Innovation Festival 08

Background

Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government, the Innovation Festival aims to enhance public interest in innovation and technology and promote an innovative and technology culture. The Innovation Festival is developed from the biennial Innovation Expo launched in 1997. In 2005, the Innovation Expo enlarged its scale to become the annual Innovation Festival. Last year, the Innovation Festival attracted over 80 000 participants for its programmes including a five-day Innovation Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, three roadshows and one design exhibition.

Innovation Festival 08 (IF 08) will be launched on 26 September 2008.

Objective

With the theme of ‘InnoVision Innovation InnoFuture’, IF08 aims to provide an opportunity for the community, in particular the younger generation, to experience the achievements of Hong Kong in innovation, technology and design, and to appreciate the importance of these achievements to the future development of Hong Kong. The Festival also targets to enhance their interest in innovation, technology and design, with a view to nurturing more talents, which in turn will help develop Hong Kong into a regional hub for innovation and technology.

Activities of IF08

Though mainly targeted at the youth, the activities of IF08 are also suitable for people of different ages among different sectors. People who are interested in the latest technology or with aspirations to pursue technological entrepreneurship or a career in design, educators, parents or students can find themselves suitable activities. They can also make use of this opportunity to better understand the achievements of the local universities, educational and professional bodies in the promotion of innovation, technology and design.

Activities of IF08 are detailed as follows:

Date / Event / Location
26-28 September / Opening ceremony of IF 08
Roadshow andDesignTech Workshops / apm, Kwun Tong
11-12 October / Roadshow and DesignTech Workshops / TuenMunTownPlaza
16-18 October / InnoCarnival / Hong KongSciencePark
8-9 November / Roadshow and DesignTech Workshops / TinShuiWaiParkGinza Square
14-16 November / Victoria Park, CausewayBay

Festival Partner

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups remains the festival partner of IF08andhelpscoordinate various events. More than 40 organisations joined as programme partners and they include universities, the Education Bureau, professional bodies, technology companies and a number of youth bodies involved in innovation and robotic activities.

An Innovative Generation

Young students will be the key target audience of IF08. Apart from being the target participants of technology and design activities and competitions, they will also be actively involved in the coordination of the whole event. Their innovative works will be displayed in various booths and pavilions, and they will also turn up in the InnoCarnival and roadshows to give explanation on-site so as to share with the visitors the joy of innovative technology.

InnoCarnival

Being the highlight of IF08, the InnoCarnival will be held at the Hong KongSciencePark from 16 to 18 October (Thursday to Saturday).

To facilitate public access to the InnoCarnival, free transportation will be arranged between MTR University Station and the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSP) during the InnoCarnival.

Activities of the InnoCarnival fall into four main categories:

1. / Exhibitions / : Participating organisations will set up their pavilions or booths at Science Park Phase II and showcase their most representative works for the public to experience the “Hong Kong-made” technology achievements and creative trends.
2. / Workshops / : The wide-ranging workshops not only allow young students to enhance their knowledge in science/technology and creative skills, but also provide an opportunity for them to showcase their talents.
Robot: Building and design of robots
Engineering: Creative structure and motion, application of pulley and wheels, construction of mechanical vehicles and electronic toys
Design: Design of T-shirt, use of simple materials to make creative toys
Computer technology: Production of computer games, making 3D animation, LEAD Creative Workshop
Environmental protection: Making solar cooker, using recycled materials to create simple machines, making solar energy car.
3. / Seminars / A number of seminars will be held in the InnoCarnival to facilitate young students to acquire more knowledge on innovation and technology , as well to widen their horizons
For those who want to enhance their creativity:--“Learn to be creative from your daily lives”, “ Make use of Computer Games Design Technology to promote children’s logical thinking and creativity”, “Reaching for the Stars”
For those who care about energy issue and the environment–“Solar Energy-An Important Topic for 21st Century”, “Clean Joss Paper Burner”
For those who are interested in the Space-- “Space Travel”
For those who are interested in new technology -- “Innovative Applications of WiFi in Hong Kong”, “RFID in Daily Life”, “Medical and Biomedical Engineering in HK”, “From describing life, understanding life to synthesizing life”
For those who are interested in engineering-- “Doctor of Building and Bridges”
4. / Competitions / : Exciting innovation and technology competitions will be held in the InnoCarnival to challenge students’ creativity, technology knowledge, organisation skills and communication skills:
World Robot Olympiad (Hong Kong Selection)
Robot Soccer on the Internet
Hong Kong Tech Challenge 2008
T-shirt design competition

Highlights of IF 08:

  1. 1,000 Solar Panel CarsDriving Forward Together

Led by science teachers, 100 students will work together and fabricate 1,000 solar panel cars. All these cars will drive forward together on October 16 during the InnoCarnival at Hong KongSciencePark.

  1. Join the Robots

Robots play an important role in IF 08. You can see robots in the roadshows or the InnoCarnival. During the InnoCarnival, G/F Lakeside 2 of HKSP Phase 2 will turn into a world of robots. Apart from appreciating the winning robots made by local students for different competitions, you can also have close contact with the Third Generation “Robotcop” jointly designed and produced by the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, learn to operate robots and participate in robot games.

Two exciting robot competitions will be staged in the robot world at Lakeside 2 on 18 October, including theHong Kong TECH Challenge 2008 and the World Robot Olympiad (Hong Kong Selection).

Young students are welcome to join various robot workshops in IF08 where they can learn to assemble their own obedient robots.

  1. Innovative Inventions

A number of organisations will showcase their innovative inventions in the roadshows or the InnoCarnival, demonstratingto the community the unlimited creativity of Hong Kong people.

Winning entries of the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition: All-rounded Egg Opener, Body Control Sensor, B.B. Rambo, Multi-functional Trash Bin, Score Flipper,Intelligent Linesman

Research deliverables of tertiary institutions: Space Holinser Forceps, Mars Rock Corer, Rapid Demountable Platform, Song Searching Device, Moxi-Digital Ink Art, Grinding Machine for Production of Large Telescope, Magic Mirror, Measuring Tape for Children, Intelligent Blind Cane, Waste-sorting Machine andIntelligent Video Surveillance System

Splendid masterpieces from the public: Multi-purpose Decoration Mirror, Multi-function Trolley, Fridge-to-go

  1. T-shirt Design

To cultivate a culture of innovation and design in the community is one of the key objectives of IF 08. Therefore, many of the young students’ creative works will be displayed in the roadshows and the InnoCarnival to showcase local student’s achievements. A wide range of creative activities will also be organised, allowing the youngsters to acquire creative and design skills and to develop their creativity and talent.

The T-shirt Design Pavilion set up at the InnoCarnival is jointly organised by ITC and the Hong Kong Designers Association. New fashion designers will give demonstrations on T-shirt design. Design students from tertiary institutions will provide guidance to primary and secondary students on designing T-shirts with personal taste forjoining the T-shirt design competition.

  1. Visit the Most Sophisticated RFID Centre in the Asian-Pacific Region

The RFID Centre jointly established by ITC, HKSP and GS1 Hong Kong in HKSP Phase 2 will commence its operation on 9 October. The Centre showcases RFID technology that has far-reaching effects on the industrial and commercial sector as well as our daily lives. Through the exhibits, simulation facilities and games in the Centre, visitors will be able to find out how RFID technology has improved our daily lives.

  1. Exploring HKSP

Adjacent to the ChineseUniversity of Hong Kong, the scenic HKSP completed in 2001 is a hub for innovation that brings people and technology together. It strives to offer one-stop infrastructural support services to technology-based companies and activities, and support industry in four focused clusters, namely electronics, biotechnology, precision engineering and IT/Telecommunications. The public can join guided tours in the InnoCarnival to explore the advanced laboratories and production facilities in Hong Kongand find out more about local R&D efforts.

  1. InnoClass

To facilitate school visit and ensure that the students can make good use of the visiting time, ITC will organise sixInnoClasses (two sessions per day) in the InnoCarnival. Each InnoClass has its own designated visits, workshops and seminars Schools are welcome to enrol for the InnoClass in advance. Upon completion of the advance-registered InnoClass and with attendance approved by the leading teacher, students will be awarded with a certificate signed by the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology. The organiser will try to arrange for the students to join the InnoClass they want to attend the most. Places for InnoClass are limited. Schools are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

To encourage more active participation from schools, those schools which can organise more than 100 students to join the InnoClass will be awarded with a very special gift -- all their students will be entitled for a 1G waist usb. (limited quantity, first-come-first served.) The Organiser may provide allowance for participating schools to hire coaches if necessary.

Participation

All activities are open to the public. For details of the programmes and enrolment of activities, please visit contact IF08 partners (Tel: 25616149 or email: innofest @hkfyg.org.hk).

Invitation letters have been sent to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. They are welcome to organise group visits to the InnoCarnival at HKSP and enrolfor InnoClass.

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