Organised by the Department of Social Work at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Grand Final of the InnoFamily Award, an initiative under the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, concluded successfully on 17 May 2025. Witnessed by representatives from local institutions, social welfare leaders, and innovation pioneers, the top three teams emerged from five finalists, showcasing young people’s exceptional creativity in enhancing Hong Kong’s family well-being through digital communication technologies.

Professor Daniel Wong Fu Keung, Chair Professor of the Department of Social Work at HKBU and Co-Principal Investigator of the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, shared during the event that participants came from 14 local tertiary institutions across a diverse range of academic disciplines, such as social sciences, engineering, information technology, humanities and arts. These students included higher diploma students, undergraduates, and postgraduates, enriching the initiative with a unique blend of diversity and creativity.

During the Grand Final, the five teams of finalists presented their innovative project ideas and answered questions before a panel of four distinguished judges from different sectors. The panel included Mr. Raymond Cheng, Convenor of the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project; Ms. Jasmine Chung, Executive Manager, Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Miss Karen Shing, Assistant Commissioner (Digital Inclusion and Research) of the Digital Policy Office; and Ms. Dorothy Wong, Project Director (Innovation and Technology for Ageing) of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.

After much deliberation, taking home the Championship was “GingFM”, a team comprising three undergraduate students, for their SEN Parenting Eco System designed to support caregivers of children with special educational needs. The First Runner-up was awarded to “Daddy Rescue” for their creative application “DadVenture”, which aims to empower first-time fathers through gamified parenting education. The Second Runner-up went to “NeuroAllies” for creating a user-friendly employment support digital platform for young neurodivergent individuals. Cash prizes ranging from HK$5,000 to 20,000, generously sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, were awarded to these winning teams.

The event also featured the Best Poster Award, determined by on-the-spot audience votes. The three honoured teams – “Caring Coder”, “GingFM”, and “Daddy Rescue” – each received a HK$2,000 cash prize.

Initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project encourages the effective application of information and communications technologies to provide innovative family services and enhance family harmony. This year, the InnoFamily Award engaged over 200 students from 14 local tertiary institutions in an eight-month innovative learning journey. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participants transformed creative ideas into impactful digital solutions tailored to the specific needs of families, fostering the advancement of family services in Hong Kong.