CityUHK Academy of Innovation Hosts its Inaugural Commencement Ceremony for the Master of Science in Venture Creation

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) launched the CityUHK Academy of Innovation (CAI) in January 2024.  On June 16, the CAI held the inaugural commencement ceremony for its ““Master of Science in Venture Creation (MSVC)” programme, marking a new beginning of 70 graduates embarking on their innovation and entrepreneurship journey.  

Professor Michael Tse Chi-kong, Director of CAI,  encourages graduates to create innovative solutions for the global pressing challenges by leveraging their knowledge and skills gained in the Academy. The graduate representative in her speech expressed her gratitude on behalf of the graduates to their professors and mentors, adding that she believe this was the starting point and the first stepping stone on their start-up journey.

CityUHK Academy of Innovation held its first commencement ceremony for the “Master of Science in Venture Creation (MSVC)” on 16 June. (Credit: City University of Hong Kong)
Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CityUHK. (Credit: City University of Hong Kong)

Presiding over the ceremony was Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CityUHK. Ms Lilian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government was the Guest of Honor at the ceremony.

Ms Lilian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government. (Credit: City University of Hong Kong)

Ms Cheong expressed her congratulations to the students, and said she was pleased to note the pivotal role played by the CAI in empowering young talents on their entrepreneurial journey. “The MSVC programme aligns perfectly with the government’s initiatives,” she said. It equips students with essential skills and knowledge to transform innovative ideas into successful business ventures, preparing them to excel as leaders across diverse fields and contribute to the city’s economic development.”

Professor Michael Tse Chi-kong, Associate Vice-President (Innovation) and Director of CAI at CityUHK. (Credit: City University of Hong Kong)

Professor Michael Tse Chi-kong, Associate Vice-President (Innovation) and Director of the CAI, mentioned that the graduates will be innovators, disruptors and architects in a future brimming with possibilities. “The CAI is committed to looking beyond boundaries, identifying unmet needs, and to crafting solutions that can reshape our world for the better,” he said.

He encouraged the graduates “not to be afraid to fail”, as failure is often a crucial stepping stone to success. He encouraged them to create innovative solutions for pressing global challenges, leveraging their knowledge and skills gained in the Academy.

The CAI is an integral part of HK Tech 300, CityUHK’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme. The MSVC programme provides experiential courses for the student, aspiring entrepreneurs and working professionals. The courses are guided by experts and professionals from industry and the entrepreneurial and investment sectors, and are designed to develop students’ business acumen for technology transformation and commercialisation. The programme also includes interdisciplinary electives, providing students with a robust skillset for entrepreneurship.

Through the HK Tech 300 ecosystem, students can access to funding opportunities and CityUHK’s patented technologies to create their own start-ups. Among the 70 graduates of the inaugural MSVC programme, 21 teams joined the HK Tech 300 Expo last month and nine received the HK Tech 300 seed fund of HK$100,000 each for their business and start-ups proposals they developed during the MSVC programme.