Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Mobility Award

Background

The Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) aims at recognising and promoting outstanding information and communications technology (ICT) inventions and applications, thereby encouraging innovation and excellence among Hong Kong’ s ICT talent and enterprises in their constant pursuit of creative and better solutions to meet business and social needs.

The HKICTA was established in 2006 with the collaborative efforts of the industry, academia and the Government. Organised by the Digital Policy Office, and led by Hong Kong ICT industry associations and professional bodies, the HKICTA marks the 20th anniversary this year, celebrating two decades of excellence in Hong Kong's ICT sector.

There are eight categories under the HKICTA 2026. There will be one Grand Award in each category, and an “Award of the Year” will be selected from the eight Grand Awards by the Grand Judging Panel. In addition, in a bid to foster the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI), a "Best Use of AI" award winner will be selected in each of the eight categories to magnify and honour outstanding achievements in harnessing the power of AI in respective areas.

Objective

1. Accelerating Hong Kong’s Smart City Development Through Innovative ICT Applications

Smart Mobility is a core pillar of Hong Kong’s Smart City Blueprint, enabling a more efficient, sustainable and connected urban environment. It improves liveability, strengthens economic growth, and supports the city’s long-term competitiveness. Smart mobility focuses on optimising transportation, infrastructure, connectivity and communications to enhance sustainability, efficiency, safety and convenience. A smart city must be connected and citizen-centric—improving daily life, meeting evolving public needs, and strengthening overall city competitiveness.

The award aims to recognise and encourage outstanding applications including Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data analytics, geospatial technologies, robotics, 6G, augmented and virtual reality, smart energy management, intelligent transportation systems, unmanned traffic management system, and mobile applications. By integrating these technologies cohesively, smart mobility solutions can significantly enhance the flow of people, goods and tourists, while improve citywide connectivity and service efficiency, and contributing to a smarter, greener and more liveable Hong Kong.
 

2. Championing Hong Kong as a Hub for IT Talents, Creativity and Innovations

The award will serve as a strategic platform to cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem, enable meaningful exchange, collaboration and co-creation that supports Hong Kong’s I&T development agenda, and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a regional Hub for ICT Innovation.

GS1 Hong Kong will facilitate dynamic interactions among ICT professionals, enabling them to share best practices, generate new ideas and spark cross disciplinary innovation. Through these initiatives and activities, we aim to foster a culture of excellence, inspire future innovators, and contribute to strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness by building a world-class pool of technology talent and pioneering ideas. 

3. Inspiring Local Industry Adoption

Innovation and technology are key drivers of economic growth and essential for enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s 
major industries. By recognising exemplary smart mobility solutions, the Award acts as a catalyst for wider market adoption, enabling businesses—particularly in the Transport, Logistics, and Tourism sectors—to understand the tangible value of technology enabled transformation.

This process creates a positive cycle between solution providers and user industries, fostering a sustainable innovation ecosystem. It not only improves daily life for citizens and visitors, but also fuels job creation, stimulates the emergence of high potential startups, and strengthens Hong Kong's position as a competitive and future ready economy.

 Online Registration Form      Download Paper Application Form 

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Award Streams

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Smart Transport

Smart Transport focuses on the innovative use of technologiesto enhance the overall transport experience and efficiency. It covers technologies and solutions that improve mobility convenience, optimise traffic flow, enhance road safety, reduce congestion, and support sustainable and environmentallyfriendly transport systems.

The objective of this stream is to recognise outstanding applications that leverage ICT - including sensors, IoT, location-based services, computer vision, real-time data analytics, etc. - to make urban mobility more intelligent, accessible and efficient. Award winning Smart Transport solutions are expected to deliver enhanced traffic efficiency, improved accessibility and convenience, higher safety levels, environmental sustainability, and better flow if people. Collectively, these outcomes contribute to a more efficient, sustainable and liveable Hong Kong.
 

Smart Logistics

Smart Logistics focuses on applying advanced technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance the efficiency, visibility, 
resilience and sustainability of logistics and supply chain operations. With IOT, intelligent tools, automation, AI and data 
technologies, Smart Logistics enables end-to-end supply chain visibility, streamlines the entire logistics process, and improves the management of goods movement, inventory, warehousing, handling, packaging and security and across land, sea and multimodal transport.

The objective of this stream aims at using technologies innovatively to improve end-to-end visibility, enhance cost efficiency & transparency, streamline distribution and warehouse management, automate information flow, and optimise supply chains & logistics operations.

Smart Tourism

Smart Tourism leverages technologies and digital innovations to enhance the tourism experience, streamline service delivery, and promote sustainable tourism practices.. Technologies such as big data, AI, mobile apps, location-based and geo-tag services, facial recognition, digital connectivity, AR/VR, and social networking tools are transforming how tourists plan, navigate and enjoy destinations.

The objective of this stream is to recognise innovative applications that optimise resources, strengthen industry competitiveness and advance sustainable tourism. It aims to promote solutions that offer seamless, personalised and sustainable travel experiences, while improving tourists’ access to information and enhancing convenience across transportation, dining, shopping, entertainment and accommodation.

 Online Registration Form       Download Paper Application Form  

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Prizes and Benefits for Winners

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The remarkable achievements of the Awards winners (Gold/Silver/Bronze) will be recognised by customers, organisations, the ICT industry practitioners and across the community. Winners will be entitled —

• to receive trophies (Gold/Silver/Bronze) of the HKICTA; 
• to display the official logo of the HKICTA in theirpromotional materials;
• to participate in various promotional campaigns to publicise their achievements;
• to be supported for entering into other regional and tinternational awards and competitions;
• to 3 months free access to co-working space in Hong Kong Science Park Incubation Centre for eligible SMEs ;
• to participate in investment matching activities co-organised by the Hong Kong Venture Investment and Business Angel Network Limited (HKBAN) and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP); 
• to 3 months free access to Flexi Space in Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre for SMEs ; and
• to free participation in some large-scale local ICT events (e.g. InnoEX) for marketing exposure; and
• to be invited to join the “HKICTA Winner Circle“.

Grand Award winners (except Student Innovation Category) and “Higher Education” Gold Award winner(s) of Student Innovation Category will also be entitled —

• to receive Green Channel Interview (conditional ) offer of “HK Tech 300 Seed Fund” by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). The awardee will receive a seed fund of up to HKD100,000 and other support from the programme after passing the interview. (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/about-hk-tech-300/hk-tech-300-seed-fund)

Further details and conditions are available at the website: https://www.hkictawards.hk/

Notes:

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) offers one quota to a 3-month rent free access in co-working space in Hong Kong Science Park Incubation Centre (assigned by HKSTP, subject to availability) to the eligible SMEs who are Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026 Gold, Silver or Bronze award winners.

2 Cyberport offers 1 free Flexi Space in Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre (5/F, Core F, Cyberport 3) for 3 months to SMEs who are HKICTA 2026 Gold, Silver or Bronze award winners. The number of flexi-desk offered to the Winners is capped to 32. Given the quota, flexi-desk will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis and subject to the availability. Winner shall submit application to Cyberport for the offered flexi-desk on or before 31 March 2027 after the announcement of results. Any submission after the deadline will become ineligible.

3 1. Either one of the startup's founders is associated with CityUHK, such as a student / alumnus / research assistant; or

2. The team should identify at least one CityUHK’s intellectual property (IP) for evaluation use and development if there is no associated founder. (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/cityu-intellectual-property)
 

 Online Registration Form     Download Paper Application Form 

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Guidelines to Participants

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General Eligibility Requirements

1. The applicant must have the intellectual property right and/or legitimate right over the ICT product/service mentioned in the application. The applicant shall disclose disputes any place over the world over intellectual property right about the applicant’ s ICT product/service, if any, for the Leading Organiser to consider eligibility of the application.
2. The application must be submitted by locally (Hong Kong) registered entities (please enclose Company/Business Registration proof) or residents in Hong Kong at the time of closing for entry enrolment.
3. A significant part of the innovation, design, research and development (R&D) of the mentioned ICT product/service must come from resources in Hong Kong. The applicant should demonstrate significant value-add by the Hong Kong resources contributing to the success of the ICT product/service in the target market.
4. With the exception of the Student Innovation category, the submitted product/service must have been available in the market for at least 3 months or in live operation for at least 3 months at the time of closing for entry enrolment (please enclose proof – e.g. delivery note, invoice, public announcement, advertisement, internal announcement, etc.).
5. The same application is only allowed to be submitted to a maximum of ONE award stream among all the Categories. Any application found to have entered into more than one award stream will be disqualified.
6. Winning entries of the Gold/Silver/Bronze award in previous years of the HKICTA can enter the Awards again only if there is significant change or enhancement in the product/service, or for a new award category.

Notes:

4. “Residents in Hong Kong”, in the context of HKICTA, include both permanent and non-permanent residents. If an entry is submitted by more than one person, at least half of the members of the group must be Hong Kong resident.  For the case of Student Innovation category, certification of Hong Kong resident status can be performed through certifying student status collectively by concerned educational institution.

5. Examples are applications and products already in the market, application systems deployed internally in a company, and mobile solutions available at App Stores.  For startup companies competing for ICT Startup Award, prototypes appear only on kickstarter or similar platforms are NOT considered as available in the market.

Rules and Regulations

1. Applicants are advised to be aware of the best practice and case-based experience as promulgated by the Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
2. Applicants are reminded that any person who, without the permission of Steering Committee of Hong Kong ICT Awards, offers an advantage to parties involved in the Awards as a reward or inducement for doing any act or showing favour in relation to the Awards commits an offence of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201).
3. To avoid conflicts of interest and the perception as such, applications for the Awards from sponsors will not be accepted.
4. In case of any dispute, the decision of the Leading Organiser will be final and binding on all parties concerned
    

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Judging Criteria

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Smart Mobility Award

'Best Use of AI' Award

Assessment Process

In the course of evaluation, assessors may require access to relevant information in the applicant’s possession and access to the applicant’s premises. The applicant will be notified in advance if such access is required. Any information supplied by the applicant for the purpose of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026 will be treated as confidential, and will not be released by the Leading Organiser and related parties without the applicant’s permission.

 Online Registration Form     Download Paper Application Form 

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Application Procedures

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1. Fill in an "Online Application Form" or "Download a paper Application Form" at Smart Mobility Award website: 
 Online Registration Form     Download Paper Application Form 

2. Submit the application together with necessary document(s) to GS1 Hong Kong on or before 12:00 noon, 20 July 2026. Applicants can refer to the “Notes for Applicants” on the application form.