He added that the competition also provided students with a platform to engage with and learn from industry professionals, mentors and experts in fields related to the competition. This helped students gain insights into potential career paths related to engineering and technology.

According to Cheung, there exists a misconception that Hong Kong students are not that interested in technical fields such as engineering. This inspired HKPC to take the lead in promoting STEAM education. The local F1 in Schools competition began as a small initiative in 2022 but rapidly grew in popularity, as the HKPC collaborated with more schools and industry experts to provide resources, training and support to participants.

The programme also includes various supporting activities and events, including STEAM education seminars, workshops and exhibitions to increase awareness and generate interest among students, parents and the wider community.

“From 2022 to 2024, more than 500 students took part in HKPC-organised seminars, training courses and regional competitions related to the programme,” said Cheung. He added that four teams and 24 students took part in the 2023 F1 in Schools world final in Singapore, representing the best of Hong Kong academia’s STEAM talent.

In total, three teams and 18 students were selected from the 2023 Hong Kong finals to take part in this year’s F1 in Schools world finals. The teams come from Lingnan Dr Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School, Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School and Shatin Pui Ying College.

Finalists were chosen on the basis of judging categories such as Specification and Scrutineering, Design and Engineering, Project Management and Enterprise, and Verbal Presentation.

Most importantly, however, was the racing element of the competition – which was also the most exciting. It involved teams competing head to head in timed heats with their scaled-down F1 car models, while the judges assessed factors like speed, acceleration and overall performance.

“The teams’ ability to optimise their cars’ performance through engineering modifications and fine-tuning is also taken into account,” said Cheung.

In addition to honing students’ technical engineering skills, the F1 in Schools challenge is designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among young people, another key objective for the HKPC.

“The programme requires teams to develop business plans, manage budgets, and market their F1 car models,” Cheung said. “By taking part in the programme, students learn about project management, teamwork, communication, and the practical aspects of running a business. These skills are crucial for future innovation and entrepreneurial endeavours.”

Cheung said the competition strongly challenged participants’ problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, as things never really go according to plan during such a project, and encountering problems and unexpected hurdles is practically guaranteed.

“The F1 in Schools challenge presents students with a variety of technical and engineering problems to solve,” he explained. “They need to troubleshoot issues related to design, manufacturing and performance optimisation of their car models. This fosters problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as students analyse challenges, evaluate different solutions, and make informed decisions to improve their designs and overcome obstacles.”

Finally – putting the ‘A’ in STEAM – designing a car requires artistry, as a successful car model needs an attractive appearance on top of premium performance.

The HKPC will continue to expand the F1 in Schools programme by reaching out to more schools and students, and forging partnerships with local industries, engineering firms and technology companies to provide the teams with mentorship and sponsorship opportunities.

All of this aligns with Cheung’s passion and goal to turn Hong Kong into an innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

“HKPC’s vision aligns closely with my personal values and aspirations,” he said. “Having taken part in deep tech research and development myself, I firmly believe in the transformative power of technology, and its potential to drive economic growth, create opportunities and enhance overall quality of life.”

Cheung is more optimistic than ever about the future of STEAM education and the city’s young I&T talent. He cited the city’s latest Five-Year Plan, in which the government has prioritised I&T as a key policy area. To that end, the 2024-25 budget introduced the STEM Internship Scheme to encourage university students to obtain more work experience in I&T-related fields.

“I see a promising future for STEAM education in Hong Kong and beyond,” said Cheung. “With rapid advancements in technology, it is crucial to equip our youth to be ready with the necessary skills to navigate and contribute to the future. I envision a future where STEAM education is integrated into the education system at all levels.”

The Good Schools Guide also spoke to some of the finalists about their experiences.

“Competing in the world finals required us to put a lot of additional time and resources into research and development,” said Charis Liu, project manager and form five student at Lingnan Dr Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary School. “We needed to conduct in-depth investigations into aerodynamics, materials, manufacturing techniques and other aspects of the car’s design,” she added. “This advanced research allowed us to refine our engineering solutions and optimise our performance.”

She said the name Nova symbolised the team’s passion and pursuit of innovation.

“Reaching the finals evoked a mix of excitement, pride and determination,” Liu added. “We’re honoured to represent Hong Kong and eager to showcase our hard work on the global stage.”

In a joint statement, the Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School team said: “F1 in Schools provides us with hands-on experience in engineering and design. We learned to apply scientific principles to optimise the performance of our cars, covering aerodynamics, mechanics and materials. We also gained practical knowledge in CAD [computer-aided design], allowing us to create and prototype our designs. “We feel a sense of excitement because we have made it to the highest level of the contest, competing against other talented teams from around the world. This validates our efforts, and showcases our skills and abilities in front of a larger audience.”

The statement concluded: “Reaching the finals also brings a sense of anticipation. We will have the opportunity to showcase our project to a panel of judges, industry professionals, and potentially even Formula One teams. This can open doors to future opportunities such as internships, scholarships, or further involvement in the motorsport industry.”