A group of over 30 aspiring student entrepreneurs from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), spanning diverse academic backgrounds, recently embarked on an immersive 2-day, 1-night learning trip across the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Covering Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen, the journey went far beyond traditional site visits. It was designed as a deep dive into practical entrepreneurial knowledge and a platform for intense, cross-disciplinary peer exchange, sparking high-energy discussions on industry landscapes and product commercialization.

The curriculum of the trip was structured around three core pillars of startup development, providing students with a holistic view of the GBA innovation ecosystem:

Navigating Tech Transfer and Commercialization

The journey began with exploring the critical transition from laboratory research to the market. Following an experience of academic innovation and startup sharing at the HKUST (GZ) campus, students engaged in in-depth dialogues at the  Yuexiu iPARK Guangdong-Hong Kong iValley (越秀iPARK粵港智谷). Through sharing sessions by Mr. XU Xiaoji, Founder of KingJune Robotics Technology Co., Limited and an HKUST AIS Master’s student, alongside representatives from CalandX Technology (碳境科技), Kayja-Optics (凱佳光學), and Zhike Automation (智科自動化), participants gained practical insights into the realities of technology commercialization.

Understanding Hard-Tech Incubation and Ecosystems

A key highlight of the trip was exploring how supportive ecosystems accelerate development. Visiting the XbotPark Robotics Base in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, provided a profound look into the future of smart hardware. Students witnessed the "Base + Fund" incubation model in action, understanding how this ecosystem bridges the gap between research and mass production. By observing prototyping facilities and learning about successful startups like Narwal and EcoFlow, students recognized the vital importance of integrating engineering excellence with market-driven design within the GBA supply chain.

Witnessing World-Class Supply Chain Synergy

To understand large-scale execution, the cohort conducted a comprehensive study of VTech Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0303). This segment involved a dual-city exploration: touring the Dongguan manufacturing plant to observe high-scale automated production, followed by a visit to the VTech Shenzhen Building to explore R&D and global market strategies. This firsthand experience vividly demonstrated the powerful "R&D + Manufacturing" synergy operating seamlessly between the two cities.

This intensive journey underscored for HKUST students that successful entrepreneurship is not merely a localized concept, but relies on seamless coordination across cities and industries. The university looks forward to seeing the knowledge gained and the connections built during this trip transform into the driving force behind these students' future ventures.