Great inventions demand more than imagination. They require uncompromising safety, rigorous testing and the credibility that comes from repeated verification.
Testing and certification (T&C) do far more than ensure that products meet strict standards. They provide inventors with a structured road map to validate ideas, transforming creative ingenuity into credible, market-ready solutions.
To introduce T&C concepts to young innovators, The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) returned as the strategic partner for the second consecutive year at the Hong Kong Science Fair (HKSF) 2025-26. Building on last year’s success, HKCTC once again presented the “HKCTC Testing and Certification Special Award”.
The Award encourages students to grasp fundamental T&C concepts and apply testing methodologies throughout their research and development, from proposal to final prototype. By recognising projects that combine creative innovation with a clear understanding of practical T&C principles, the Award inspires students to pursue science studies and consider future careers in the T&C industry.
Beyond competition-based recognition, HKCTC actively nurtures future talent by developing teaching kits, hosting hands-on workshops and arranging laboratory visits.
Putting innovation to the test
Eight secondary school finalist teams pitched their innovations to an expert judging panel comprising HKCTC members Dr Cheung Kwai-chung, Dr Jack Cheng, Dr Lesly Lam and Robert Lok.
“Creativity and practicality constitute the highlights of this project, and the students demonstrated an exceptionally high capability in conducting experiments and testing procedures,” Cheng said.
“The gold award-winning team demonstrated a profound environmental consciousness. In the current market, their concept stands out as both innovative and distinctive,” Lok added.
The panel also offered valuable feedback on bridging the gap between classroom ideas and commercial production. Cheung emphasised that more extensive experimentation and structured testing protocols are imperative for these concepts to become viable.
Lam appreciated projects that demonstrated exceptional precision, using targeted testing protocols to verify core functionalities and operational performance. He remarked that executing the right and targeted assessments is critical, particularly given the finite time and commercial resources available in real-world scenarios.
Gold Award
Project: No Pouch? Ouch!
School: St Paul’s Convent School
Students: Charlotte Yuen Hui-ching, Hannah Wong Lok-yiu, Eunice Li Yuk-ting, Wat Tze-yue
Teacher: Charlotte Po
Traditional knee pads rely on rigid plastic shells that protect the patella but restrict movement, leading many athletes to forgo them.
The team crafted a knee pad using a non-Newtonian fluid made from tapioca starch and water. It remains soft and flexible during normal movement but hardens instantly upon impact to absorb shock, delivering robust protection without the encumbrance of rigid plastic. The panel remarked that the design possesses substantial commercial and practical appeal.
Beyond the invention, the project deepened the team’s appreciation for the T&C industry. Overcoming challenges like mould contamination by iteratively testing various preservatives, they realised that comprehensive laboratory evaluation is not merely a binary pass-or-fail exercise, but a crucial mechanism for ensuring consumer product safety.
Silver Award
Project: Li-Guard
School: Po On Commercial Association Wong Siu Ching Secondary School
Students: Lai Chun-yin, Shen Chun-lok, Yip Ho-yi, Chan Sze-ki
Teacher: Wong Chan-fai
To address the rise in power bank explosions, the team developed “Li-Guard”, a solution engineered to pre-empt hazardous battery failures.
The team explained that under normal conditions, a battery remains stable. But if overcharged or damaged, it can inflate with gas and risk bursting. “Li-Guard” detects the onset of dangerous inflation, sounds an alarm and severs the current long before an explosion can occur.
While conventional safety systems monitor temperature alone, a failing battery releases gas and expands before reaching critically high temperatures. “Li-Guard” integrates pressure sensing to track these minute pressure changes, enabling much earlier intervention.
The rigorous development process shifted the team’s perception of the T&C industry from a mundane administrative exercise to a vital scientific discipline. After meticulously troubleshooting a microscopic sensor misalignment that caused erroneous alerts, the team discovered that proving a device’s safety requires the precise, investigative mindset of a detective.
Bronze Award
Project: When Pectin meets Carbon
School: Man Kwan Pak Kau College
Students: Huang Chun-chieh, Cheung Tsun-yin, Chan Wan-ching
Teacher: Ho Wai-yan
Aligning with “Hong Kong’s Resource Circulation Blueprint 2035”, this project converts commercial organic waste into a valuable medical commodity. By extracting natural pectin from discarded citrus peels, the team formulated a biodegradable absorbent sponge to treat chronic, highly exudative wounds, addressing both local food waste and the escalating healthcare demands of an ageing population.
“We extract pectin from orange peel and turn it into a gel-like material that absorbs liquid from wounds. Adding a moderate amount of activated carbon improves the sponge’s absorption, but too much causes clumping. There is an optimal range, around 20 to 40 per cent. Since the material is natural, it biodegrades in soil instead of becoming long-term waste,” the team proudly presented.
Following the conclusion of the competition, the team now understands that every claim must be supported by standardised and repeated testing. “Even though we conducted various tests, our methods were still not rigorous enough. This gave us a new perspective on reliability, reproducibility and proper standards,” the team said.
Looking ahead: The next generation of testers
Riding on this year’s success, HKCTC will continue as a strategic partner of HKSF 2026–27 and will once again present the “HKCTC Testing and Certification Special Award.” Secondary school teams are encouraged to start planning early and embed T&C thinking into their research projects. Details can be found via the QR codes below, and you are invited to follow HKCTC’s social media platforms.
