Hong Kong inventors win grand prix, 35 medals at Silicon Valley festival

Hong Kong innovators claimed victory at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) in California, securing 35 medals and a grand prix award. A solar-powered air-to-fertilizer system developed by Amonova won the prestigious Grand Prix, as well as a special prize from the China Association of Inventions. The technology transforms air, water, and renewable energy into nitrogen fertilizer, reducing dependence on large production plants and international supply chains.

Founder Simson Wu emphasized that the device enables individual farmers to control their own fertilizer production, eliminating reliance on large facilities. The system is currently undergoing testing in India, Japan, and mainland China. Amonova's technology traces back to research at the University of Oxford dating back to 2011, developed over three generations before commercialization.

The Education University of Hong Kong's RoMetric hand-assessment system won the World Intellectual Property Organization's National Award for Inventor, alongside special prizes from the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Filipino Inventors Society. RoMetric utilizes computer vision to automatically measure 15 hand joints in three dimensions, cutting assessment time by up to 87 percent and offering objective data for rehabilitation planning.

Lingnan University's GaitGPT, an AI system that translates clinical descriptions into quantitative gait measurements, earned the International Federation of Inventors' Associations' Best Invention Award and a prize from Thailand's National Research Council.

Two projects from Lingnan University, AuraMist and a potential Alzheimer's disease treatment, also received special awards. AuraMist is a portable water-misting system for wheelchair users, while the Alzheimer's treatment is a non-invasive nasal spray. Baptist University's projects garnered special awards as well. The Hong Kong delegation comprised 35 members presenting 30 projects across healthcare, food technology, smart construction, robotics, railway systems, and sustainable agriculture.

The delegation received significant interest from investors and businesses during their visit. SVIIF organizer Andrew Young highlighted the city's innovation capabilities, stating that the delegation's success demonstrates a commitment to solving real-world challenges in multiple sectors. He added that the festival provides Hong Kong with an international platform to gain exposure, validate market demand, and explore collaborations beyond the city and region.