DPO holds Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 Send-off Ceremony for the Hong Kong Delegation (with photos)

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) today (August 9) held the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 Send-off Ceremony for the Hong Kong Delegation. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, offered his blessings to the teams that will be competing in Shanghai at the ceremony.
 
     The delegation, comprising eight finalist teams or individuals from various enterprises and universities in Hong Kong, will participate in the Final Judging to be held on August 15 in Shanghai, where they will compete with 12 finalist teams from Shanghai for the top four honours and the Grand Award of the competition.
 
     To fully unleash the multiplier effect of data elements, the National Data Bureau and other authorities launched the inaugural national "Data Element x" competition this year. Steered by the DPO and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2024 is the only divisional competition of the "Data Element x" competition with participants from two cities. Selected entries will be nominated to enter the national competition and compete for honours at the national finals in October.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that the inaugural Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge, organised by Shanghai and Hong Kong last year, had marked the beginning of data collaboration between the two cities and demonstrated the immense business opportunities and development potential between Shanghai and Hong Kong in data application. This year's competition will further leverage the multiplier effect of data elements, and is poised to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the two cities in digital technology, empowering the socio-economic and innovative developments in both cities. He also wished the eight Hong Kong finalists great success in the Final Judging by demonstrating their diverse and innovative data application solutions.
 
     During their visit to Shanghai, the Hong Kong delegation will also showcase their innovative solutions at the competition's exhibition in Lingang and participate in roundtable discussions and business matching with the Mainland technology industry to explore business opportunities and unlock the value of data elements. They will also visit several locally renowned innovation and technology organisations to deepen their understanding of the ecosystem and latest developments of data application on the Mainland.
 
     The competition commenced in Hong Kong in April this year with the Final Judging to be held in Shanghai in August. Themed "Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities", the competition gathers contestants from Shanghai and Hong Kong to incorporate available open data sets, with an aim to explore more innovative applications and promote the synergistic development of smart city and digital economy in both cities. Details of the competition are available on the thematic website (eng.hkshadata.org/).