AI Era Reshapes Youth Career Choices: HKPC’s 2026 Summer InnoTalent Internship Programme Concludes Successfully Brand-New Career Launchpad Programme Takes Over to Build a Growth Ladder for Young I&T Talent

(Hong Kong, 20 August 2026) The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries worldwide and redefining talent demands, while also transforming how young people plan their careers. The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is committed to nurturing future talent for Hong Kong. One of its flagship initiatives, the “2026 Summer InnoTalent Internship Programme” (the Programme), was successfully concluded with a graduation ceremony. This year, the Programme attracted over 3,300 applications from university students in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. This represents a record high and an increase of nearly 30% compared with last year, underscoring the growing global appeal of AI and innovation and technology (I&T) among young talent.

After a highly competitive selection process, 42 outstanding students from world-renowned universities were selected, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and leading local universities. The Programme also welcomed talents from Belt and Road countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Kenya. Despite differences in culture and academic backgrounds, many participants shared that Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages in connecting international markets and leveraging the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) industrial resources provide an ideal platform for AI and I&T development.

Under the nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan”, Hong Kong has been entrusted with the important mission of building itself into an international hub for high-calibre talent. HKPC is actively aligning with the national “AI+” development strategy and working to build an AI talent development pathway spanning students, interns and new entrants to the workforce. By attracting young talent from around the world to Hong Kong for hands-on I&T experience, and by supporting graduates through the upcoming “Career Launchpad” initiative as they transition into the workforce, HKPC is cultivating a sustainable talent ecosystem built on the principles of attracting, nurturing, and retaining talent.

“AI with HKPC” immersive learning experience exploring AI in real-world applications
One of the highlights of this year’s Programme is “AI with HKPC”. Through a structured learning journey, interns gained deeper insight into the latest developments in the I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong and the GBA, and how AI is applied across different industries and public service domains. During the nine-week internship, interns were assigned to different departments within HKPC to take part in projects covering AI, new industrialisation, smart manufacturing, smart cities, sustainability and green technologies. By directly participating in industry projects, interns experienced the full process of innovation from proof of concept to real-world implementation, and deepened their understanding of how technology supports high-quality development of new productive forces.

Xabat ECEIZA SHEN, born in Spain and currently studying at Imperial College London, visited Hong Kong for the first time through HKPC’s ’2026 Summer InnoTalent Internship Programme’. Sharing his observations on Hong Kong's I&T landscape, he said, "Hong Kong combines an international perspective, cutting-edge I&T, and the unique advantage of serving as a gateway to both global and Chinese Mainland markets, creating a truly unique environment. During my internship at HKPC, I gained invaluable hands-on experience through real-world projects and came to understand first-hand why Hong Kong is such an attractive destination for young talent pursuing careers in innovation and technology."

Another intern, Sophia Lo, who is currently studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, shared, “Through the ‘Summer InnoTalent Internship Programme’ at HKPC, I had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how research outcomes are translated into practical applications. I also witnessed first-hand HKPC's vital role as a bridge between academic research and industry, helping to drive the commercialisation of innovative technologies. The programme brought together outstanding students from top universities around the world, allowing me to benefit greatly from cross-cultural exchange and collaboration. This experience has not only broadened my horizons but also strengthened my determination to join Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry. Hong Kong's vibrant I&T ecosystem and strong emphasis on talent development make me eager to continue developing my career here after graduation and contribute my strengths."

In addition to technical sharing and innovation exchange, interns expanded their horizons through diverse experiences. These included visits to the Legislative Council and community visits to understand how technology can enhance the quality of life for the elderly and improve social well-being. By integrating learning across technology, industries and society, interns developed a more comprehensive understanding of the connection between innovation and societal needs, while nurturing a global perspective and a strong sense of social responsibility.

“Dare to Try” showcasing AI innovation solutions
As a flagship activity of the Programme, “Dare to Try” provided interns with a platform to translate innovative ideas into practical solutions. Interns from diverse academic backgrounds and cultural regions formed six cross-disciplinary teams. Guided by HKPC mentors, the teams focused on real industry challenges and designed and developed innovative solution proposals. Each team applied the knowledge and skills developed during the internship, combining AI, data analytics and creative thinking to propose feasible technological solutions to business and societal issues. The "Dare to Try" award goes to Team TIDE for their Agentic Voice AI solution. Their cross-industry AI voice agent stood out for its practicality and innovation, which empowers one-person businesses with enterprise-grade automation. A clear demonstration of AI's potential to solve real-world operational challenges.

From internship to employment building a talent development relay pathway
Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “AI is rapidly reshaping the global industrial landscape, and talent is the core driving force behind innovation. In recent years, HKPC has developed future-ready talent pathways through its ‘Inspire, Experience, Accelerate, Advance’ talent development framework. This year’s interns demonstrated exceptional learning agility and creativity, applying cutting-edge technologies such as AI to real-world scenarios and delivering innovative solutions with practical ompact. From attracting global young talent from around the world through the internship programme and providing hands-on I&T experience, to launching the Career Launchpad initiative to help graduates in pursuing AI-related career, HKPC is progressively building a comprehensive talent pipeline spanning students, interns, and early-career professionals. Our efforts aim to nurture more future talent with international perspectives and AI capabilities.”

He added that the Career Launchpad initiative to be launched in September will focus on AI empowerment, helping final-year students make a smooth transition from campus to the workplace through real workplace exposure, AI capability development, mentor guidance and personalised support.

Building an international talent platform to inject new momentum into Hong Kong’s I&T development
For years, HKPC has focused on connecting global young talents with Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem through hands-on training and cross-cultural exchange. Many interns have gone on to join Hong Kong’s I&T industries, and joined HKPC teams after graduation, continuing to contribute to the translation of R&D outcomes and industrial upgrading, and sustaining impact in key roles.

The internship programme provides young talent with a platform to engage with industries and technology applications. The Career Launchpad further supports graduates in turning what they have learned into career development opportunities. Together, the two initiatives are mutually reinforcing, forming a talent development pathway from students to interns to graduates and new entrants to the workforce, and continuing to cultivate and consolidate future talent for Hong Kong’s I&T sector.

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HKPC’s “2026 Summer InnoTalent Internship Programme” Successfully Concluded. The flagship activity “Dare to Try” award goes to Team TIDE for their Agentic Voice AI solution.

Interns were invited to attend the opening ceremony of Hhub by Hongrita Group, where they gained firsthand insights into smart manufacturing and digital technologies in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and explored the development and future opportunities of new-style industrialisation.

They also visited the Legislative Council to discuss how AI and digital technologies are driving the development of smart governance, experiencing first-hand the unique advantages of Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub.

Through community service visits to elderly care facilities, interns applied their communication and problem-solving skills beyond the workplace, deepening their understanding of how technology can be applied to improve people's lives and contribute to society.

Interns had the opportunity to interact directly with HKPC senior management and board members, gaining valuable insights into I&T trends, talent strategies, and Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, while expanding their professional networks.

HKPC “Career Launchpad” programme to be launched in September aims to help graduates enter the AI workplace.