The fourth edition of
AI x HK OpenCup (the OpenCup) was successfully concluded on 13 September 2025, energising nearly 100 students from 15 secondary schools to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to real-world sustainability challenges. Themed “AI & Robotics for Sustainability,” this one-day bootcamp featured hands-on workshops with a dynamic 2D robotics football tournament, pushing students’ technical and creative limits.
The day kicked off with an engaging warm-up, where students mapped global challenges to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Cliff Ho, Senior Solutions Architect at NVIDIA AI Technology Center (Hong Kong), then led a workshop on reinforcement learning (RL) for robotics where teams grasped core machine learning concepts and explored how RL can power cutting-edge robotic systems.
Momentum built during the Robotics Simulation Training, where students put theory into practice by training their AI agents to execute precise football manoeuvres. They iteratively tuned parameters, adjusted reward functions, and analysed feedback to enhance responsiveness and accuracy. The excitement peaked during the robotic football match, where students cheered wildly as their AI-driven robots deftly outmanoeuvred opponents, showcasing their newly honed skills in a thrilling display of strategy and precision.
“The biggest challenge is figuring out the right values to train our robot, especially as first-time participants. We stay focused, research AI models, and keep testing until we find what work. This experience showed us the power of AI, and we believe it will shape our lives in the future,” shared by a member of the winning team from Holy Trinity College.
During the bootcamp, teams also showcased innovative applications of reinforcement learning to tackle Hong Kong’s critical social challenges. The Merit Award for Sustainable Development was awarded to the team from Christian Alliance S W Chan Memorial College for their creative ideas, including medication reminders for the elderly, optimised garbage truck routes, maximised green energy generation, and text generation to support dyslexia.
“It’s truly inspiring to see students come together to learn, innovate, collaborate, and create at the nexus of technology and sustainable development. We hope OpenCup sparks a lasting passion for leveraging AI to tackle global challenges with creativity, ingenuity, and a commitment to social good,” said Professor Byron Choi, Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) of the Department.
Organised by Hong Kong Baptist University, hosted by the Department of Computer Science and supported by NVIDIA, AI x HK OpenCup 2025 served as a launchpad for innovation, nurturing young talent to address global challenges through AI. The event received robust support from IEEE Hong Kong Section, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), cementing its role as a catalyst for the next generation of tech pioneers.
List of Award Recipients
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Awards
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School
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Champion
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Holy Trinity College
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1st Runner-up
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Pope Paul VI College
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2nd Runner-up
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Lee Kau Yan Memorial School
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Merit Award for Sustainable Development
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Christian Alliance S W Chan Memorial College
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