Blutech IoT bags HKICT Awards 2020 grand prize

Homegrown startup Blutech IoT bags the award of the year award of the 14^th edition of the Hong Kong ICT (HKICT) Awards, besting other grand winners in other seven categories of the annual technology awards spearheaded by the city’s Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).

The virtual awards ceremony was pre-recorded and was aired last Friday.

Blutech IoT is this year’s winner of the awards’  ICT startup grand award category for the company’s Smart Washroom AIoT Solution, which deploys wireless and compact-sized door contact sensors and heatmap sensors to detect whether a toilet cubicle is occupied or vacant.

“This start-up company realises the intelligent management and operation functions of toilets. The project has significant value where the implementation of human-centred design improves the quality of life of citizens,” said the judging panel for the ICT startup grand award  category, which is overseen by the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA).

WTIA is among the various industry associations tasked by the OGCIO in handling awards submissions in individual categories.

“The project will have greater room for development and market potential, in addition to practicing the Internet of Everything and technology applications, so that more ideas and solutions on the Internet of Things putting into practice,” the panel added.

Blutech IoT is a B2B company focused on building intelligent AIoT systems for enterprises and shopping malls. Its smart washroom AIoT solution is developed to improve property management efficiency.

“Specifically, the solution is built to monitor the availability, usage rate and hygiene conditions of washrooms. The AI functions are provided for predictive maintenance, route planning and queue time estimation by integrating various smart sensors, low-energy wireless communication technologies, well-designed  digital washroom signages and big data analysis,” the company said in its award submission to WTIA.

The company added that the system has been installed in a several  places around the city.

Pushing on amid tumultuous year

Established in 2006, the HKICT Award is now on its 14^th year and is an annual salute to creativity and innovation of the city’s technology sector. Its goal is to cultivate and nurture local ICT talents with an eye on raising Hong Kong’s ICT profile in the international market.

“On the path to building Hong Kong into a smart city, we need more creative talent who are eager to innovate for the local ICT industry to continue to flourish,” said HK GCIO Victor Lam, who served as the chairman of the steering committee of this year’s awards.

He added that technology will be an important engine that steers life and economic activities back on track.

“We will soon announce the Smart City Blueprint 2.0 which comprises many measures that are closely related to the daily life of our citizens, allowing them to enjoy the convenience that will be brought to their daily living by a smart city and the development of innovation and technology. Meanwhile, the ‘iAMSmart’ platform to be launched shortly will also provide citizens with more convenient and efficient digital government services.,” Lam said.

Normally handed out in April, the current COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the judging process and awards presentation, with majority of interactions shifting online. Despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, HKICT Awards 2020 recorded the highest number of entries at over 1,600.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul, who was handed over the award of the year, said: “The epidemic has catalysed evolution and development in enterprises' business models like remote work and remote business operations. It has driven digital transformation of the entire society at the same time."

“I am inspired by the innovative products and solutions of this year's award winners. I believe the successful implementation of their ideas will profoundly benefit businesses and the community, and further promote Hong Kong as a global leading smart city,” said Professor Simon Ho, the chairman of the Grand Judging Panel.

Below is the complete list of winners of the HKICT Awards 2020: