Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2026 Hong Kong Teams Won Three Accolades: Driving Smart City and Cross-border Travel Innovation through Data

HONG KONG, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Final Judging and Awards Presentation Ceremony of the "Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge (HSODC) 2026", jointly steered by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, and curated by B4B (Hong Kong Big Data for Business Challenge), International Data Port (Shanghai Lin-Gang Special Area International Data Port Co., Ltd.) and SODA (Shanghai Open Data Applications Competition), and supported by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), were successfully held in Shanghai recently. Hong Kong teams excelled with outstanding performances, winning three major honours. The Lands Department/AECOM/China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co, Ltd garnered the Grand Award and the Best Smart Environment Award with their solution "Underground Utilities Information System", while FAITH (Frankie and Apple Intelligence Technology HK) claimed the Best Smart Mobility Award with their solution "Cross-border Self-drive Transportation Trusted Data Service Platform (HK Drive Safe)". The two winning teams will represent Hong Kong to compete for the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance Awards 2026 this December, striving for further excellence.

A press conference was held yesterday to share the competition outcomes. Guests in attendance included Ms Nicole WONG, Senior Systems Manager (Mainland and Industry Collaboration) of the DPO; Mr Fei Man CHU, Senior Survey Manager and Mr Sahib Singh SANDHU, Land Surveyor from the Lands Department; Mr Chun Yu WONG (Frankie), Project Founder and Ms Xiu Lei HE (Apple), Project & Technical Lead of FAITH.

Speaking at the press conference, Ms Nicole WONG said that the HSODC 2026 marked the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between Hong Kong and Shanghai. Building upon the achievements of the previous three editions, the two cities have further deepened data collaboration, leveraging the competition to drive applications and jointly promote high-quality development of the digital economy. The competition has become an important platform for Hong Kong and Shanghai to advance open data innovation and deepen exchanges in digital technology. Not only does it fully leverage the multiplier effect of data elements, but it also demonstrates the strategic value of data collaboration.

As a supporting organisation of the event, HKSTP expressed its enthusiasm for witnessing outstanding tech teams actively engaged and fully embracing the significant opportunities brought by digitalisation. The flow of data is a key force in driving industrial upgrading and fostering cross-sector collaboration. HKSTP will continue to serve as a platform, connecting talent, technology, and resources to support more I&T teams and collectively strengthen Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem.

Grand Award and Best Smart Environment Award: "Underground Utilities Information System"

Beneath Hong Kong's bustling streets lies a complex web of utilities, where repeated road openings and prolonged excavations frequently disrupt daily life. To resolve these repeated challenges, the Lands Department, AECOM and China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. jointly developed the "Underground Utilities Information System" (UUIS). UUIS serves as a unified, one-stop master database that seamlessly consolidates, updates, and shares vital underground utility data among key stakeholders. By integrating interactive 3D maps, aerial photos, and real-time excavation site details into a single portal, it equips engineers with the high-fidelity spatial data needed for precise utility alignment design and clash analysis.

By bridging the gap between data and execution, UUIS streamlines the pre-construction lifecycle. It empowers the industry to plan smarter and build faster, significantly reducing road closure times and public disruption. Ultimately, UUIS delivers a highly resilient infrastructure that benefits the entire Hong Kong community. With this innovative solution, the team won two awards at the HSODC 2026, including the competition's highest honour — the Grand Award.

Mr Yue Chun CHAN, Chief Land Surveyor of the Lands Department, said the team was honoured that the "Underground Utilities Information System" had received the Best Smart Environment Award and the highest honour, the Grand Award. "The recognition is a tremendous encouragement to us. Over the past few years, we have sought to collect and standardize utility data as the foundation to drive a smarter working environment, looking forward to helping the industry improve construction efficiency and shorten road closure times, and supporting Hong Kong in becoming a smart and resilient city. We will continue to harness the multiplier effect of data elements. With our continuously updated utility records and other reference datasets — such as 3D maps and excavation sites information — users can grasp the distribution of underground facilities from a see-through, three-dimensional perspective, plan pipeline routes with precision, reduce accidents, accelerate infrastructure completion and better meet the needs of the community. Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organisers for giving us the opportunity to participate the competition and receive the awards!"

Best Smart Mobility Award: "Cross-border Self-drive Transportation Trusted Data Service Platform (HK Drive Safe)"

FAITH (Frankie & Apple Intelligence Technology HK) received the Best Smart Mobility Award for its "Cross-border Self-drive Transportation Trusted Data Service Platform (HK Drive Safe)". HK Drive Safe aims to build a trusted data service platform for cross-border mobility. Through traffic-rule conversion support and real-time alerts on differences in driving rules, it helps drivers rebuild muscle memory that matches local road regulations. Taking the "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles" scheme as its initial scenario, the platform takes the lead in serving the needs of mainland vehicle owners driving to Hong Kong and will later be replicated and promoted to major self-driving destinations worldwide. By leveraging technology to reduce traffic offences and accidents in cross-border travel, it enhances road safety, and support regional connectivity and the development of smart mobility.

The FAITH team said they were deeply honoured and greatly encouraged to receive the Best Smart Mobility Award. Ms Apple HE, Project & Technical Lead of FAITH, said: "Our two founders — one in finance and one a taxi driver —at the outset just wanted to solve the cross-border driving pain points we had experienced ourselves. Being able to advance to the Final Judging and receiving patient guidance and recognition from the judges has been especially meaningful for our small, cross-disciplinary team. During the two months from being shortlisted in June to competing in Shanghai in August, the open data training, one-on-one mentoring, mock presentations and exchanges with other finalist teams provided helped us refine a rough idea step by step into a product with a sound business logic that can be implemented. We are very grateful to the DPO and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data for promoting Hong Kong-Shanghai data cooperation, and to B4B and the other curators for building this platform. Not only did they provide professional guidance, they also arranged company visits, which were immensely rewarding and eye-opening. We hope to work with more people from different backgrounds in the future and to solve real social challenges through technology."

About "Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2026"

"Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge 2026" is jointly steered by the DPO of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, and curated by B4B, International Data Port and SODA.

Themed "Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities", this year's competition leveraged open data from both cities to align with emerging urban development needs. Focusing on four key areas, namely smart mobility, smart living, smart environment, and smart economy, the contestants created innovative projects and developed frontier applications to foster synergy in the digital economy development of both cities. With more international elements incorporated this year, some Hong Kong and Shanghai teams explored international application scenarios, thereby promoting the global advancement of digital technologies and innovation capabilities of the two cities.

After about three months of First Judging, competition briefing session and training, 12 teams from various enterprises and institutions in Hong Kong had advanced to the Final Judging and competed alongside finalist teams from Shanghai. During their visit to Shanghai, apart from participating in the Final Judging, the Hong Kong delegation participated in achievement exhibitions, roadshows, and business matching sessions to present their innovative data applications to the Mainland technology industry and further explore business opportunities. The delegation also visited a number of well-known innovation and technology organisations in Shanghai to deepen their understanding of Shanghai's latest advancements in cutting-edge fields, including AI, embodied AI and new energy vehicles, thereby fostering deeper collaboration between Hong Kong and Shanghai in the development of digital economy.

SOURCE B4B Limited