19 Sep 2023
3rd TERA-Award Smart Energy Innovation Competition officially launched to uncover global innovative solutions and expedite implementation of participating projects
(19 September 2023) The 3rd edition of the TERA-Award Smart Energy Innovation Competition is open for registration today. From now until 17 December 2023, tech and innovation teams from all over the world can submit their innovative technologies and solutions in the field of smart energy, and work together to achieve the zero-carbon vision.
With the theme “Exploring Zero-Carbon Innovations for the Future,” this year’s competition encompasses six focus areas. These include renewable energy, energy storage & conversion, carbon neutrality, hydrogen, energy digitalisation, and an exciting new addition: green smart city, which aims to foster comprehensive zero-carbon application solutions. The top winner will claim a grand prize of US$1 million, while all winning teams will gain invaluable opportunities for investment and corporate assistance in realising their projects. Award recipients will engage in fruitful exchanges with esteemed experts, renowned mentors, and prospective investors from diverse domains, guiding their projects towards rapid growth and effective implementation.
The TERA-Award is jointly organised by The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited and the State Power Investment Corporation Limited. Dr Lee Ka-kit, Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, said, “The past two competitions received 483 innovative projects pouring in from over 41 countries and regions worldwide. I firmly believe that by uniting scientists worldwide and harnessing the power of innovative technologies, we can create a truly comprehensive zero-carbon smart world, offering hope for resolving the global crisis that has befallen our Earth. The TERA-Award transcends being a mere competition; it represents the deep commitment and responsibility of Towngas as a century-old energy company. My vision for TERA-Award is to evolve into a global nexus where innovators and entrepreneurs in energy technology converge, attracting the brightest minds in the realm of science and technology. Together, let us spearhead the advancement of a green economy, safeguarding our precious home.”
Mr Lu Hongzao, Vice President of the State Power Investment Corporation, expressed his anticipation for the gathering of more groundbreaking and forward-looking technologies and solutions from diverse fields, “The fundamental objective of the TERA-Award competition is to scour the globe for emerging champions in zero-carbon technology. By empowering groundbreaking products and solutions through a holistic approach encompassing financial rewards, resources, and application scenarios, we aim to expedite the practical implementation and widespread adoption of cutting-edge green energy advancements. Our mission is to attract innovative minds across countries, industries, and academic disciplines, propelling the trajectory of global smart energy technology development.”
Miss Diane Wong Shuk-han, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, HKSAR, who also attended the launch ceremony, expressed her delight at Towngas’ organisation of the latest edition of the competition and its continued efforts in driving the development of the energy industry. Speaking at the ceremony, she said, “Climate change is a real global challenge that knows no borders. The United Nations Secretary-General has recently coined the term ‘global boiling’, and this highlights the urgency of concerted efforts of all quarters to rise above the challenge. The governments could not do it alone. We need to join hands with the private sector and civil society to ensure that swift and decisive actions are taken. Taking forward advanced technologies will be conducive to achieving carbon neutrality, combating climate change and securing a sustainable future for all.”
A startup roundtable discussion was also held during the event, featuring winners of the TERA-Award from the previous two editions and representatives from successful startup companies. They shared their entrepreneurial insights on their journey “from zero to one”.
TERA-Award is committed to establishing a global entrepreneurial service platform that combines application scenarios, prize money, and investment opportunities. The competition has garnered significant attention from investors, and participating projects have the chance to receive strategic investments. Towngas has already reached a cooperation intention with the previous Gold Award winner, i2Cool, to provide them with a testing ground and application scenarios. This partnership will be further expanded to cover smart energy-related projects in the future. Additionally, the Bronze Award-winning project, HydroPro, a next-generation hydrogen production system, has also received participation from the Towngas Energy Academy, becoming the Academy’s early-stage incubation project. The Bronze Award winner in the inaugural TERA-Award, Luquos Energy, and their “Safe and Low-cost Flow Battery” project, not only received strategic investment from Towngas, but also had a laboratory set up for their team in the Science Park, with application scenarios provided, accelerating the project’s implementation and promotion.
For more information about the 3rd TERA-Award, please visit the competition website:
https://tera-award.life/
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Press photos:
Photo 1:
Miss Diane Wong Shuk-han (3rd from left), Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology; Dr Lee Ka-kit (4th from right), Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited; Mr Lu Hongzao (3rd from right), Vice President of State Power Investment Corporation, Professor Cui Yi (2nd from right), Chairman and Chief Technology Advisor of EnerVenue, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University; Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah (2nd from left), Founding Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, Chair Professor of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong; Mr Peter Wong Wai-yee (1st from right), Managing Director of Towngas; and Mr Alan Chan Ying-lung (1st from left), Chief Investment Officer of Towngas, officiate at the launch ceremony of the 3rd TERA-Award.
Photo 2:
Dr Lee Ka-kit, Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, announces that the 3rd TERA-Award is now open for application, calling for participation from tech and innovation teams worldwide.
Photo 3:
Mr Lu Hongzao, Vice President of the State Power Investment Corporation, hopes that this edition of the competition will attract more groundbreaking and forward-looking smart energy technologies and solutions from various fields.
Photo 4:
Miss Diane Wong Shuk-han, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, hopes that the 3rd edition of the competition can continue to drive the development of the energy industry.
Photo 5:
Dr John Qiu Jian-hang, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer – Renewable Business of Towngas Smart Energy, introduces the details of the 3rd TERA-Award.
Photo 6:
Mr Alan Chan Ying-lung (1st from left), Chief Investment Officer of Towngas, moderates the roundtable discussion, with the four speakers being Professor Cui Yi (2nd from left), Chairman and Chief Technology Advisor of EnerVenue, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University; Professor Lu Yi-chun (1st from right), Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Luquos Energy; Mr Thomas Xu Tao (2nd from right), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of StarFive; and Mr Philip Siu Kam-shing (centre), Chief Executive Officer of EcoCeres.
Photo 7:
Professor Cui Yi, Chairman and Chief Technology Advisor of EnerVenue, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, said that the investment support from Towngas is instrumental in advancing scientific research outcomes from the laboratory to the market.
Photo 8:
Professor Lu Yi-chun, Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Luquos Energy, the Bronze Award-winner of the inaugural TERA-Award competition, expresses her gratitude for the strategic investment and application scenarios received from Towngas.
Photo 9:
Mr Thomas Xu Tao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of StarFive, thanks Dr Lee Ka-kit, Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, for his support and provision of financial assistance to foster the development of StarFive.
Photo 10:
Mr Philip Siu Kam-shing, Chief Executive Officer of EcoCeres, shares that in order to thrive in entrepreneurship, it is crucial to establish clear goals and possess innovative capabilities. Furthermore, it is essential to have the support of large-scale enterprises like Towngas, which can provide application scenarios for success.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Ms Judy Chan
General Manager – Corporate Affairs
Tel: 2963 3486 / 9520 3139
Email:
judy.chan@towngas.com |
Ms Kara Kwong
Senior Corporate Communications Officer
Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357
Email:
kara.kwong@towngas.com |