From generative AI to green energy, 15 finalist teams will take the stage after a record 390 teams entered this year's competition.
Updated
October 2, 2026 9:13 AM
Entrance Piazza, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. PHOTO: HKUST
The HKUST-Sino Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2026 will hold its finals on October 12, following a record 390 teams from 24 countries and regions taking part in this year's competition.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Sino Group, the competition aims to give young entrepreneurs a platform to develop and present their ideas. Sino Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer Wong Wing-lung said the Group has partnered with HKUST for many years to support young talent and the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.
He said the competition gives young entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their creativity, exchange ideas and put their concepts into practice.
The international participation is reflected in the universities and regions represented this year. Participants include students from the University of Oxford in the UK, the University of Pennsylvania in the US and the National University of Singapore. Teams have also joined from Australia and South Africa.
After multiple rounds of assessment, 15 teams have advanced to the finals. Their projects cover health technology, generative AI, smart buildings, and green energy management. At the finals, the teams will present their solutions to a judging panel comprising venture capital investors, industry leaders and academic experts. They will compete for more than HK$1 million in prizes and awards.
The 2026 competition has also expanded the areas it recognises. Three new awards have been introduced this year: the Transformative AI Award, the NextGen Biotech Award and the Societal Influential Award. The competition will also continue to offer the Sustainability Impact Award. Together, the awards focus on areas ranging from emerging technologies to social and sustainability challenges.
The organisers are also adding new activities to help teams develop their ideas further. This year's programme includes pitching skills training, AI workshops, investor matching sessions and mentorship opportunities. The AI workshops will cover areas including generative AI and AI agents, while representatives from venture capital firms such as Gobi Partners and InnoAngel Fund have been invited to share insights on fundraising, product positioning and market expansion.
These activities are intended to help young entrepreneurs strengthen their business plans and presentation skills. They also give teams opportunities to explore technology commercialisation and potential market applications.
The competition will also launch the InnoBay 1M PLUS Program during the Grand Final. The programme will focus initially on Smart City Development and aims to connect HKUST start-ups and competition alumni with industry partners. It will also support potential proof-of-concept opportunities and help promising innovations move towards commercial adoption.
The Grand Final will also include an audience voting segment. Members of the public will be able to vote for the team they believe has the greatest potential and impact, with those who correctly vote for an eventual winning team entering a lucky draw.
For Wong, the competition is part of a broader effort to develop Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent. He noted that Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and latest Policy Address both highlight innovation, technology and talent development.
Prof. Tim Cheng Kwang-Ting, HKUST's Vice-President for Research and Development, said the competition has also served as a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with investors, understand market needs, test their ideas and gain practical entrepreneurial experience. He added that the competition has strengthened its training, mentorship and networking activities this year.
The Group believes that closer cooperation between industry, academia and research institutions can help turn innovative ideas into practical applications. Through the competition and its wider support programmes, young entrepreneurs are given opportunities to develop their ideas, connect with potential partners and explore how they can be taken from early concepts towards real-world applications.
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Quantara AI launches a continuous platform designed to estimate the financial impact of cyber risk as companies move beyond periodic assessments
Updated
March 17, 2026 1:02 AM
A person tightrope walking between two cliffs. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Cyber risk is increasingly treated as a financial issue. Boards want to know how much a cyber incident could cost the company, how it could affect earnings, and whether current security spending is justified.
Yet many organizations still measure cyber risk through periodic reviews. These assessments are often conducted once or twice a year, supported by consultants and spreadsheet models. By the time the report reaches senior leadership, the company’s systems may have changed and new threats may have emerged. The way risk is measured does not always match how quickly it evolves.
This gap is where Quantara AI is positioning its new platform. Quantara AI, a Boise-based cybersecurity startup, has introduced what it describes as the industry’s first persistent AI-powered cyber risk solution. The system is designed to run continuously rather than rely on occasional assessments.
The company’s core argument is straightforward: not every security weakness carries the same financial consequence. Instead of ranking issues only by technical severity, the platform analyzes active threats, identifies which company systems are exposed, and estimates how much money a successful attack could cost. It uses statistical models, including Value at Risk (VaR), to calculate potential losses. It also estimates how specific security improvements could reduce that projected loss.
The timing aligns with a broader market shift. International Data Corporation (IDC) projects that by 2028, 40% of enterprises will adopt AI-based cyber risk quantification platforms. These tools convert security data into financial estimates that can guide budgeting and investment decisions. The forecast reflects growing pressure on security leaders to present risk in terms that boards and regulators understand.
Traditional compliance and risk management systems often focus on meeting regulatory standards. Vulnerability management programs typically score weaknesses based on technical characteristics. Consultant-led risk studies provide detailed analysis, but they are usually performed at set intervals. In fast-changing threat environments, that model can leave decision-makers working with outdated information.
Quantara’s platform attempts to replace that periodic process with continuous measurement. It brings together threat data, internal system information and financial modeling in one system. The goal is to show, at any given time, which specific weaknesses could lead to the largest financial losses.
Cyber risk quantification as a concept is not new. What is changing is the expectation that these calculations be updated regularly and tied directly to financial decision-making. As cyber incidents carry clearer monetary consequences, companies are looking for ways to measure exposure with greater precision.
The broader question is whether enterprises will shift fully toward continuous, AI-driven risk analysis or continue relying on periodic external assessments. What is clear is that cybersecurity discussions are moving closer to financial reporting — and tools that estimate potential loss in dollar terms are becoming central to that shift.