Highlights from Smart Logistics Datathon 2025

Memorable moments and achievements from the 2025 competition.

Smart Logistics Datathon 2025 Achieves Record Participation and Inspires Innovation in Hong Kong’s Logistics Sector

The Smart Logistics Datathon 2025 (“Datathon”), organized by the Asian Institute of Supply Chains & Logistics (AISCL), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, took place at the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy campus concluded successfully on the 19th of October 2025. The event’s primary objectives were to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a leading international logistics hub as well as motivate young participants to first appreciate the importance of modern logistics services and then through the competition generate innovative insights and business models for the industry via data analytics.

This year’s Datathon has attracted strong engagement, with 40 student teams from 20 top Asian universities - including those in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Twenty teams were selected and invited to participate in the competition at Hong Kong. In Addition, 20 teams from local secondary schools were also selected to compete in the Secondary School League. In total, there were 108 students participated in the Datathon across both leagues.

At the opening ceremony, Kevin Choi Kit-ming, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, expressed his enthusiasm for the diverse backgrounds of the participants. He commended the Datathon for bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry practice, allowing young participants to gain hands-on experience in real-world problem-solving through big data analytics and helping to cultivate future talent in the logistics sector.

Student participants had undertaken a challenging 35-hour non-stop data analysis marathon, working with real-world logistics and transport datasets. Each team presented their findings in two rounds of 10-minute session in front of a panel of senior executive judges. The winning teams received scholarships sponsored by the Hong Kong’s Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF) which is overseen by the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL).

In preparation for the competition, participants attended pre-Datathon training workshops sponsored by Alibaba Cloud, focusing on data analytics tools. They also benefited from site visits to large-scale logistics facilities in Hong Kong and talks by industry leaders, sparking fresh ideas and reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as an international logistics hub.

Recognizing the absence of formal logistics curriculum at the secondary school level, the AISCL has conducted a series of Logistics, Supply Chain Management and e-Commerce workshops weeks before the Datathon. These workshops consist of classroom lectures, hands-on exercises in AI data analytics, and site visits to both traditional and robotic warehouses. Through these workshops, secondary school student participants have gained foundational knowledge and igniting their interest in logistics.

In addition to the strong support from the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Datathon was made possible through many industry sponsors and supporters namely Airport Authority Hong Kong, Alibaba Cloud, Chun Sing Group, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, Rollship, and SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd.

Members of the judging panel were impressed by the participating teams’ outperformance beyond expectation. Mr. William Ho, Executive Director, Corporate Development, Airport Authority Hong Kong, added that the innovative ideas from the teams could be followed up to advance the cargo operations at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Team MGL from Heep Yunn School, champions of the Secondary School League, shared their excitement: “Participating in the CUHK Smart Logistics Datathon 2025 was an incredibly rewarding experience for our team. We ventured beyond our comfort zones into uncharted territory, and the outcome was truly transformative. Over the course of 35 hours, we gained invaluable insights into the Hong Kong logistics sector, enhanced our data analysis skills, and honed our presentation abilities. We are profoundly grateful to our school, Heep Yunn School, and our teacher-in-charge, Mr. Chen, for facilitating such an enriching opportunity.”

The Smart Logistics Datathon 2025 has marked a significant milestone in promoting innovative thinking and practical skills among the next generation of logistics professionals, further solidifying Hong Kong’s reputation at the forefront of the global logistics industry.

Winners

League Position Team
University League Champion Team Nexus of Data @Yonsei (Yonsei University)
Seo Yumin, LEE Junhyeong, HAN Yerim
1st Runner-up Team Insight Igniters (City University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
WONG Hung Ying, LEUNG Paak Sung, WONG Hung Wa Helen
2nd Runner-up Team YouDimSum (Singapore University of Social Science)
TANG Yan Cheng, LIM Hong Li Denzel, CHONG Hui En Zoe
Honourable Mention Team HMC (National Taiwan University and National Taiwan Chengchi University)
LEE Ming-Si, LIU Yu-Kang, GUO Pei-Chen
Secondary School League Champion Team MGL (Heep Yunn School)
CHUNG Mui Chee Gigi, LO Wing Kwan Leanne, CHAN Mei Yu Melody
1st Runner-up Team Covi (Diocesan Girls' School)
LEUNG Ka Yi, ZHANG Coyi
2nd Runner-up Team Not That Deep (HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College)
GUO Ka Hoi, CHAN To, CHIN Pak Him
Honourable Mention Team Teleporters (Cheung Chuk Shan College)
KOU Tsz Hin, HUNG Cheuk Ip Mike, LO Po Shing