The Conrad Challenge is an annual prestigious event that invites “entrepreneur-to-be” students from around the world to solve global problems through science, technology, and innovation. Although this was the first time CDNIS has ever participated in this competition, Team Kinection made history at the 2025 Conrad Challenge in Shanghai by becoming the first school from Hong Kong to win Gold at the event. Team Kinection is the only team from Hong Kong and Conrad Challenge China advancing to the finals, where they currently represent China at the global Innovation Summit in Houston, Texas.
Competing under the Health & Nutrition category, Team Kinection identifies their critical issues as the prevalence of people re-injuring themselves while in recovery and the problems associated with traditional physiotherapy. Their solution? An ankle brace featuring sensor technology that provides real-time, precise feedback for therapists to monitor the injury remotely via a web portal and for patients to do so via an app. The team mentions that their innovation does not intend to replace physiotherapists, but instead aims to work alongside them, reforming the ecosystem.
As part of their journey to the finals, the team spent countless hours designing their innovation, pitching their solution and creating their business model. Brian M., a member of Team Kinection, emphasized the team’s commitment since September, which involved weekly meetings with coaches for figuring out ways to improve their pitch. Specifically, Brian commented on their efforts “to not be boring” in their presentation to stand out amidst a crowd of other teams.
Caroline Z., member of Team Kinection, emphasised how this challenge has helped her learn “a lot about what goes on behind the scenes of a tech startup company,” as it equipped her with deeper insights into the operations and structures needed to run a successful business. When asked about their hopes for Kinection’s impact and legacy beyond the Conrad Challenge, the team collectively expressed their desire to establish it as an official business, offering a both accessible and affordable rehabilitation device.
As Team Kinection heads for the final Innovation Summit in Houston, the team is determined to perform “at the same calibre [as they] did in Shanghai, if not better.” Their commitment reflects both their strong resolve to excel and their excitement about this opportunity to “make connections with like-minded students” worldwide.
There is no doubt that Team Kinection presents themselves as strong, prominent candidates for the Conrad Challenge. The CDNIS community is confident that they will continue to achieve success in Houston and beyond.
