Archive.
Three hackathons, field trips to Tencent and CityU, and CS Ed Weeks. Everything the council has run, with the judges, rubrics, and results as they stood.
HK Hacks 2026
The third edition of HK Hacks brought together over 140 coders from across Hong Kong. Sign-ups opened on 10 January; the opening ceremony was held at the CIS campus on 14 March, where the theme and problem statement were announced. Teams had seven days to build, and the finals, which included presentations, a guest speaker panel, courtyard performances, and the award ceremony, took place on 21 March at WXKJ L/5 in New Tower. The edition was sponsored by HKUST, and the winning team received internships at the university's iSing Lab.
Judged on the (A+B+C+D) × E rubric, which remains the reference rubric for future editions.
CS Ed Week
A week of computer science workshops including LEGO robotics, Minecraft redstone, typing competitions, and more.
CIS × CityU
Y13 CIS computer science students, alongside Y13 members of the council, were invited to learn about cybersecurity at CityU and prepare for the IB Paper 3 case study. With thanks to CityU, Professor Hancke, and alumnus Jason Lee.
HK Hacks 2025
HK Hacks 2025 brought together over 100 coders from across Hong Kong. Sign-ups opened on 15 February, the opening ceremony was held on 29 March at CIS, and after a week of building, the finals took place on 5 April at WXKJ L/5 in New Tower.
Mr Andy Ong
Co-founder, Super BambooAndy Ong graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from City University of Hong Kong in 2021, then co-founded Super Bamboo with the mission of helping the world reach net zero carbon through novel augmented bamboo materials. He led the company to raise over 5 million HKD in pre-seed funding, with multiple inventions under patent process and awards including the Institute of Mechanical Engineering Innovation Award 2022 and the Y-LOT Best DeepTech Research Team Award 2023. He was voted favourite pitcher on CityU University Day and has presented at HKTDC Entrepreneur Day, TVB, Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese Edition, and The Straits Times.
Professor Liu Chunhua
City University of Hong KongProfessor Liu Chunhua has been with City University of Hong Kong since 2015, where he is a Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with the School of Energy and Environment. His research covers electric machines and drives, electric vehicles, ships and aircraft, robotics, renewables and microgrids, power electronics, and wireless power transfer, with over 300 refereed papers. He is an RGC Research Fellow, a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and has been recognised among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists since 2020.
Mr Harris Chan
Microsoft Asia · Cobo AcademyHarris is Director of Integrated Marketing at Microsoft Asia, where he leads marketing strategy, planning, and operations for Hong Kong. His leadership drives business outcomes for Microsoft's commercial solutions, including Azure, Microsoft 365, and Security. Beyond Microsoft, he is a passionate educator. In 2018 he co-founded Cobo Academy, a Hong Kong coding school equipping the next generation with skills in coding, robotics, and AI.
Mr James Ducker
Researcher & educatorA researcher and educator focused on the impacts of human activity and how to resolve them. With a PhD studying the effects of climate change on marine species and experience in nature technology, he shares the wonders of the biological world with students and the public to inspire positive change towards a sustainable future.
Mr Maanav Gupta
Lidl & Kaufland AsiaA young and skilled professional deeply committed to sustainability and innovation, applying his knowledge of data analytics and his passion for sustainability to drive positive change at Lidl & Kaufland Asia.
Mr Nick Tsang
MIT Hong Kong NodeNick supports entrepreneurship initiatives at the MIT Hong Kong Node, drawing on his skills in technology, product design, and problem-solving to inspire innovation. He previously spent two years with the Hong Kong Productivity Council's Inno Space team working with startups, schools, and students, and contributed to business development at an NLP-focused startup. He is now also founding a company in music technology, and holds a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Political Science from Northeastern University.
Mr Li ShuLin
Shenzhen InnoX AcademyA background combining physics and cosmology (BSc, UC Santa Barbara) with learning sciences and technologies (MSc, University of Pennsylvania). At Shenzhen InnoX Academy he works with his team to create innovative learning experiences and support technological innovation for teenagers.
Mr Tom Chan
Conservationist, The Nature ConservancyTom is a seasoned educator and passionate conservationist. He graduated with a biology degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2013 and has since dedicated his career to local marine education. Joining The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong in 2020 as Conservation Education Manager, he oversees TNC's environmental education programmes and youth engagement work in Hong Kong. Among his notable achievements was developing the Ridge to Reef Environmental Education Program from 2020 to 2022, working closely with 80 local schools to build students' understanding of coastal ecosystems through teaching resources and field visits to TNC's conservation site at Pak Nai.
Mr Clement Li
Business Development Manager, Spare-itClement started his career in marketing and events management, then brought that experience into business development and client relations. He works at Spare-it, a waste data monitoring company whose in-building waste data helps organisations meet their sustainability goals, focusing on what customers and the market need in order to drive sustainability initiatives and waste reduction.
2025 rubrics for beginner & intermediate
2025 ran two tracks with different weightings. Both scored Problem Solving, Creativity, and Technical Skills.
| Criterion | Beginner | Intermediate |
|---|---|---|
| A · Problem solvingUnderstanding of the problem statement, approaching it from multiple perspectives, addressing it effectively with the prototype, and collaborating throughout. | 40% | 40% |
| B · CreativityInnovative ideas and solutions, originality in implementation and design, efficient use of existing resources, and potential for impact beyond the hackathon. | 40% | 30% |
| C · Technical skillsConstruction and design of the prototype, skill in relevant languages, frameworks and tools, and effective use of tools and algorithms. | 20% | 30% |
CIS Hackathon 2024
Our first annual hackathon. Students from across Hong Kong solving global problems through technology, across beginner and intermediate tracks. The final day ran from registration at Moongate through exhibitions at 5/F WXKJ, a guest speaker panel, finals in the Auditorium, and the awards ceremony.
| Beginner group | |
|---|---|
| Winner | Josh from Microsoft Tech Support |
| Runner up | Harmonious Quintet |
| Second runner up | NA² |
| Best creativity | The Lemmings |
| Best teamwork | Project Panda |
| Popular vote | Josh from Microsoft Tech Support |
| Intermediate group | |
|---|---|
| Winner | UnpaidHackers |
| Runner up | Leveraged Liabilities |
| Second runner up | SPAM |
| Best creativity | Rats |
| Best teamwork | Alt+F4 |
| Popular vote | Codeherlics |
Event photos on Google Drive ↗
The judges
Mr Manoj Dhar
Co-founder & CEO, IBELAs a social innovator, Mr Manoj Dhar has led IBEL, a Hong Kong educational NGO, and its frontline services for over nine years. He is firmly committed to the social integration and upward mobility of educationally marginalised children, providing a holistic, inclusive learning environment that nurtures their academic, physical, and mental wellbeing. IBEL's two learning centres have a daily footfall of 280 of Hong Kong's underserved non-Chinese-speaking children, who face routine language-based exclusion at the local schools they attend.
Professor Carol Chan
The University of Hong KongProfessor Carol K.K. Chan is an Honorary Professor at The University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on inquiry-based learning using innovative pedagogy supported by technology, promoting students' higher-order thinking and 21st-century competencies. Internationally recognised for her expertise in collaborative inquiry, she is a key contributor to Knowledge Building International, working with teachers, principals, engineers, and policy makers from 20 countries. She has been honoured with the University Distinguished Teaching and Faculty Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Awards.
Mr Harris Chan
Microsoft Asia · Cobo AcademyHarris serves as Director of Marketing for the Greater China Region at Microsoft Asia, leading strategy, planning, and operations across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. He is also a passionate educator and innovator, co-founding Cobo Academy, a Hong Kong coding school dedicated to equipping the next generation with skills in coding, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Mr Alexander Tan
Infinity Exchange · CIS class of 2006Alexander Tan is a Senior Director responsible for product design and management at Infinity Exchange, a venture-funded startup in the crypto and DeFi space. He has over 12 years of product design and management experience at venture-funded startups, with a demonstrated history in UI and UX for consumer and business SaaS applications. He holds a BSc in Business Management from King's College London and is an alumnus of CIS, class of 2006.
Ms Jasmine Feng
CAISE, The University of Hong KongMs Jasmine Feng holds a Master of Education in Guidance and Counselling from HKU and has extensive experience in teaching, research, and programme development focused on emotional management and positive education. As a research assistant at the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, her work focused on positive education, emotion management, and character strengths. She was an honoured guest speaker at the 2020 Penn-China Education Summit, discussing challenges and opportunities in China's rural education.
Mr Tom Chan
Guest speakerMr Clement Li
Guest speaker2024 workshop week
| Day | Workshops |
|---|---|
| Monday | Education in the Digital Age, with Professor Carol Chan |
| Tuesday | Thunkable, with Cobo Academy · Android Studio, with Amanda, Anna & Gigi |
| Wednesday | Design Thinking, with Mr Paul Baumgarten · Scratch, with Ms Momeni, Coco & Teri |
| Thursday | Introduction to AI, with Shannon & Adora · Introduction to Frontend Programming, with Cici & Shuwen |
| Friday | Presentation & Communication Skills, with Ms Lilian Chow · Q&A with an Industry Expert, Ms Vicki Cheung |
Tencent HQ, Shenzhen
The council, alongside Years 12–13, once again visited the Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen.
Tencent HQ, Shenzhen
A field trip to Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen, where students explored AI, game development, and software design.
CS Ed Week
A week of computer science workshops including a CS trivia Kahoot, Advent of Code, and a Scratch hackathon.