HKUST Unicorn Day Unites Global Innovators to Turn Bold Ideas into Impact

Nearly 1,300 global investors, industry leaders and government and academia representatives from over a dozen countries converged at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for Unicorn Day – now one of the largest entrepreneurial events in Hong Kong’s higher education sector. Attendees explored partnerships and exchanged ideas to drive innovation. 

The event drew consuls general and senior officials from around the world including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Pakistan, the UAE, the UK, and Vietnam alongside HKSAR Commissioner for Innovation and Technology Mr. Ivan LEE, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) Ms. Bonnie Y CHAN, and General Manager of AstraZeneca Hong Kong & Macau Ms. Shan WU. Officiating guests accompanied by HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST (Guangzhou) President Prof. Lionel NI, and HKUST Vice President (Research and Development) Prof. Tim CHENG, toured deep-tech innovations developed by the 100 HKUST-grown startups. As of May 2025, HKUST members had founded over 1,800 active startups, including 10 unicorns and 17 exits (IPO or M&A).

Global Synergy Fuels Startup Growth

To foster global innovation exchange and support local startups to go global, HKUST launched an inaugural “International Pavilion”, attracting worldwide innovators to share best practices and explore partnerships. Featured participants included Korea’s Impact Foundation, the Asian University Alliance (AUA), and the Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU). 
A new Marketplace spotlighted market-ready products such as:

• a Chinese herbal medicine for preventing or alleviating degenerative brain diseases, 
• a non-invasive wearable device designed to halt the progression of glaucoma, 
• an AI app that detects the authentication of luxury goods, 
• plant-based milk made from tiga nuts to combat desertification.

Meanwhile, three major collaborations were announced: 

• Global biopharmaceutical leader AstraZeneca signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HKUST to advance AI in healthcare and treatment for metabolism-related diseases, cancer and rare diseases.  
• Gobi Partners, an Asian-focused venture capital firm, teamed up with HKUST’s Redbird Innovation Fund to enhance knowledge transfer, incubation, talent development, and tech commercialization. 
• The National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE), a national technology innovation center approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, will provide HKUST startups with incubation support and access to critical resources and networks in the Yangtze River Delta, fostering their commercialization and growth.

HKUST: A Beacon of Innovation and Nurturing Ground for Dreams

At the symposium, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr. Ivan Lee, emphasized the importance of support from local tertiary institutions, working together with the Government’s active promotion of I&T development, in co-creating a vibrant ecosystem. He said, “I truly appreciate HKUST’s efforts in supporting young start-ups, including organising business matching events like today, and the setting up of the Redbird Innovation Fund to support the university’s start-ups.” 

HKUST President Prof. Nancy Ip highlighted HKUST’s mission, “At HKUST, we champion innovation, entrepreneurship, and ideas that address global challenges. As a nurturing ground for dreams, our mission extends beyond education and research to empower meaningful global impact. We take pride in our formidable alumni network of over 100,000 change-makers who drive value across industries. Together with our partners, investors, and community, we will keep turning bold ideas into reality to redefine possibilities.”

Serving as keynote speakers, HKEX CEO Ms. Bonnie Y Chan shared on the development of Hong Kong’s new economy sector and the capital market’s role in promoting innovative companies, while AstraZeneca Hong Kong & Macau GM Ms. Shan WU envisioned the potential of academia-industry collaboration and innovation to advance Healthcare. Meanwhile, HKUST(GZ) President Prof. Lionel Ni noted that HKUST(GZ) shares the entrepreneurial spirit of HKUST and announced its upcoming “INNOTECH carnival” on June 14-15, which will bring together tech innovation enthusiasts, investors, and industry partners.

Spotlight on Future Innovators

After the morning symposium concluded, startups engaged in investor pitching sessions throughout the afternoon. The event culminated in the Startup World Cup 2025 Hong Kong Region Finals, where 12 shortlisted teams in biomedical technology, robotics, AI coding, data processing and sustainability competed for the opportunity to represent Hong Kong at the global finals in the US in October 2025.