A Hong Kong-based environmental tech start-up has emerged as the winner of the second City I&T Grand Challenge for its innovative solution that aims to improve sapling survival rates in reforestation programmes.
The competition attracted about 2,500 participants, including students and professionals from both Hong Kong and overseas. Ideas contributed by all participants all sought to enhance Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) landscape.
The winning team, MetaGreenX, impressed judges with GrootX, an Internet of Things (IoT) system designed to monitor and nurture young trees in country parks and other green spaces.
GrootX addresses critical issues in reforestation, such as a lack of nutrients, dehydration and poor care – common reasons why 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.
Innovation for nature and community