Collaborated by Google and HKUST, a joint Competition "Solve For X 2014 / 15" was established in fall 2014 for promoting students and faculty across disciplines and schools to engage in intellectual and research discussions. The winning entry has become China’s first project being accepted by Google on its Solve For X platform. The Award Presentation Ceremony was held on 18 March 2015 to recognise the outstanding participants.

"Solve For X" is a place to hear about and discuss radical technology ideas for solving global problems. To take part in the competition, participants are required to submit a 15-20 minute video (moonshot) to introduce and discuss their radical technology ideas. The combination of - a Huge Problem to solve, a Radical Solution for solving it, and Breakthrough Technology to make it happen - is the essence of the technology moonshot.

The competition received 14 projects from teams consisted of faculty, alumni and students. Three IPO students fought into the final five.

Pik Shuen Karen HUNG, MPhil student in Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM) joined the competition with two staff from School of Engineering under the guidance of advisors: Prof. King Lun YEUNG (SENG/IPO) and Prof. Joesph KWAN (IPO). Their project "PulseWater: A taste of pulse water in your life" was awarded the Honorable Mention. Karen said they would keep on developing the idea and hope to realise it one day.

Tak Shing YIU and Tak Shan Clarissa KO, Undergraduate students of Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management joined the team led by Prof. Michael Sung (SENG) in researching for “Mass-Volume Graphene Production Using Waste Carbon Emission Harvesting to Enable EV Battery Technologies” which was awarded the Winner. Google complimented that the project was one of the most innovative submissions. It is also the first project from China being accepted by Google onto its Solve For X platform which is a great honour for every teammate.

The end of "Solve for X" competition is just a start for all participants to keep going on their projects. We all hope that their brilliant ideas will soon be turned into innovative real products and make the world a better one.