City I&T Grand Challenge drives groundbreaking solutions for nature and society

GrootX addresses critical issues in reforestation, such as a lack of nutrients, dehydration and poor care – common reasons saplings fail to thrive. With a shared passion for environmental conservation, the team cited solving real-world problems technologically as the fundamental motivation behind their project.

The City I&T Grand Challenge, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) as the organising partner, is part of a broader initiative to promote I&T culture and enhance the application of innovative solutions in the community.

This year’s theme, “Hong Kong’s Got I&T”, encouraged participants to develop solutions in two key areas: “I&T for Nature” and “I&T for Community”. The goal was to harness the community’s creative potential to tackle important social challenges.

Following two rounds of shortlisting, 27 finalists were selected from 1,172 innovative ideas to compete in the Grand Pitch. The event provided a platform for the finalists to present their prototypes and network with other innovators, experts and potential collaborators. In addition to groups for teams from schools, colleges, universities and tertiary institutions, there was an open category, reflecting the competition’s diverse and inclusive nature.

Led by founder Kathy Ng and operation associate Adrian Wong, the winning team’s interest in environmental conservation and reforestation stems from their personal experience and academic backgrounds. Ng, who had previously participated in tree planting activities, noticed a lack of follow-up care for saplings after planting. This observation sparked her interest in finding a sustainable solution to improve the survival rates of young trees.

Wong, sharing a similar passion for the environment, joined forces with Ng to develop a solution that could effectively address these challenges.

“We started by understanding the causes behind this pain point,” she said. “We looked at why saplings die, which is often due to malnutrition, dehydration and a lack of care.” Based on these soil conditions, GrootX can automatically carry out fertilisation and watering processes.

The GrootX system has sensors that monitor vital indicators such as air temperature and humidity, as well as soil pH levels and nutrient levels. Using these as a baseline, the system can autonomously manage watering and feeding to ensure optimal growing conditions. The device is also equipped with an autonomous power system, employing solar panels and a power bank to operate for up to one year without recharging.

To tackle connectivity problems in remote areas such as country parks, GrootX incorporates technology that allows for reliable remote monitoring – even in areas with limited 5G coverage.

Developing GrootX was not without its challenges. The champions, who are both 21, faced technical problems such as ensuring the system’s compatibility with different landscapes and overcoming connectivity limitations. The team also had to balance their project work with university studies. Despite these hurdles, they remained focused on refining their solution, with an eye on adapting it to various reforestation projects in Hong Kong and beyond.

“One of our biggest challenges was time management,” Wong said. “As both students and entrepreneurs, we had to juggle our studies, internships and project development. But we believe our passion for the environment and our commitment to making a difference kept us going.”

The winning team received support from the City I&T Grand Challenge organiser, including training workshops that enhanced their pitching and problem-solving skills. The competition also provided opportunities to consult with industry experts, helping the team refine their ideas and develop GrootX into a viable solution. Additionally, the financial support from the competition – comprising a cash prize of HK$200,000 (US$25,600) and funding of up to HK$1 million for R&D and solution refinement – will enable MetaGreenX to further develop GrootX and explore broader applications in other greening projects.

“The support from the City I&T Grand Challenge has been invaluable,” Ng said. “The training workshops, industry consultations and financial backing have allowed us to refine GrootX and take it to the next level.”

With their success in the City I&T Grand Challenge, MetaGreenX plans to continue developing GrootX for broader use in reforestation and other greening initiatives. The start-up hopes to collaborate with government departments and explore new opportunities to implement GrootX in various tree planting projects across Hong Kong.

“Winning the Grand Challenge is a huge milestone for us,” Wong said. “It validates our work and boosts our confidence to keep innovating. We’re excited to see how GrootX can contribute to reforestation efforts and environmental sustainability in the future.”