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center (EC), the Lo Kwee Seong Technopreneurship (Tech-Ship) Fund aims at bringing together faculty technologies with student entrepreneurship development by providing a platform that introduces faculty research outcomes, facilitates passionate students to form partnerships with faculty members for technopreneurship development – an emerging breed of entrepreneurship with the use of technology as an integral element in disruptive innovations or solutions for any industry.

FACULTY MEMBERS identify and form partnerships with passionate students to kick-start technopreneurship development

Each faculty collaborating with two or more students or alumni with an established startup company in a technopreneurship development based on the faculty’s university technology/ research output will be awarded up to HK$200,000 per proposal for 12 months, subject to the availability of funding.

Who should take part:

Faculty Members of any discipline who wish to:

• commercialize their research outputs developed or being developed and
• invite passionate, capable and entrepreneurial students to form startup team

Students - undergraduates/ postgraduates (taught/ research) of any discipline who wish to:

• explore business and entrepreneurial possibilities to merge faculty research with new or existing entrepreneurial development and
• partner with faculty/ research teams for commercializing faculty's research outputs
   

 How does it work:

1. Technology Introduction Session:

FACULTY MEMBERS introduce research output/ project to students to inspire potential entrepreneurship development via a 15- minute presentation

2. Brainstorm

STUDENTS can brainstorm entrepreneurship potentials of faculty's research output/ project and technopreneurship collaboration possibilities

3. Discussion

STUDENTS approach faculty members to discuss their entrepreneurial ideas

4.Partnership

Eligibility

• The team should be formed by HKUST faculty with at least two or more students or alumni with an established startup company.
  
  Definition of startup companies* (Startups) :
  (1) founded or co-founded by HKUST members (students, alumni, faculty members);
  (2) registered in HKSAR, or other places recognized by HKUST, for less than one year at the time of application; and
  (3) at least 51% owned by HKUST members (the majority of ownership by HKUST members must be retained during the period of the funding.)

• Applying startups must sign the license agreement with HKUST R&D Corporation Limited (RDC) on HKUST IP(s) registered by OKT by the time of acceptance of the Fund.
  
  *Startups must be registered businesses at the time of acceptance of the Fund.

Timeline of Round 2024-2025

• Technology Introduction Session (TECH-Talk):
  19 Feb 2025, Register here
   
• Friday Dreamer Tech-Ship Special (Team Matching):
  28 Feb 2025, details will be announced soon
   
• Application Deadline: 12 Mar 2025
   
• Interview of shortlisted applications: mid of Mar 2025 

*the presenter must be main applicant or HKUST students who are team member
 

• Result Announcement: Apr 2025
   

Application Details

• Application Form: Here
  
  - 10-page Pitch Deck
  (Content can be included: Brief introduction of your solution/ project, Core HKUST technology involved and application, Potential market, Competitive landscape, Details of product development and business development, Milestone plan, Team composition etc.)
  - List of Team Members (Template here)
  - Copy of Student/ Staff ID Card of ALL HKUST Members
  - BR, CI & NNC1 (for registered company only)

Funding Guideline: Here