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The Joint Universities Computer Centre (JUCC) and IBM have successfully co-hosted the first watsonx GenAI Hackathon, a groundbreaking event that brought together students, industry leaders, and technology experts to tackle real-world challenges in the finance and education sectors.

The hackathon, which took place from September 18^th to October 18^th , 2025, saw 48 teams consisting of 192 students from seven universities in Hong Kong compete to develop innovative solutions using IBM’s watsonx platform. The event culminated in a pitching day on October 18, where 16 shortlisted teams presented their projects to a panel of judges at The University of Hong Kong.

The final 16 shortlisted teams presented their projects to a panel of judges on the pitching day.

The hackathon demonstrated the power of cross-boundary collaborations between leading technology companies, industry leaders, and influential organizations like JUCC. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event facilitated the exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources, ultimately driving innovation and creating impact in the industries and society.

“The watsonx GenAI Hackathon exemplifies how collaboration can contribute to building a better future for Hong Kong,” said Mimi Poon, General Manager of IBM Hong Kong. “By nurturing future-ready talent with AI skills, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to tackle real-world challenges in the industries that are most significant to Hong Kong’s economy and society.”

The hackathon’s focus on finance and education reflects the importance of these sectors in Hong Kong’s journey to becoming a global AI-driven hub and regaining its position as Asia’s top financial hub. By developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges, the students demonstrated their potential to drive growth, improve efficiency, and enhance competitiveness in these industries.

The participating students were presented with seven problem statements, divided into two themes: finance and education. In the finance theme, students were challenged to develop solutions for loan approval, investment portfolio management, and fraud detection. In the education theme, students were tasked with creating solutions for international exchange program management, personalized learning, IT service request management and student recruitment. These problem statements were designed to test the students’ ability to apply AI and machine learning concepts to real-world challenges, and to develop innovative solutions that can drive positive impact in the finance and education sectors.

The participants are working on their projects.

To prepare the students for the hackathon, IBM technology experts led by Dr. Shi Nan, AI Engineering Leader of IBM Hong Kong conducted a series of Pre-Hackathon Enablement sessions, which provided students with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions using IBM watsonx platform. The sessions, which took place from September 18^th  to October 17^th , covered topics such as watsonx Basics, GenAI Advanced, Problem Statements, and Solution Design. Additionally, IBM provided office hours every Friday from 1 pm to 2 pm, where students could ask questions and receive feedback on their projects. This support enabled the students to develop a deeper understanding of the technology and the problem statements, ultimately leading to the creation of more innovative and effective solutions.

The panel of judges consisted of esteemed industry leaders and experts, including Aveline San, CEO of Citi Hong Kong; Haster Tang, CEO of Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited; Mimi Poon, General Manager of IBM Hong Kong; Peter Lee, CTO of IBM Hong Kong; Patrick Yeung, Director of Computing Services at City University; Dr. Louisa Lam, CIO and University Librarian at Lingnan University; Keith Yeung, CIO at Vocational Training Council; and Roger Wong, CIO at The Education University of Hong Kong. These judges brought their wealth of experience and expertise to the evaluation process, providing valuable feedback and insights to the students.

The judges (from left to right): Peter Lee, Haster Tang, Aveline San, Mimi Poon, Dr. Louisa Lam, Roger Wong, Patrick Yeung and Keith Yeung.

“The watsonx GenAI Hackathon is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change,” said Ivy Yip, General Manager, JUCC. “We are proud to have partnered with IBM to provide a platform for students to develop their AI skills and showcase their talents. We look forward to continuing this partnership to foster a new generation of AI leaders in Hong Kong.”

The Gold Prize and Silver Prize winning teams.

JUCC awarded the winners of the hackathon with cash prizes and IBM Hong Kong will provide the opportunity for the winners to present at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025. The event also provided a unique opportunity for students to network with industry leaders, gain valuable feedback, and develop their skills in AI and innovation.

The leaders and experts from both JUCC and IBM have been supporting the Hackathon from behind the scene.

For more information about the watsonx GenAI Hackathon, please visit https://jucc-ibm-watsonxhackathon.com.

For more information about JUCC, please visit: http://www.jucc.edu.hk/

For more information about IBM Hong Kong, please visit: https://hongkong.newsroom.ibm.com/