Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest Accelerates AI and Robotics Skills Development to Boost Young Technology Talent Pipeline

Photos 1 - 2: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) organised the Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest, with two teams crowned as joint champions in the annual contest.

Photos 3 - 4: Each team is required to design two robots – one throwing and one defensive, to implement a series of strategic moves to shoot arrows into the pots.

Photo 5: Robocon brought together top-notch design, engineering and programming talent in Hong Kong, while raising public interest in careers within the increasingly sought-after innovation and technology (I&T) sectors.

Photo 6: The Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest was successfully held at Hong Kong Science Park, bringing together 13 talented teams from seven local tertiary institutions.

(Hong Kong, 29 June 2021) – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) organised the Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest, with two teams crowned as joint champions in the annual contest:

All teams performed at a high level, especially the two champion teams demonstrated strong talent, expertise and high quality performances in the hotly-contested competition to showcase the best young design, engineering and programming talent in Hong Kong, while also helped raise public interest in careers within the increasingly sought-after innovation and technology (I&T) sectors.

This year’s competition brought together 13 teams from seven tertiary institutions in Hong Kong to design, build and test their innovation and skill in a feat of advanced engineering, programming, AI and computer vision technology. The Robocon contest is one of many extensive talent development initiatives by HKSTP, which form a core strategy to build a healthy pipeline of technology talent to help realise Hong Kong’s I&T ambitions.  

The Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest received strong support from various partners, including The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Hong Kong Computer Society, and Radio Television Hong Kong. Contestants also got the opportunity to further develop their science and technology talent with internships and job opportunities offered by competition sponsors. Outstanding candidates will have the chance to engage with and learn from leading companies in the fields of design, engineering and robotics, from Faulhaber Drive System Technology (Taicang) Co., Ltd , Karmo International Co Ltd, Novelte Robotics Ltd, R2C2 Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Ltd.

Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: “Robocon 2021 proved to be an inspiring showcase of Hong Kong’s diverse and growing young engineering and technology talent. This is an exciting time for HKSTP and our ecosystem partners as we see these young champions in AI and Robotics emerge and potentially become our next generation of innovators driving the future I&T development in Hong Kong and beyond.”

The competing teams’ robots were pitted against each other in a contest of ancient Chinese “shooting rites” – or shooting arrows in a pot. This required each team to design two robots – one throwing and one defensive. The teams coordinated their robots in a series of strategic moves to shoot arrows into the pots. The dynamic and highly tactical contest served as an ideal test for the teams’ engineering and programming skills.

This year featured the competition’s most diverse group ever to highlight the increasing breadth and depth of young STEM talent and aspiring technologists emerging in Hong Kong. Contestants featured a variety of backgrounds across multiple disciplines, as well as more Year 1 students.

Robocon 2021 Hong Kong Contest – list of Winning Teams: