Media OutReach
Smart Design Global Awards 2026 Call for Final Applications Introducing Dual Incentive Scheme to Empower Local Talents to Go Global
Updated Format Grants Finalists with Exhibition Opportunities to Fuel Creativity
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 March 2026 – The “Hong Kong Smart Design Awards” has officially been renamed “Smart Design Global” (SDG), marking a new start to Hong Kong’s annual flagship design event as it enters its fifteenth year running. The name change signifies the convergence of local design talents, with the competition serving as a gateway to the world. Organised by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the program has been instrumental in taking Hong Kong’s original design global since its inception in 2012.
This year’s rebranding represents a strategic transformation to further establish a holistic design ecosystem, with the goal to shape creativity as a new economic driver for Hong Kong. SDG will implement an incentive scheme which merges creativity with business to help winners connect with international markets. The program will consist of two key phases: the “Smart Design Global Awards 2026” competition, followed by a series of overseas trade shows.
Upgraded Perks: Shortlisted Participants to Secure Exhibition Spots
This year’s “Smart Design Global” comes with an upgraded suite of rewards for participants, and particularly those who qualify for the Corporate Group in order to reward SMEs and local designers that invest in creativity. All shortlisted participants will be allocated a dedicated display space at the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, where they can showcase their competition entries and other company products. This provides a comprehensive platform for participants to interact with thousands of international buyers, boosting brand exposure and fostering collaboration. The final judging will also take place on the first day of the Gifts & Premium Fair, allowing participants to present their design concepts directly to the jury panel. This face-to-face interaction enables contestants to gather professional feedback and gain deeper insights into their product’s strengths and weaknesses.
Furthermore, award winners will be given the opportunity to take their winning products abroad for touring exhibitions. By taking part in major global trade shows, homegrown designs will shine on an international stage. The SDG Awards also offers a prototype subsidy, which grants crucial early-stage funding to help top winners transform innovative concepts into market-ready products for the world, maximizing value for all participants who enter.
Four Categories: Showcasing Hong Kong’s Unique Charm
“Smart Design Global Awards 2026” is now open for application. This edition focuses not only on the aesthetic appeal of products, but also the market potential, calling for entries from innovative products across four categories:
- Live: Designs that elevate living spaces and personal style, such as distinctive furniture and home décor.
- Dine: Kitchen innovations, tableware, and dining decorations that redefine culinary aesthetics and experience.
- Gift: Exquisite, personalized gifts designed to create lasting memories, including festive products, personal collectibles, and corporate gifts.
- Play: Nostalgic recreational items or educational games with pedagogical design, such as figures, STEM games, and cross-generational collectibles.
| Smart Design Global 2026 Submission Details | |
| Corporate Group | |
| Application Deadline: | 10 March 2026 (Tues) |
| Application Fee: | HK$600 per product category |
| Exhibition Fee*: | HK$3,500 per product category |
| Conceptual Group | |
| Application Deadline: | 10 March 2026 (Tues) |
| Application Fee: | HK$300 per product category (Waived for students) |
| Exhibition Fee*: | Waived |
* Shortlisted entries will enjoy an HK$600 registration fee waiver, bringing the actual exhibition fee to HK$2,900.
**For details, please visit the Smart Design Global website: https://www.sdawards.org.hk
Hashtag: #HongKongSmartDesignAwards #SmartDesignGlobal #SDG
https://www.sdawards.org.hk
https://www.sdawards.org.hk
About The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association
Founded in 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (The HKEA) is a non-profit making trade association registered under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance as a company limited by guarantee. The HKEA is committed to creating new business opportunities and enhancing market value for Hong Kong exporters, aiming to position Hong Kong as a premier trading hub. The HKEA focuses on serving the industry and taking export trade as its core value, helping members expand their business by closely liaising with the government, initiating different projects, and organizing seminars, business gatherings, business delegation trips and exhibitions. The HKEA also disseminate the latest local and international trade information and provides online product display and search services for additional publicity, to further promote Hong Kong’s export trade and enhance market competitiveness.
The HKEA website: www.exporters.org.hk
About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk
Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
Airalo and Compax have extended their partnership for another five years, ensuring Airalo continues to run on the powerful Compax backend platform. This technology allows Airalo to quickly launch and manage data plans across more than 200 destinations. By using the Compax real-time charging system, Airalo can accurately track data usage and set custom pricing independently, without having to rely on the technical systems of local phone carriers. This total control ensures that Airalo can offer its 20 million users the most flexible and competitive travel eSIM rates on the market.
Compax is proud to support Airalo as it continues to launch new products and services, ensuring its 20M+ customers can stay connected seamlessly across more than 200 destinations, regardless of their travel plans.
“At Airalo, our goal is to provide our customers with reliable connectivity and a seamless experience. Extending our partnership with Compax MVNE for another five years ensures we have the technical foundation to keep that promise,” explained Peter Nussbaumer, VP of Networks at Airalo. “Compax MVNE’s platform gives us the independence to launch new products and manage complex global data plans in real-time, allowing us to stay agile and focus on what matters most: keeping our 20 million users connected, no matter where their journey takes them.”
“The Airalo team set out to transform the way travelers enjoy connectivity abroad forever and they are not falling short on their goal. It’s an absolute pleasure for us to be a part of their journey and assist them on their mission. Connectivity is at the heart of everything we do in our modern ways of life and the Airalo offering is perfectly tuned to that beat.” said Werner Kohl, CEO of Compax.
Hashtag: #CompaxMVNE
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Compax
Compax is a leading BSS/OSS software provider for the telecommunications industry. Its business software suite covers the full spectrum required to cover areas such as DSL, FTTH, MVNO and related industries: Apps and portals for customer orders and selfcare, convergent product catalog, CPQ, order management, CRM, contact center, billing, accounting, payments, online charging, and retail management. Compax enables operators to bring new services, offers, and brands to market with a quick turnaround and covering B2B, B2C, and B2B2X scenarios. Relying on proven agile methodology, Compax successfully serves top brands around the globe.
About Airalo
Airalo, founded in 2019, is the world’s largest travel eSIM platform. Trusted by over 20 million travelers, Airalo offers eSIM packages in 200+ destinations, empowering users to connect to mobile networks worldwide instantly. With a remote team of over 300 people, spanning more than 50 countries, Airalo is committed to making mobile connectivity on the move easier, more affordable, and accessible to all.
Over 120 event days in first year of operation
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 March 2026 – Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) celebrated its milestone first anniversary on Sunday (1 March), successfully hosting nearly 50 major events and delivering over 120 international and local sports and entertainment days since its grand opening.
KTSP has established a unique identity as the city’s new “Home Venue” for major sports and entertainment events. Highlights have included the Hong Kong Sevens (rugby), the Hong Kong Football Festival featuring top teams such as Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as concerts by British rock band Coldplay, Mandopop rock band Mayday, singer Jay Chou and global pop icons BLACKPINK.
Sports activities at the Park have welcomed more than 840,000 participants so far. In terms of sports activities, the three major facilities—Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Arena and Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground—together with the bowling centre, outdoor sports facilities and open spaces in the precinct, are expected to surpass 200 event days from the Park’s opening through to the end of March 2026.
In the past year, the utilisation rates of the Kai Tak Stadium and Kai Tak Arena have reached close to 90%. Kai Tak Stadium has already attracted over 1.8 million attendees, rapidly becoming a powerful new driving force in advancing Hong Kong’s sports industry, events economy, and tourism development.
“Our first anniversary is not only a major milestone for Kai Tak Sports Park, but also a moment of pride for Hong Kong. Over the past year, we witnessed athletes’ determination, outstanding performances from artists, and the unforgettable energy of cheering audiences. Each event has touched and inspired us.
“As Hong Kong’s largest integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark, we are committed to bringing the community together while strengthening Hong Kong’s connection with the Greater Bay Area and the international stage,” said a spokesperson for KTSP.
The centerpiece 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium was ranked third in the world and top in Asia for total ticket sales in 2025 just nine months after its debut, according to Pollstar’s 2025 year-end stadium charts (published mid-December 2025). Pollstar also ranked Kai Tak Stadium No.5 worldwide and No.1 in Asia for total gross revenue (1.25 million passes worth US$191.34 million). Meanwhile, the 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena, was ranked Asia’s No. 8 in terms of total gross revenue.
“Seeing the Park evolve over the past year into a major sports destination for Hong Kong has been incredibly inspiring,” said Hong Kong, China karatedo team former representative, Lee Chun Ho. “Every time I walk in, I can feel the energy. The professional facilities not only support large-scale events but also make it easier for the public to access different sports, whether they’re beginners or experienced enthusiasts.”
With an expanding line‑up of exciting events, enhanced visitor experiences and an increasingly compelling programme of global attractions, KTSP will further advance the integration of culture, sports and tourism, ushering in an even brighter and more vibrant chapter for Hong Kong.
Hashtag: #HongKong #BrandHongKong #KTSP #Sports #Entertainment #Landmark #MegaEvents
https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-hong-kong/
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Award recipients are evaluated entirely based on independent performance data, including key indicators such as downloads, monthly active users (MAU), growth rates, in-app purchase revenue, and user engagement. These metrics reflect sustained operational effectiveness and performance over time. Green SM’s recognition not only marks a breakthrough for the brand but also demonstrates consistent growth and sufficient operational stability to be recognized at a regional level.
According to the published results, Green SM achieved 114.4% year-on-year MAU growth in 2025 and ranked No. 1 in downloads among EV-focused carpooling platforms in the region. This performance reflects steady expansion across the company’s operating markets, including Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Behind these growth figures lies a systematically built operational foundation. Green SM maintains that growth is only sustainable when accompanied by the ability to deliver consistent service quality across all operating markets. Scaling its electric fleet while ensuring a uniform and reliable user experience has remained a central priority throughout the company’s development.
This operational stability benefits both sides of the platform. Passengers experience transparent, dependable services, while the Green Driver community operates within a clearly structured, long-term-oriented work environment. For Green SM, growth and quality control are pursued in parallel as two core pillars of sustainable development.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh – Global CEO of Green SM stated: “Recognition through an independent data evaluation system affirms that the fully electric mobility model we are pursuing is on the right track. More important than growth speed is the trust we earn from users in every market where we operate. That trust motivates us to continuously refine our fully electric mobility model, ensuring stable operations, structured technology deployment, and sustainable long-term development.”
In the context of an increasingly competitive mobile application landscape, recognition grounded in independent performance data demonstrates that Green SM’s growth is built on a structured, scalable operational platform. The ability of an electric mobility model to achieve strong regional growth while maintaining consistent service quality confirms that this is no longer an experimental alternative, but a practical direction for modern urban transportation.
Previously, Green SM was also honored at the VnExpress Tech Awards 2025 with the titles “Outstanding Ride-Hailing App” and “Vietnamese Tech Brand of the Year,” and received the “CXP Best Customer Experience Award,” which recognized its implementation capabilities and consistent operational standards across the system.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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