CityU Science Patent Challenge 2022

The first CityU Science Patent Challenge: learn about intellectual properties, win a chance to own a patent and be a real inventor!
 

Eligibility:

• Contestants: Full-time secondary school students in Hong Kong.
• School-based submission: Each School can submit at most two entries. The School is required to have at least one representative completed the workshop and briefing session offered by College of Science (“CSCI”), City University of Hong Kong (“CityU”) before the submission.
• Each school-based entry can be either on an individual basis or team basis with a maximum of 8 people per team.
   

School Registration Deadline: 

The registration has been closed. All the Mentor Teachers were notified of the registration result on 16 September 2022.

New

Submission of Your Invention Idea:

Extended Deadline: 4 Jan 2023, 23:59 (HKT)

The Mentor Teachers should submit the students’ invention ideas in the format of a PowerPoint deck (max. 20 slides) or a video (max. 5 min) via email to csci.office@cityu.edu.hk. The PowerPoint deck or video must be in English.

Each student and mentor also need to sign an Agreement on Confidentiality that has been made available to all registered schools via email.

About your invention

• Any scientific-technological inventions for the good of humanity
• Should be innovative, scientifically sound & practical
• Proof of Concept / Production of Prototype

Suggested content of your submission

• Title of your invention
• Details and Contribution of each team member
• Invention Description

1. Detailed technical description; novel features of your invention
2. Main functions and applications of your invention
3. Advantages of your invention over existing technology/product(s) on the market
4. Status of your research (inception of idea / proof of concept / production of prototype)

Assessment Criteria:

• Innovation
• Feasibility
• Impact
• Presentation
   

Enquiry:  

csci.office@cityu.edu.hk / 3442-7765

*CityU HK Tech 300 is a unique innovation and entrepreneurship programme for CityU members and associates to launch start-ups and ignite their entrepreneurship journey. For details, see https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/about-hk-tech-300

^#The award of the seed fund and mentorship scheme will be granted on the condition that at least one member of the Gold or Silver Award winning teams is admitted as an undergraduate student in a BSc programme offered by the College of Science, CityU, in the 2023/24 academic year.
 

Latest Timeline

Terms and Conditions

A. Submission

1. All submission(s) must be sent to CityU via email no later than 4 January 2023 HKT23:59.
2. Any submission containing elements of threatening, abusive, obscene, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate content will not be considered by CityU. CityU reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any submission if it is of the opinion that such submission is inappropriate or contrary to the spirit or intention of the Competition.

B. Patent

1. The School should procure that Contestants have read the information on patents published by the Government of the HKSAR (https://www.ip.gov.hk/en/what-is-a-patent.html) before attending the workshop and briefing session offered by CSCI, CityU.
2. CityU will instruct a patent attorney of its preference to file an application for one Hong Kong Short Term Patent (“Patent”) for the invention of each of the top three winners of the Competition.
3. The School has the right to choose whether to make a patent application or not. If the School decides not to file a patent, Contestants from the School will be considered as having withdrawn from the Competition with immediate effect.
4. Application for the Patent will be filed in the name of the School, that is, the School will effectively be the applicant or owner of the Patent. In order to ensure that the School is the rightful owner of the invention, it must ensure that the invention is assigned from each of the Contestants to the School.
5. The Schools of the three winning teams are expected to seek an agreement with each of the Contestants (and their guardians if applicable) to assign ownership of the invention to the School, and a confirmatory assignment between the School and each of the Contestants (and their guardians if applicable) before an application for Patent is made. The School shall be responsible to take all necessary steps and do and execute any act, document and thing for the purpose of applying for the Patent.
6. CityU does not guarantee the successful granting of the Patent, which is regulated by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department. Under no circumstances should CityU be held responsible or liable should the application fail.
7. Once the Patent is granted, CityU will hand over the control of the Patent to the School. The School will be responsible for the administration and maintenance of the Patent at its own expense, and may instruct any patent attorney to take any further action as it sees fit.
8. CityU retains the rights to disqualify the School or any of its Contestants from the Competition at any time. For example, (i) in the sole discretion of CityU, the School or any of the Contestants has violated any term in these Terms and Conditions; or (ii) after taking into account the prevailing circumstances and in its sole discretion, CityU determines that it is not possible or practicable to file an application for Patent; or (iii) failure to make a submission to CityU on time; or (iv) the School or any of the Contestants failing to comply with the instructions of the staff or representatives of CityU. The determination by CityU is final and not subject to appeal.

C. Others

1. The School shall ensure that all information provided by the Contestants is genuine and correct, and the submissions are original work and free from any third party ownership interests.
2. CityU is not responsible for any confidentiality issues that may occur before, during and/or after the Competition.
3. The School shall procure the Contestants to sign or enter into agreements on confidentiality, if any submission is shortlisted for the final pitch.
4. CityU reserves all the rights and has the full authority to make final decisions in all matters related to the Competition without prior notification.
5. The School shall not, and procure that the Contestants shall not, use the name, logo, trade or service marks and trade name of CityU or any CityU’s employees in any advertising or promotional activities without the prior written consent of CityU.
6. The School shall procure consent from the Contestants that CityU and its representatives may take photographic or video footage of the Contestants for the purpose of the Competition and other educational or promotional purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• General Information

• Information Session

• Registration

• One-Day Workshop

• Eight-week Course

• Submission

• Final Pitch

• Awards

General Information
 

1. I am not familiar with patents and not sure if this competition is fit for me. Where can I find out more about patents and the application process?

You may read the information on patents published by the Intellectual Property Department at https://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/patents.htm.
 

2. What is CityU HK Tech 300?

HK Tech 300 is a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme organised by CityU for aspiring entrepreneurs among CityU students, alumni, research staff and other eligible parties to launch start-ups and ignite their entrepreneurship journey. The programme aims to create 300 start-ups in three years, providing educational and growth opportunities for CityU students, and translating CityU research results and intellectual properties into practical applications. You may find out more at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/about-hk-tech-300.
 

3. Are there any disclosure issues that the contestants need to be aware of throughout the competition?

Public disclosure of a pending invention can sometimes destroy patent rights. Therefore, contestants should carefully protect their ideas at all times until the patent is granted. As a protective measure, all contestants of the shortlisted entries are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before the Final Pitch, and to undertake to keep strictly confidential all information, know-how and secrets obtained or received during the course of the Final Pitch, and shall not disclose the same to any third party by any mean.

Information Session
 

4. I missed the two information sessions held on 29 July and 12 Aug 2022.  May I know the content of the two sessions?

The content of the two information sessions is identical. You may view the details about the competition here.

Registration
 

5. I am a full-time secondary school student in Hong Kong. I would like to register for the competition. What should I do?

The registration is on a school basis. Please talk to your school teacher and see if your school can register for the competition for you/your team. The College of Science will notify the Mentor Teacher whether the school registration is successful or not.
 

6. Would all registrations made before the registration deadline be accepted? If not, how would the College of Science decide which schools can take part in the competition?

The College of Science would review the school registrations on a first-come-first-served basis. No more than 35 school registrations will be accepted, with 2 quotas reserved for each school. There is no need to specify how many entries your school will send at the registration stage.

7. My school has registered for the competition. When and how would we know the registration result?

The College of Science would inform the Mentor Teacher the registration result via email by 23 September 2022.

One-Day Workshop
 

8. Is it compulsory for the school representative(s) to attend the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing?

Schools that registered successfully must send representative(s) to attend the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing on 8 Oct 2022. Each school has two places, and one of the attendees must be a teacher from the school. The workshop covers topics such as idea origination, invention process, entrepreneurship concept, and patent. Attendees would also be provided with details on the requirements on their entries. All representatives would receive a certificate upon successful completion of the one-day workshop.
 

9. What is the mode of delivery of the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing?

The one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing would be held at the CityU’s HK Tech 300 Co-working Space in United Centre of Admiralty. The College of Science would continue to observe the Government’s latest disease prevention measures and arrangements, and confirm the mode of delivery and the venue closer to the date.
 

10. What is the medium of language for the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing?

The one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing would be conducted in Cantonese (with presentation materials in English).

Eight-week Course
 

11. Where can I find out more about the eight-week in-depth creativity and entrepreneurship course?

The eight-week in-depth creativity and entrepreneurship course is an IGNITE Training Programme offered by CityU’s HK Tech 300. Participants would attend training sessions on Saturday mornings (exact date and time to be confirmed). The course starts from brainstorming ideas, building products, developing business model, understanding the importance of legal and intellectual property to making startup pitching. The mode of delivery will be confirmed closer to the date taking into account of the Government’s latest disease prevention measures and arrangements.
 

12. Can my school send more than one teacher to attend the eight-week in-depth creativity and entrepreneurship course? Also, can my school send student(s) to attend the course instead?

We believe teachers would benefit more than students from the eight-week in-depth creativity and entrepreneurship course. Limited places are reserved for Mentor Teachers of the successfully registered schools. Should your school wish to send more than one teacher for the course or send student(s) to attend the course instead, please email your request to csci.office@cityu.edu.hk. We shall consider your request on a case-by-case basis.

Submission
 

13. Can my school submit more than two entries?

Each school can only submit at most two entries.
 

14. What should we submit for the entry deadline?

Upon successful registration and completion of the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing, the Mentor Teacher will submit the students’ invention ideas in the format of a PowerPoint deck (max. 20 slides) or a Video (max. 5 min). The PowerPoint or video must be in English. It must clearly explain and demonstrate the operation of the invention with a focus on the innovation. A prototype can be included if deemed appropriate but it is not a must. Your invention idea will be presented to the selection panel for evaluation. An online Zoom meeting will be set up with the inventor(s) for further clarification with all or part of the panel members, if deemed necessary.

15. Are there any thematic requirements on my invention idea?

Basically, your invention ideas can relate to anything but it must be patentable. The school shall ensure that all information provided by the contestants is genuine and correct, and the submissions are original work and free from any third party ownership interests. School representatives will learn more about patents at the one-day entrepreneurship and intellectual property workshop and competition briefing on 8 Oct 2022.

Final Pitch
 

16. What is the medium of language for the Final Pitch?

The Final Pitch will be conducted in English (for both oral presentation and visual materials).
 

17. How many entries will be shortlisted for the Final Pitch?

Depending on the quality of the entries, around 8-12 entries will be shortlisted for the Final Pitch.
 

18. Our school submitted an invention entry by the deadline. When will we know if our entry is shortlisted for the Final Pitch?

The College of Science will announce the shortlisted entries for the Final Pitch by 31 January 2023.
 

19. Our invention entry is shortlisted for the Final Pitch to be held on 18 Feb 2023. What do we need to prepare? What is the format of the Final Pitch?

In the Final Pitch, each shortlisted team will be given 10 minutes to present their invention in front of the judging panel, followed by a Q&A session. Each team should prepare a PowerPoint deck including the key contents (a) identification of the problem, (b) specifications of the invention idea, (c) novelty of the invention idea, and (d) drawing/ photos. The contestants may also make use of other presentation materials such as a prototype as deemed appropriate but it is not a must.
 

20. What is the mode of delivery of the Final Pitch?

The Final Pitch will be held physically on CityU’s campus tentatively. The College of Science would continue to observe the Government’s latest disease prevention measures and arrangements, and confirm the mode of delivery and the venue closer to the date.

Awards
 

21. Is it for sure that the Gold and Silver Award winning teams can obtain a Hong Kong short-term patent at the end?

The Gold and Silver Award winning teams will be provided with full fee for the application of a Hong Kong short-term patent and for the consultation of patent attorney. However, CityU does not guarantee the successful granting of the Patent, which is regulated by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department.
 

22. If my team received the Gold or Silver Award, what do we need to do in order to obtain a patent?

The College of Science will instruct a patent attorney to file an application for one Hong Kong short-term patent for the invention of each of the Gold and Silver Award winning teams. The winning teams shall work with the patent attorney to take all necessary steps and do and execute any act, document and thing for the purpose of applying for the Patent.
 

23. Who will own the patent in the end?

For the Gold and Silver winning teams, the application for the patent will be filed in the name of the school, hence the school will effectively be the applicant or owner of the patent. In order to ensure that the school is the rightful owner of the invention, the invention must be assigned from each of the contestants to their school.
 

24. I understand that the award of the seed fund and mentorship scheme will be granted on the condition that at least one member of the Gold or Silver Award winning teams is admitted as an undergraduate student in a BSc programme offered by the College of Science, CityU, in the 2023/24 academic year. Where can I find out more about the BSc programmes offered by the College of Science?

You may find out more about the BSc programmes offered by the College of Science at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/csci/academic-programmes/undergraduate-programmes and https://www.cityu.edu.hk/csci/academic-programmes/bachelor-laws-and-bachelor-science-computing-mathematics.

• Global Research Enrichment and Technopreneurship (GREAT)
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Computing Mathematics
• Bachelor of Science in Physics
• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science in Computing Mathematics