Calling the Changemaker Like You

How to Join

How to Apply

  1. Form your team

  2. Registration & Choose your challenges

Shortlisted Teams

  1. Join the Empowerment Workshop

  2. Develop and prepare your submission

  3. Submit your pitch deck

    (official PowerPoint Template will be available for download in due course)

  4. Present your ideas

Registration

Ready to turn your ideas into real-world solutions for HIV care in Hong Kong?

Eligibility

Each team: 4–5 current students with a diverse mix of disciplines.

Minimum 2 members from *healthcare and health sciences related disciplines is required, complemented by skills in design, technology, and social sciences etc.

*Healthcare and Health Sciences Related Disciplines

  • Primary Clinical & Dental Professions: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Chinese Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
  • Allied Health & Clinical Rehabilitation Sciences: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology, Radiography/Radiation Therapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Optometry, Podiatry, Orthoptics, Audiology, Clinical Psychology
  • Biomedical Sciences, Engineering & Life Sciences: Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry
  • Health Promotion, Sports & Applied Health Sciences: Public Health, Sports Science and Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Gerontology
  • Healthcare Administration, Informatics & Data Analytics: Healthcare / Health Services Management, Health Informatics, Bioinformatics

Other Disciplines (Welcome)

For example: Social Work; Business, Computer Science, Design, etc.

Register Now

Submission Framework for Finalist

  1. Each submission should clearly and comprehensively address each area below. Each entry should use the official PowerPoint template and submit no more than 20 slides in total.

    Challenge

    Define the specific health problem/challenge your team addresses. Provide data or observations that demonstrate the scale and urgency of the issue.

    Strategy

    Explain your rationale and the key insight that guided your solution. Show that your approach is user-centered, feasible, and differentiated. Describe the creative or technical thinking behind your strategy (e.g. prototype, tools, and frameworks) used.

    Actionable Plan

    Describe how you translate the idea into an actionable plan. Detail how roles were divided, time managed, and resources used. Specify what you will produce (e.g. service design, policy brief, promotion means, etc.).

    Expected Results

    Share expected measurable outcomes. Articulate the real-world potential of your solution and make the case for why it deserves to win — in terms of innovation, feasibility, and health impact.

  2. Supporting Video (Bonus)

    One video of no more than 2 minutes that builds public understanding of the HIV challenge, showcases your unique approach and inspires action. Present it in the style of a social media advertisement — concise, visually attractive and energetic.

    For more details, please see Reference - Submission Guidelines (PDF file).

  3. Explore the resources below to deepen your understanding of HIV:

  4. Pitch Deck Submission Deadline: 18 Nov 2026 (Wed)

    Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

All team members must be current university students in Hong Kong. There is no age requirement.

Each team must consist of 4–5 current students. Minimum 2 members from Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Chinese Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy/ Speech-Language Pathology, Radiography/Radiation Therapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Optometry, Podiatry, Orthoptics, Audiology, Clinical Psychology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Public Health, Sports Science and Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Gerontology, Healthcare / Health Services Management, Health Informatics, Bioinformatics. Students from other disciplines are welcome and strongly encouraged to bring diverse perspectives.

Yes.

Inter-university and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged.

No.

Each student should participate in one team only.

Each team should select at least one challenge. Additionally, teams that look beyond the given list, bringing a fresh eye to identify other valid, scientifically-proven, pressing HIV challenges unique to Hong Kong will be recognised with bonus marks for their value-added contribution.

The three core challenges are:

  • Breaking the Silence — Normalising HIV Conversations to Reduce Stigma & Late Diagnosis
  • Reaching Every Generation — HIV Education for the Digital Age and Beyond
  • Beyond the Label — Reaching Heterosexual Communities with Inclusive HIV Awareness

No.

Teams could propose a service model, community intervention, education program, policy solution, digital solution, campaign, prototype or other practical approach. What matters is whether the solution is innovative, impactful, feasible and relevant to the selected challenge(s).

Your PowerPoint submission must contain no more than 20 slides in total. As a restricted setting of the venue, the ratio of the PowerPoint is 21:9. Teams should use the provided template for production.

Marks will be deducted if the entry submission exceeds the outlined number of slides allowed.

No.

The supporting video is optional and serves as a bonus opportunity to strengthen your pitch. Only one video may be submitted and it must not exceed two minutes.

No.

There is no word limit. However, the submission must not exceed 20 slides in total. Teams should therefore prioritise clarity, conciseness and effective visual communication.

Yes, but only for permitted supporting tasks.

Permitted Uses (Must Cite)

You may use AI for:

  • Citation/reference formatting
  • Basic spelling & grammar correction
  • Slide layout/color suggestions
  • AI-generated graphics (cite the tool)

Not Permitted

AI must NOT be used for:

  • Generating entire slides via AI
  • Fabricating data or user research via AI
  • Literature summarization or synthesis
  • Interpreting data, findings, or clinical implications
  • Generating core algorithms, code logic, or patient data
  • Rewriting/rephrasing sentences (substantive copyediting)

This is not permitted.

The hackathon is designed to assess your team's own thinking, problem-solving, reasoning and creativity. Submissions generated entirely by AI will be disqualified.

Each team will be independently assessed by the judging panel.

The current judging framework includes:

Category Weight
Problem Identification & Validation 10%
Innovation & Creativity 25%
Clinical / Public Health Impact 30%
Feasibility 25%
Presentation & Delivery 10%
Total 100%

The Presentation & Award Ceremony will take place on:

  • Date: 21 November 2026 (Sat)
  • Time: 10:00 – 14:00
  • Venue: 1/F, Kino & Lounge, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

8-minute presentation + 3-minute Q&A per team.

Participants who have attended the full-day empowerment workshop will receive a Certificate of Participation and a HKD100 Starbucks coupon.

Half-day participants will receive a Certificate of Participation and a HKD50 Starbucks coupon.

Organising Committee reserves the right to make the final decision regarding eligibility.

  • Grand Prize — HK$30,000
  • 1st Runner-up — HK$20,000
  • 2nd Runner-up — HK$10,000

Each winning team may also receive an internship/mentoring opportunity or community program visit.

Yes.

Candidates must attend both days of the event. Points will be deducted for non-attendance on either day.

The Empowerment Workshop is at David Li Community Hall, St. James’ Church, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, 112 Kennedy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. The Presentation & Award Ceremony is at 1/F, Kino & Lounge, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.