A total of 280 tech-savvy and entrepreneurial students gathered for a 24-hour period, collaborating to develop and present innovative solutions aimed at enhancing customers' travel experiences.
(Image Source)
Cathay PacificCathay’s dedication to cultivating the next generation of tech talent was prominently showcased last weekend at Cathay City during the flagship tech event, the Cathay Hackathon 2023. A total of 280 tech-savvy and entrepreneurial students gathered for a 24-hour period, collaborating to develop and present innovative solutions aimed at enhancing customers’ travel experiences, elevating Cathay’s premium lifestyle services, and promoting its cargo services.
The Cathay Hackathon garnered an overwhelming response, with a record-breaking 1,500 applications from local and overseas universities, marking the highest number since the event’s inception in 2016. Following a rigorous selection process, 64 teams were invited to participate in the high-energy 24-hour event, during which they worked tirelessly to conceive, prototype, and pitch their creative ideas to a panel of industry experts.
Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry, attended the Cathay Hackathon as the Guest of Honour, stating, “Only when our young people thrive will Hong Kong prosper.” He commended Cathay for providing a platform like the Hackathon Challenge, emphasizing its role in nurturing local STEAM talents and addressing challenges in the aviation industry with innovative solutions.
Lawrence Fong, Cathay’s Director of Digital and IT, expressed delight at joining the passionate and energetic participants at the Cathay Hackathon 2023. He noted the event’s unique role as a platform for young tech talents to showcase their passion, knowledge, and ideas in a competitive environment with the guidance of industry experts.
Throughout the event, participants benefited from insights shared by 40 coaches and mentors from Cathay and its tech partners. These mentors guided idea refinement, software development, and design and business strategy. The event received support from partners such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Microsoft, Huawei, Alibaba Cloud, and iOS Club, providing participants with the necessary tools and resources.
The winning team, NAAR, comprised members from diverse backgrounds. Their winning idea involved leveraging artificial intelligence technology and computer vision-based dimensioning systems to optimize spacing in cargo loads, enhancing accuracy and profitability while reducing the need for manual labor.
NAAR received round-trip Business class tickets to any destination in Cathay Pacific’s network, a combined 100,000 Asia Miles, an opportunity to join Cathay as IT Summer Interns, and fast-track access to the IT & Digital Graduate Trainee Programme.
In addition to Cathay’s youth development programs, the top three winning teams will have the opportunity to spend a day with senior leaders at Cathay City through a job-shadowing experience. They will also receive innovation grants from leading tech partners to support their entrepreneurial journey. The Cathay Hackathon is part of Cathay’s ongoing commitment to nurturing and developing young talent for the aviation industry in Hong Kong, aligning with its various successful youth initiatives.
