Hydroforge, a pioneering MNE startup and recipient of the HK Tech300 Seed Fund, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the First Place (Gold) Student Entrepreneurship Award at the prestigious HK Techathon+ Global Competition. This international event brought together dozens of cutting-edge startups and organizations from around the world, showcasing innovation at the intersection of technology and sustainability.

Founded and managed by six Ph.D. students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (MNE) at City University of Hong Kong —Zhongyi Fan, Omar A. Ismail, Yang Liang, Deli Zhou, Jintao Xu, and Ziyang Guo — the company operates under the supervision and mentorship of Professor Weihong Li.
 
Hydroforge's breakthrough lies in its revolutionary Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) hydrogen electrolyzer technology, which achieves:

• 45% lower production cost compared to current industrial systems
• Performance exceeding U.S. DOE targets
• Five fold improvement in durability and operational stability

This innovation represents a major leap forward in making green hydrogen affordable, efficient, and scalable, accelerating the world’s transition toward a clean energy economy. “Our goal is to bridge research excellence with real world impact,” said Professor Weihong Li. “This award validates the potential of our technology to transform the hydrogen sector and contribute to a sustainable future.”The success of Hydroforge highlights the MNE Department’s commitment to fostering innovation and demonstrates how cutting edge academic research can seamlessly translate into industrial and entrepreneurial success. By integrating scientific discovery with practical engineering, Hydroforge and CityUHK continue to position Hong Kong as a rising hub for renewable energy innovation.