The MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node will present Urban Tech Week 2024 during 3-15 June 2024. This two-week program is for bright young minds of all disciplines from MIT and Hong Kong universities who aspire to tackle real-world challenges with innovative urban technology ideas.
Speakers
Mr. Gene Soo, Head of Ecosystem – Global Innovation, MTR
Gene Soo is the Head of Ecosystem of Global Innovation Department at MTR. Having led the creation of Hong Kong's startup ecosystem by cofounding StartupsHK (now known as StartupsGBA), Mr Soo is now tasked with building new businesses and enhancing the core MTR business with technology, partnerships, and new models. Prior to his role at MTR, he was the General Manager at Citymapper and led the launch of Citymapper into Hong Kong in 2015. Since then, Citymapper has become the most complete transport app in Hong Kong covering MTR, buses, trams, ferries, minibuses (including red ones) helping people interconnect all these transportation modes and getting them to their destination. Prior to Citymapper, he has been involved in building fashion and lifestyle apps and have also worked in Business Development at 6waves, a mobile and social game startup in Hong Kong.
Mr Soo has been pushing for better open data practice in Hong Kong and believes strongly in improving daily lives through better design and technology. Mr Soo received his BS and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University as well as MBA from Columbia University.
Ms. Sunnie Lau, Director, Head of Sustainability Research and Industry Collaboration, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node
Sunnie believes that human-centric design promotes inclusive communities with innovative sustainable design strategies and urban designers & architects play important roles within the built environment.
She has initiated the Smart City and Sustainability initiatives at the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node since 2019, co-taught and led the “Hacking Kowloon East” 2021 IAP Workshop and Spring course with Prof. Brent Ryan (MIT) ; and “Beyond Smart Cities- 10 min self-sustainable neighbourhoods in Island South” 2022 IAP Workshop with Prof. Kent Larson (City Science Group, Media Lab, MIT) ; Urban Technology Week 2023 with MITDesignX, Morningside Academy for Design, MIT.