Global makers shine at Hong Kong Physical AI Hackathon

The final round of the Physical AI Hackathon 2026 concluded Aug. 5 at Hong Kong Science Park, with Team 23 winning the Grand MPV Award and its HK$100,000 (US$12,745) top prize.

Members of Team 23 celebrate after winning the Grand MVP Award and HK$100,000 top prize at the Physical AI Hackathon 2026. Photos courtesy of event organizer

The six-member team brought together a business analyst, a master’s student in robotics at a Hong Kong university, a secondary school student specializing in full-stack hardware development, and three first-year undergraduates from Guangzhou and Shenzhen majoring in electronic information, electronic technology and automation. Their win highlighted the competition’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.

As Hong Kong’s first integrated hardware-and-software hackathon focused on Physical AI, the event drew more than 160 young developers from around the world. During a nonstop 48-hour development sprint, teams built Physical AI prototypes from code to hardware across three tracks and five challenges, turning ideas into intelligent systems designed to interact with the physical world.

Participants compete in the Shenzhen preliminary round at the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Hetao, Shenzhen.

The competition adopts a bi-city format, with a Shenzhen preliminary round and a Hong Kong final. From Aug. 2 to 4, the Shenzhen venue hosted the opening round at the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Hetao Cooperation Zone. Contestants used Shenzhen’s strong local hardware supply chain and fast prototyping capabilities to build and test their prototypes. 

On Aug. 5, the advancing teams joined competitors from Hong Kong at Hong Kong Science Park for the final judging and presentations. Through the interconnected park-to-park mechanism, the two venues enabled the efficient flow of talent, equipment and information.

Clara Chan, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, speaks at the final round of the Physical AI Hackathon 2026 at Hong Kong Science Park on Aug. 5.

Clara Chan, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Ltd., said breakthroughs in Physical AI lie not only in the underlying technology but also in its transition from concept to real-world use and its continued refinement through iteration. She said this year’s hackathon brought together creative and proactive young people and provided a valuable platform for developing practical physical AI applications.

In his closing remarks, Terry Wong, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), said the hackathon's success depended not only on technical ability, but also on bringing together talent, research, industry and the market so that scientific advances could be put into practice and deliver real value.

Terry Wong, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, delivers closing remarks at the Physical AI Hackathon 2026.

The competition also recognized five track champions, along with awards for the most dynamic team and most diverse team, among others. The total prize pool topped HK$300,000. Winning teams will also be considered for investment by Brizan Ventures, fast-track access to the HKSTP Ideation Program, and gain access to internship and full-time job opportunities at companies in the Brizan ecosystem.

The hackathon launched a global recruitment drive in June, with the recruitment and selection process lasting 45 days. It received more than 1,000 applications from around the world, with more than 160 participants advancing to the finals. Students made up 78% of the finalists, ranging from secondary school students to undergraduates, master’s students and doctoral candidates. Their fields included artificial intelligence, computer science, robotics engineering, microelectronics and biomedical engineering. 

The broad international turnout demonstrated Hong Kong’s appeal as a global hub for innovation and technology talent.

Finalists and guests pose for a group photo at the Physical AI Hackathon 2026. The event attracted more than 1,000 applications worldwide, with over 160 participants advancing to the finals.

The hackathon was launched by Brizan Ventures in partnership with SpacemiT and alloop.ai. It was co-hosted by HKSTP, OneRobotics, Direct Drive Tech, Zettlab, Z·Pilot and AgileX, with support from the innovation and entrepreneurship organizations at five universities: The University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.