Today, the finalist teams compete for four Champion Prizes with a start-up fund of HK$450,000 each and one year of incubation support to implement their ideas. The Programme is managed and operated by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS).
Four Innovative Start-up Made Remarkable Progress
As with previous years, the Fund was well received by sectors and attracted 150 entries. 10 finalist teams are well prepared to showcase their project plans and achievements before a panel of judges and over 120 sector representatives at the Final Pitch, which takes place at the Auditorium of the Duke of Windsor Social Service Building in Wanchai.
Upon two hours of intensive pitching, the judging panel awards the four champion teams - Heycoins, Longevity Design House, Rubber Boy Academy Animation series, and Wearable robotic device for Parkinson's Disease.
The winning teams emerged from interdisciplinary fields, students, interior and animation designers and medical robotic engineers etc. They are committed to collaborate with local non-profit and charitable organisations and social enterprises to jointly carry out their projects, including coin recycling and spending platform, construction materials recycling for small home decorations, animations for sign language promotion and affordable and multipurpose exoskeleton device to facilitate people with disabilities, injured, and elderly.
Today’s ceremony was officiated by Mr. Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Bureau, Ms. Karen Ngui, Board Member of the DBS Foundation Limited, Mr. Alex Cheung, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Banking Group of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, and Mr Chua Hoi-wai, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
In his address, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, said, "The Government promotes innovation and technology not only because it can diversify our economy toward more high-value-added industries. Our focus is also put on tackling social issues, benefiting the community at large through the adoption of innovation and technology." He hoped the awardees can put their ideas into practice and generate greater social benefits.
Ms. Karen Ngui from DBS Foundation said “DBS Foundation works with social enterprises and social innovators in Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong with programmes ranging from venture challenges, learning forums, intensive incubation, grant support, financing and skilled volunteer mentoring.”
Alex Cheung, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Banking Group, Hong Kong, DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, expressed, “With your support, DBS Social Innovators is able to introduce innovative ideas to solve our social issues using technology, reflecting the DBS Foundation’s commitment to support the creative industry.”
Mr Chua Hoi-wai emphasised that cross-sector collaboration among different sectors is the key to success. HKCSS will continue to create favourable factors for social innovations.
About DBS Social Innovators 2016
DBS Bank has been promoting the development of social enterprises in Hong Kong through HK$ 6-million over the past three years. This year, DBS Foundation allocates HKD 2 million to launch DBS Social Innovators 2016 www.dbs-socialinnovators.hk, to provide funding and incubation support to social innovators, NGOs, social enterprises and civil organizations to kick-start their social innovation projects. The Programme consists of three phases:
Photo Captions
Photo 1: The judging panel awarded the four champion teams - Heycoins, Longevity Design House, Rubber Boy Academy Animation series and MedEXO Robotics.
Photo 2: (from the left) Anthony Wong, Business Director (Policy Research and Advocacy) of HKCSS, Nicholas W Yang, The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Karen Ngui, DBS Foundation and Alex Cheung, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Banking Group, Hong Kong, DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, visited the 2015 Grantees’ exhibition. (DOMAT founder was on the right)
Photo 3: Karen Ngui of DBS Foundation said “DBS Foundation works with social enterprises and social innovators in Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong with programmes ranging from venture challenges, learning forums, intensive incubation, grant support, financing and skilled volunteer mentoring.”
Photo 4: Alex Cheung, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Banking Group, Hong Kong, DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, expressed, “With your support, DBS Social Innovators is able to introduce innovative ideas to solve our social issues using technology, reflecting the DBS Foundation’s commitment to support the creative industry.”
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About DBS FoundationAs a corporate foundation in Asia solely dedicated to championing social entrepreneurship, DBS Foundation contributes towards building a more inclusive society so that those at society’s margins can enjoy productive and rewarding lives. DBS Foundation works with Social Enterprises and Social Entrepreneurs in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and Indonesia with programmes ranging from venture challenges, learning forums, intensive incubation, project grant support, financing and skilled volunteer mentoring. The Foundation is an endeavor from DBS Bank to make an even greater impact in addressing Asia’s evolving social needs.
Visit us at: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundationReach us on: dbsfoundation@dbs.com
About HKCSS The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) works to promote a just and inclusive society by promoting collaborative efforts among NGOs in service planning and development, facilitating cross-sectoral partnership, advocating equality, justice, social integration and a caring community. The Council has now become an umbrella organisation of over 440 Agency Members, that provide diverse social welfare services for those in need through 3,000 service units all over Hong Kong. www.hkcss.org.hk
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