HKICT Awards 2026: Smart Business Award
HONG KONG ICT AWARDS 2026: SMART BUSINESS AWARD
Objectives
The Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business Award is established for three major purposes:
Emerging technologies are now universally recognised as an essential tool to enhance productivity, competitiveness, customer services and business growth. One of the steams in this Award, Emerging Technologies, is to recognise outstanding locally developed IT products and services using emerging technologies such as: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Big Data/Open Data, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), distributed ledgers, IoT, 3D Printing, digital twins, etc. to provide innovative solutions for their target customers.
The application of Information Technology is essential to improve the operating efficiency and productivity, quality and overall competitiveness and customer service for both our business and public sector enterprises. One of the streams in this Award, Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise, recognises outstanding locally developed applications which provide cost-effective and innovative IT solutions to business enterprises as well as public sector organisations. The awards encourage in-house applications developed and implemented by business and public sector organisations using the most appropriate technologies suiting the intended purposes.
The backbone of our economy is our SMEs, of which the adoption of ICT is crucial for its efficiency and productivity, and its global reach in marketing strategy and business expansion. One of the streams in this Award, Solution for SME, is to recognise outstanding achievements in technological innovations in locally developed IT products and application/services for effective use by SME.
The Hong Kong ICT (HKICT) Awards 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 Hong Kong ICT Awards 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 Awards aims at building a locally espoused and internationally acclaimed brand of ICT awards. Relevant HKICTA winners would be considered for nominations to join other international awards and competitions, such as the highly acclaimed Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Awards (APICTA).
There are eight categories under the Hong Kong ICT Awards 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. HKCS is officially appointed by DPO to be the Leading Organiser of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026 – Smart Business Award category. The Smart Business Award covers 3 streams, including Emerging Technologies, Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise as well as Solution for SME.
The Leading Organiser
The Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS) is a well-established non-profit organisation that has been striving to improve and develop Hong Kong’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry since its founding in 1970. HKCS is the first officially recognised professional association for the ICT industry in Hong Kong, China, dedicated to the promotion of the highest professional standards for the industry. Members hail from a broad spectrum of Hong Kong’s ICT industry, from corporations to like-minded individuals, all coming together to raise the profile of the industry. During its 55 years’ history, HKCS members have come to form the core of a wide and influential network throughout the whole spectrum of Hong Kong services and other industries. The Society offers a chance for Hong Kong’s communities to exchange ideas and to carry out a dialogue with the Government regarding ICT and its impact to the society. Being a highly active association, HKCS is regularly organising many activities to help promote ICT in Hong Kong, China, including conferences, seminars, forums and site visits on subjects related to ICT.
Prizes for Winners
- to receive trophies (Gold/Silver/Bronze) of the HKICTA;
- to display the official logo of the HKICTA in their promotional materials;
- to participate in various promotional campaigns to publicise their achievements;
- to be supported for entering into other regional and international awards and competitions;
- to 3 months free access to co-working space in Hong Kong Science Park Incubation Centre for eligible SMEs1;
- 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 (HKSTP);
- to 3 months free access to Flexi Space in Cyberport Smart-Space for SMEs2 and
- to free participation in some large-scale local ICT events (e.g. InnoEX) for marketing exposure
- to be invited to join the“ HKICTA Winner Circle”.
- to receive Green Channel Interview (conditional3) offer of “HK Tech 300 Seed Fund” by City University of Hong Kong (CityU). 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:http://www.hkictawards.hk
1Hong 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 the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026 Gold, Silver or Bronze award winners.
2Cyberport offers 1 free Flexi Space in Cyberport Entrepreneurship Centre (5/F Core F, Cyberport 3) for 3 months to SMEs who are HKICT 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)
Past Winners
Media Sponsors
Supporting Organisations
Enquiry
Miss Carol Ho ictawards@hkcs.org.hk
Tel: +852 2834 2263 Fax: +852 2834 3003
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Emerging Technologies) Award
This stream is to recognise outstanding locally developed IT products and services using emerging technologies such as: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Big Data/Open Data, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), distributed ledgers, IoT, 3D Printing, digital twins, etc. to provide innovative solutions for their target customers.
It is mainly targeting ICT PRODUCTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS of their solutions and services for use by business and public sector organisations.
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise) Award
As the application of Information Technology is essential to improve the operating efficiency and productivity, quality and overall competitiveness and customer service for both our business and public sector enterprises, this stream recognises outstanding locally developed applications which provide cost-effective and innovative IT solutions to business enterprises as well as public sector organisations. The awards encourage in-house applications developed and implemented by business and public sector organisations using the most appropriate technologies suiting the intended purposes.
It is mainly targeting USER ORGANISATIONS for their solutions (applications) developed in-house.
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Solution for SME) Award
The stream is to recognise outstanding achievements in technological innovations in locally developed IT products and application/services for effective use by SME. The backbone of our economy is our SMEs, of which the adoption of ICT is crucial for its efficiency and productivity, and its global reach in marketing strategy and business expansion.
General Eligibility Requirements
- 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.
- The application must be submitted by locally (Hong Kong, China) registered entities (please enclose Company/Business Registration proof) or residents in Hong Kong, China4 at the time of closing for entry enrolment.
- 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, China. 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.
- With the exception of the Student Innovation category, the submitted product/service must have been available5 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.).
- 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.
- Winning entries of the Gold/Silver/Bronze award in previous years of the HKICT Awards can enter the Awards again only if there is significant change or enhancement in the product/service, or for a new award category.
4 “Residents in Hong Kong, China”, in the context of HKICT Awards, 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
- 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.
- 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).
- To avoid conflicts of interest and the perception as such, applications for the Awards from sponsors will not be accepted.
- In case of any dispute, the decision of the Leading Organiser will be final and binding on all parties concerned.
Application Procedures
Each entrant should complete online entry form on or before 12:00 noon, 20 July 2026.
You may review the Online Application Form in PDF (For Reference Only)
Timetable
| Events: | Date: |
|---|---|
| Official Call for Entries | 28 April 2026 |
| Online Briefing Session (Organised by HKCS) | 2 June 2026 |
| Deadline for Enrolment | 20 July 2026 (12:00nn) |
| Participants Briefing (Organised by DPO) | 27 July 2026 |
| Assessment of Emerging Technologies Stream | 17 & 18 August 2026 |
| Assessment of Solution for SME Stream | 19 August 2026 |
| Assessment of Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise Stream | 20 & 21 August 2026 |
| Final Judging Panel (Organised by HKCS) (For Shortlisted Entries Only) | 11 September 2026 |
| Grand Judging Panel (Organised by DPO) (For Shortlisted Entries Only) | 14 October 2026 |
| Smart Business Award Presentation Ceremony (Organised by HKCS) | 19 November 2026 (Tentative) |
| HKICTA Awards Presentation Ceremony (Organised by DPO) | 19 November 2026 (Tentative) |
Enquiry
Miss Carol Ho ictawards@hkcs.org.hk
Tel: +852 2834 2263 Fax: +852 2834 3003
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.
Judging Panel
| Role: | Name | 中文名 | Organisation | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Judge | Prof Simon HO | 何順文教授 | The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong | President |
| Judge | Mr Johnson CHENG | 鄭凱先生 | Hong Kong Computer Society | Past Vice President |
| Judge | Prof Andy CHUN | 陳漢偉教授 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Professor of Practice |
| Judge | Mr Alex HO | 何烱光先生 | Construction Industry Council | Director – Industry Development |
| Judge | Ms Joyce LAI | 黎智敏女士 | Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data | Assistant Privacy Commissioner for the Personal Data (Corporate Communications and Operations) |
| Judge | Ms Carrie LEUNG, MH | 梁嘉麗女士, MH | The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers | Chief Executive Officer |
| Judge | Mrs Agnes MAK, MH, JP | 麥鄧碧儀女士, MH, JP | Fotocine Holding Co Ltd | Executive Director |
| Judge | Mr Jonathan SHEA | 謝達安先生 | The Hong Kong Institute of Directors | Chief Executive Officer |
| Judge | Mr WAN Wai-yin | 温偉然先生 | MTR Corporation Limited | Chief Information Officer |
| Judge | Dr Albert WONG | 王君弼博士 | PricewaterhouseCoopers | Partner |
| Judge | Mr Andy WONG | 王德明先生 | Lei Shing Hong Limited | Group Chief Information Officer |
| Judge | Mr Philip WONG | 王德成先生 | Head of Data Platform | HKEX |
| Judge | Ir Wilson WONG, MH | 黃家偉工程師, MH | Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation | Chief Executive Officer |
Emerging Technologies Stream Assessors
| Role: | Name | 中文名 | Organisation | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Assessor | Mr Jimmy TSANG | 曾炎焜先生 | Lenovo PCCW Solutions | Head of Technology and Architecture |
| Assessor | Mr Alan KWONG | 鄺仲麟先生 | CLP Power Hong Kong Limited | Principal Manager - Digital Solutions |
| Assessor | Mr Calvin LAI | 黎錦樑先生 | The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Chief Technical Architect |
| Assessor | Mr Tony MOK | 莫國華先生 | mCommerce Online Limited (MCoMo) | Director – Education Solutions |
| Assessor | Sr Prof Paul TSUI | 徐開源教授測量師 | Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited | Chief Executive Officer |
| Assessor | Ir Allan WONG | 黃啟超工程師 | Hong Kong Baptist University | Director of Information Technology |
| Assessor | Mr Eric WONG | 黃欣榮先生 | MTR Corporation Limited | Head of Information Security and Technology Risk Management |
Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise Stream Assessors
| Role: | Name | 中文名 | Organisation | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Assessor | Mr Benedict LAM | 林靈欽先生 | Celtic Consultancy | Principal Consultant |
| Assessor | Prof Dorothy CHAU | 周頌琪教授 | Hong Kong Baptist University | Adjunct Professor |
| Assessor | Mr Fritz CHIU | 招亮輝先生 | Data Exchange Ltd. | Financial Controller |
| Assessor | Mr Ahim KHO | 許躍奏先生 | Apicem Technology Services | Chief Executive Officer |
| Assessor | Ir Clifford TSE | 謝尚青工程師 | Mobigator Technology Group | Managing Director |
| Assessor | Dr Gary WONG | 黃耀輝博士 | Environmental Protection Department, HKSARG | Senior Information Technology Manager |
Solution for SME Stream Assessors
| Role: | Name | 中文名 | Organisation | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Assessor | Mr Horace CHU | 朱凱威先生 | Gammon Construction Limited | Director & Chief Information Officer |
| Assessor | Ms Eva KWOK | 郭儀雅女士 | FTI Consulting | Senior Managing Director |
| Assessor | Mr Douglas LEUNG | 梁震宇先生 | Link REIT | Director - Head of Information Technology |
| Assessor | Mr Louis MAH | 馬慶和先生 | Hong Kong Maxim’s Group | Director, Group Information Technology |
| Assessor | Mr Francis NGAI | 魏已倡先生 | XDaTech Limited | Chairman & Founder |
| Assessor | Mr Vincent SUM | 岑偉山先生 | Zung Fu Company Limited | Director of Digital |
| Assessor | Mr Alex WONG | 黃家傑先生 | The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited | General Manager, Corporate Information Technology |
Enquiry
Miss Carol Ho ictawards@hkcs.org.hk
Tel: +852 2834 2263 Fax: +852 2834 3003
Judging Criteria
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Emerging Technologies) Award
1. Innovation and Creativity in ICT (25%)
– First of its kind in Hong Kong, China, the region, or the world
– The innovation in solving a specific problem with emerging technologies
– Cost-effective deployment and integration of resources or technologies
– The positioning of breakthroughs in market disruption and transformation
2. Functionality (20%)
– Understanding and effectively – addressing user requirements
– Empowering users to accomplish their functions efficiently (customer-centric)
– Regulatory compliance, industry/sector best practice compliance
– Ease of implementation
– Providing scalability and interoperability
– Enhancement planning for foreseeable market/sector/community needs
3. Market Potential/Performance, Internal User Buy-in or Public Acceptance (20%)
– Current market share/user base and rolling take-up rate
– Realistic/justifiable market growth projections for local, regional, global
– Future diversification into new industries/sectors/communities
4. Benefits and Impact (20%)
– Creating a new data analytical and application model through ICT for customers
– Supporting innovative use of emerging technologies to solve a variety of sector-/industry-specific challenges
– The extent of new and enhanced revenue/profits and/or tangible cost savings (monetary, efficiency and productivity)
– Creating impact: industry-impact, sectoral-impact, social-impact, on outcome and reach, quality and satisfaction, for customers
– Enhancing public/market/sectoral community awareness of the use and benefits of emerging technologies
– Enhanced branding and visibility of enterprises
5. Quality (15%)
– Reliability and stability
– Easy to set up, learn and use
– Quality standards as reflected by external quality marks/certs; relevant awards
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Solution for Business and Public Sector Enterprise) Award
1. Innovation and Creativity in ICT (25%)
– First of its kind in Hong Kong, China, the region, or the world
– The innovation in solving a specific problem with ICT
– Cost-effective deployment and integration of resources or technologies
– The positioning of breakthroughs in market disruption and transformation
2. Functionality (20%)
– Understanding and effectively addressing user (customers, citizens, stakeholders) requirements
– Empowering users to accomplish their functions efficiently (customer-centric, citizen-centric)
– Regulatory compliance, industry/sector best practice compliance
– Ease of implementation
– Providing scalability and interoperability
– Enhancement planning for foreseeable market/sector/community needs
3. Market Potential/Performance, Internal User Buy-in or Public Acceptance (20%)
– Current user base and rolling take-up rate
– Realistic/justifiable user base growth projections for local, regional, global
– Potential for other organizations to adopt similar solutions for the transformation of the industry practices, and into new industries/ sectors/ Communities
4. Benefits and Impact (20%)
– Creating a new operational model through ICT for business and public sector enterprises
– The extent of new and enhanced revenue/profits and/or tangible cost savings (monetary, efficiency and productivity)
– Enhancing public/market/sectoral community awareness of the use and benefits of ICT
– Enhancing branding and visibility of enterprises
5. Quality (15%)
– Reliability and stability
– Easy to set up, learn and use
– Quality standards as reflected by external quality marks/certs; relevant awards.
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Solution for SME) Award
1. Innovation and Creativity in ICT (25%)
– First of its kind in Hong Kong, China, the region, or the world
– The innovation in solving a specific problem with ICT
– Cost-effective deployment and integration of resources or technologies
– The positioning of breakthroughs in market disruption and transformation
2. Functionality (20%)
– Understanding and effectively addressing user (customers, citizens, stakeholders) requirements;
– Empowering users to accomplish their functions efficiently (customer-centric, citizen-centric)
– Regulatory compliance, industry/sector best practice compliance
– Ease of implementation
Providing scalability and interoperability
– Enhancement planning for foreseeable market/sector/community needs
3. Market Potential/Performance, Internal User Buy-in or Public Acceptance (20%)
– Current market share/user base and rolling take-up rate
– Realistic/justifiable market growth projections for local, regional, global
– Future diversification into new industries/sectors/communities
4. Benefits and Impact (20%)
– Creating a new operational model through ICT for SMEs
– The extent of new and enhanced revenue/profits and/or tangible cost savings (monetary, efficiency and productivity)
– Creating impact: industry-impact, sectoral-impact, social-impact, on accessibility and reach, quality and satisfaction, for customers/citizens
– Enhancing public/market/sectoral community awareness of the use and benefits of ICT
– Enhancing branding and visibility of enterprises
5. Quality (15%)
– Reliability and stability
– Easy to set up, learn and use
– Quality standards as reflected by external quality marks/certs; relevant awards
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2026: Smart Business (Best Use of AI) Award
1. Innovation and creativity (25%)
– First of its kind in Hong Kong, China, the region, or the world
– Innovative use of AI and creative problem-solving to improve processes, capabilities, and efficiencies
– Original AI methodologies, including unique algorithms and machine learning techniques that offer a fresh approach to data analysis, interpretation, and automation
2. Benefits and impact (30%)
– Tangible advantages leading to measurable improvements and positive domain disruption
– Streamlined deployment and integration
– Scale, significance, and long-term effects
3. User experience / buy-in (25%)
– Intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly AI
– Market size in global and regional terms
4. Ethical consideration (20%)
– Compliance/ adherence to AI regulations and ethical standards, including respect for user privacy, fairness, accountability, avoidance of bias, and security
You may now review the recording of the Smart Business Award Briefing Session that was held online on 2 June 2026
You may now review the PowerPoint from the Smart Business Award Briefing Session that was held online on 2 June 2026
Q & A
Q1. What is the adjudication format for the HKICT Awards?
Ans: Attendance in person is mandatory for all participants. The assessment schedule will be issued following the verification of applicants’ eligibility.
Q2. Is there a limit on the number of presenters for the assessment?
Ans: A maximum of three presenters may attend and participate in the assessment presentation.
Q3. Can the presentation timeslot be rescheduled?
Ans: No. The scheduled assessment date and time are fixed and cannot be altered, except in the event of severe weather conditions (such as a Black Rainstorm Warning or Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above) or extenuating, unavoidable circumstances approved by the HKICTA Smart Business Award Secretariat.
Q4. How do I apply for the Best Use of AI Award?
Ans: If your submission involves the use of AI and/or Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC), please indicate this on the online application form and select the option for this award. The leading organiser will then include your entry in the adjudication process for the Best Use of AI Award.