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IOT Data Hackathon 2025, Sparkling Innovation through Real-World Data, Technology and Cross-Sector Collaboration

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HONG KONG, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Organised by GS1 Hong Kong, co-organised by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and supported by the Digital Policy Office, the IOT Data Hackathon 2025 successfully concluded its final competition on 22-23 March 2025.

Themed “Smart Business” and “Smart Living”, the IOT Data Hackathon 2025 brought together enterprises, tech talent, and academic elites to tackle real-world business challenges through cross-sector collaboration and data-driven innovation. This year’s Hackathon garnered even greater enthusiasm than last year, attracting over 90 teams from local tertiary institutions, start-ups, and business sectors. After a rigorous screening process, 24 outstanding teams advanced to the final round, competing head-to-head on 23 March, the Final Pitch Day. 

Key Highlights

1. Fostering a Cross-Sector Ecosystem, Cultivating Talent through Practical Experience
A standout feature of the IOT Data Hackathon was its success in driving cross-sector collaboration. Six leading corporations — including Airport Authority Hong Kong, AS Watson Industries, CUHK Medical Centre, HKT, Maxim’s Caterers, and Swire Coca-Cola — provided real life business challenges and relevant datasets. Tech partners, Alibaba Cloud, AWS and Esri China (Hong Kong), offered technology platforms, tools and application support, enabling participating teams to develop commercially viable and innovative solutions by leveraging the provided datasets, open data and advanced technologies. 

2. Judges Applaud Data-Driven Innovation 
A panel of 12 distinguished judges highly praised the participants for their exceptional performance, highlighting their ability to combine data and technology while aligning with ESG trends. The judges emphasised the Hackathon’s role in unlocking the transformative potential of data-driven decision-making. The panel looks forward to the continued promotion of such collaborative models, which not only accelerate the growth of Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem, but also cultivate a new generation of talent to meet future opportunities and challenges.

3. Comprehensive Pre-hackathon Training with Top-tier Resource Support
To equip participants with practical skills, the organiser hosted 7 professional training workshops from Jan to Mar, covering hot topics such as IoT technology, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, data standards, cybersecurity, design thinking, data storytelling, pitching skills, and ESG strategies, etc. Additionally, GS1 HK invited 24 expert mentors from various fields to guide the participating teams, while Check Point Software Technologies provided one-on-one consultations to help teams integrate robust cybersecurity measures and data protection into their solutions.

The Data-driven Era: Cultivating Future Tech Talent

As artificial intelligence and data analytics become increasingly integral to businesses, mastering data application skills has become a critical asset for future talent. This Hackathon provided participants with an invaluable platform for practical experience and learning, stimulating creativity through competition and fostering a deeper connection between data-driven thinking and business needs. The participating teams demonstrated remarkable prowess in data integration and innovative thinking, and proposed diverse solutions to real corporate challenges. 

Ms. Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK, emphasised: “IoT data is the cornerstone of a smart economy. By connecting young talent directly with industry pain points, this Hackathon fuels Hong Kong’s digital transformation and drives momentum for the city’s innovation journey.” 

Award Ceremony: Winners to be Announced at the InnoEX 2025 

The award ceremony will take place on April 13, 2025, at InnoEX 2025, where the winning teams and their innovative solutions will be unveiled. All sectors are invited to witness this celebration of data, technology, and creativity! 

Award Ceremony Details:

Date: 13 April 2025, SundayTime: 10:45am to 12:00nnVenue: The Stage, Hall 3C, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)Event: IOT Data Hackathon 2025 Award Ceremony (held within the InnoEX 2025)

For more information about the IOT Data Hackathon 2025, please visit www.gs1hk.org/iotdatahackathon.

About GS1 Hong Kong

Founded by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in 1989, GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) is the local chapter of GS1®, a not-for-profit, global organisation that brings industry stakeholders together to develop standards-based solutions to address the challenges of data exchange. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, GS1® has more than 115 national chapters serving 150 economies globally.

GS1 HK aims to empower industry’s digital transformation by enabling businesses to improve efficiency, safety, authenticity and sustainability through platforms, solutions and services based on our global standards. GS1 HK is dedicated to building a collaborative IoT ecosystem in Hong Kong to promote the development of ICT, serving as a bridge between ICT solution providers, users, government and other stakeholders, realising the community’s vision to become a smart city.

GS1 HK currently supports over 8,000 corporate members from various sectors including retail & consumer packaged goods, healthcare, food & beverage and food services, apparel & footwear, transport & logistics, among others.

For more information, please visit www.gs1hk.org

For high-resolution photo, please download via this link.

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SOURCE GS1 Hong Kong

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

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SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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