From South Korea to Tokyo and the UK to the USA — as we enter a new year, the world continues to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses across Asia and all over the world are still faced with movement restrictions, concerns of the safety and well-being and an extremely volatile and unstable economy.

Unfortunately, the pandemic is not the only challenge that the world faces today. According to a report by Asian Development Bank, climate change, the rapid depletion of natural resources, and worsening environmental degradation are markedly increasing the vulnerability of populations that are least able to adapt. This is particularly true for the APAC — between the years 2000 and 2018, around 84% of the 206 million people affected by weather and other disasters globally on average each year were from the region.

These issues are not new but they are definitely more urgent now. Innovative solutions are becoming a necessity and this is where technology can help. Innovations in technology can help us build a better ecosystem and a better tomorrow. Tech might not be the only answer to these social problems, but it is definitely an important part of the solution. From renewable energies to helping people adopt smarter lifestyles and helping harness natural renewable resources — tech innovations can help do a lot.

Encouraging innovators from all walks to work towards sustainability and social connectivity

Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), the first-ever City I&T Grand Challenge (the Grand Challenge) was recently launched, with the theme of the competition as “Innovating for Hong Kong’s New Normal”. This is in line with ITC’s mission to spearhead Hong Kong’s drive to become a world-class, knowledge-based economy by enhancing the country’s technological infrastructure to facilitate the development of innovation and technology (I&T) activities, hence building a smarter city. Set up by the Hong Kong Government in 2001, ITC aims to foster the development of I&T in the city. HKSTP, a statutory body that houses a thriving I&T ecosystem comprising Hong Kong Science Park, InnoCentre and Industrial Estates in Hong Kong, is also committed to creating avenues for best-of-breed innovations.

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Open for primary and secondary school students, local and non-local tertiary students, technology enterprises, R&D teams as well as entrepreneurs, the Grand Challenge invites participants from all walks to put forward I&T solutions focusing on these two crucial issues- environmental sustainability and social connectivity. For “environmental sustainability”, two focus points include disposable plastic tableware and household food waste, whereas for “social connectivity”, two main areas are physical and social well-being of senior citizens and children under the new normal of social distancing and distant learning.

A host of workshops, seminars and training activities will also be organised to introduce knowledge on technologies and entrepreneurship as well as topical daily life issues. Winners of the University and Open categories will have a chance to receive R&D resources and training for refining their I&T solutions for trying at a designated venue, such as a government department or a public organisation.

Solving the sustainability and social connectivity challenges in a collaborative approach

Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastics enter the oceans and this is in addition to the estimated 150 million metric tons that are already circulating our marine environments. Furthermore, the trash dumped in landfills releases methane gas — open landfills have been found to represent 91% of all landfill methane emissions. The burning of large, open piles of trash in various parts of the world also emits dangerous levels of carbon dioxide heating up our planet.

While people are now more aware of social-distancing with an increase in takeaway orders, the solid waste problem becomes a pressing environmental issue. The Grand Challenge hopes to look for some innovative solutions that cause a behavioural change in using single-use plastic utensils and containers and handling food waste.

If the past year has taught us anything, we need to be prepared to protect the most vulnerable group of people in times of crisis and epidemics. According to a survey conducted in China during the pandemic, 22.3% of adolescents had scores indicative of clinical depressive symptoms, which was higher than the 13.2% regular estimate. Meanwhile, older people are experiencing adverse effects from the pandemic, including concerns about access to care and disruptions to daily routines, difficulty in adapting to technologies like telemedicine, and concerns that isolation would exacerbate existing mental health conditions.

In view of this, the Grand Challenge is also looking for proposals that can help children maintain healthy social connections with classes being conducted virtually, and for elderly and disabled people to obtain social and emotional support under the social-distancing measures.

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For future-proofing the world, we not only need tech innovations for sustainability but better social connectivity is also equally important. It is important to understand that moving forward, it cannot just be about solving these problems but there has to be a keen focus on rendering a livable world for future generations. Hence, when it comes to addressing these multifaceted challenges, a collaborative approach is the key. Only with all sectors coming together and working hand-in-hand towards sustainability and better connectivity can help build an ecosystem that contributes towards a resilient, cleaner and happier future.

“Everyone has the potential to be an innovator to shape the future. The City I&T Grand Challenge offers an invaluable opportunity for the public to apply creativity and develop smart solutions catering to the new normal under the epidemic for the benefit of the community,” said Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP.

With the goal of helping the world move forward and build a better, more sustainable and well-connected future by leveraging technology-based disruptions and innovations, the time is ripe for innovative entrepreneurs of all ages to share their ideas at the Grand Challenge and create the road to the future for the “next normal”.

Overseas students and startups are welcome to participate, The City I&T Grand Challenge is open for application till 24th April 2021 here.

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Photos by Oleg Magni and Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas from Pexels

This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by 
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